Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals

How about I went to a senimar at Palm Bay Hospital in August and waited til Sept 29th for a Doctor consult and then waited 2 weeks for them to obtain insurance (tricare) approval only to be told that they want me to pay the difference between the docs charge and what tricare will pay. That means out of pocket for me $4008.00. Keep in mind, I was APPROVED by my insurance. Sounds like a scam to me and a very disappointing roller coaster ride for me:frown:

Hello, has anyone used any doctors in Greensboro, NC or has anyone one used any doctors from BCBS centers of excellence?

I am strongly considering having surgery by Dr. Jose Rodriquez in Acuna, Mexico, and would appreciate any testimonials from those of you who went to him. Please share your experiance.

Has anyone used Dr. Vadim Gritsus in Lincoln Park, New Jersey?

Im interested in getting the lap band surgery done because I am morbidly obese. I was wondering if anyone got a good deal on getting it done. Ive done some research and found out that it can be really expensive. Kaiser wont pay for it and my credit is to bad to finance it so I want to pay cash and get it done on my own. I can either get it here or mexico. I was wondering if anyone had any experience over in mexico with this procedure. Is it possible to get this procedure done for around $5000? If anyone can steer me in the right direction as far as price and a doctor. Thanks in advance.

Hi, I am just days away from being banded and I am using Dr. Symmonds from Scott & White in Temple Texas. If you are in the Central Texas Area then this is the doctor I would suggest. He is a kind man, his staff is very helpful and nice. He is a VERY busy doctor I will give you that, it took me a bit to get all my appointments, but now I am down to the wire, so I am pleased. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this Doctor, and I will write more once I am branded. If you have any questions about him or tricare, ask away...I have been dealing with both since May.

Okay, i'm getting closer to the big day. I will be banded on the 23rd. Does anyone on here have any advise or thoughts about Dr. Warnock? I'm in the Wichita Falls, TX area.

I am very new to this board and I am having my surgery with Dr. Kirshenbaum on Dec. 13, 2007. I have a very high BMI of 62.2 and I am worried about being too big for him to safely band. Has anyone on this board been over 60 BMI and had Dr. Kirshenbaum as your surgeon? Can anyone tell me how he is and what the procedure is as far as the hospital stay, etc.? I would appreciate any feedback.

Anybody ever use Dr. Korn of Boise, ID? Am going to his seminar on the 18th and hope to be banded before the end of the year. Just looking for info on him or opinions about him.

I am on long island in new york. Has anyone here heard of or used dr allam in southampton, ny?????? I am looking for a doctor and Have heard things good and bad about dr allam. this is the closest dr to my home and I am very nervous about this decision. any help would be great thank you MaryBeth:confused_smile:

I just joined this sight today I am from Tifton and was banded Aug. 14 2008 by Dr. Bagnato. I heard about the bandettes by a customer of mine who is considering lapband and could not wait to check out the sight!

Hi everyone. My name is Sherry. I'm beginning to research having lap band surgery. I'm currently hovering near 300 pounds. I just received information in the mail (with our new cards for the year) that says my insurance will cover weight loss surgery. What surgeons are the best in Maryland? What hospital do you recommend in Maryland? Thanks

Wanted to let yall know my surgery has been scheduled for December 11th, 2008. I 'm so excited. I can't wait. I decided not to do the appeal and will be paying for him myself. Keep me on your prayer list. :wink_smile:

DOES ANY ONE KNOWN A DOCTOR IN THE NYC AREA:tongue2:

I have moved up my surgery date to July but I Still want to make sure I have the best Doc. Have any one used Dr. Guillermo Alverez and descirbe your experience......:welldoneclap:

I am so happy! I went shopping with DH on Saturday - he actually came without complaint. I hadn't been to Kohl's yet and was in search of some shorts. I bought a skort in a 16 - Misses! It wasn't 16W or in the "women's section". I'm on cloud nine! Oh, I also bought a dress from Cato's in a 16 misses. I'm so excited to be out of the Plus Stores...I haven't shopped in misses since college.

My secondary insurance (arkansas bcbs) denied request for lapband surgery because I didn't have a BMI of 40 or more,even with my co-morbidities(diabetes-typeII;high chlorestorol;high bp;rheumatoid arthritis;hypothyroidism). will I have to self-pay or can Dr. Bagnato do a second consultation for any changes? I'm angry,disappointed, need this surgery. My husband said it sounds like an omen that I shouldn't have the surgery. I don't feel an appeal will make any changes in their decision unless I gain weight to have the surgery to loose weight. Isn't that ridiculous?:w00t::eek::thumbup::eek:

He is my doctor and I was wondering if he's anyone else's too and what you thought.

I posted this on our main thread, but thought I'd start a new one just for the walk. Sunday, November 16th, the March of Dimes is hosting a walk at Callaway Gardens. The tentative cost is $16.00 per person. The walk will be through the Festival of Lights at the Gardens. This is a great opportunity for us to get our exercise in as well as give us a goal to work towards. Jeannie, Holly and I have started a walking group. We are meeting at 5:15 at Darton College and walking the trails. Yesterday we estimated we walked about 2.5 miles. If you live in Albany or in town at that time, meet us to walk! We haven't started a schedule yet, but I guess we can keep up with …

Anyone banded by Dr Laker of Great Lake Weight Loss in Detroit? What was your experience? Good? Bad?

Hi Bagnato Bandits. Recently found this sight and wanted to introduce myself. Im Donnie J. a longtime bandster, so long I cant remember my band date....lol I think it was 2002 . I was one on the first couple dozen that were banded by Dr.Bernett and Bagnato, they tag teamed me. I havent been to the obesity clinic in a couple years and Im in need of a fill badly:cursing:, just wondering who the new fill nurse is and how you guys like her? My last fill was from Karen. I miss her !!!!:cry_smile: I have done good with my band, not great but good. Recently I have started gaining and I need a fill to stop that, I feel like Im a newbie since I havent been in in such a long ti…

Hello, I am looking for a doctor in Houston that works with UHC. I know for certain that Spivak and Spiegel no longer accept UHC. Does anyone know of a doctor who does? I have only in-network benefits. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Gracie

Any comments on this doctor? Anyone?

I have only lost exactly 48lbs. Yet I see some, like Nip50, who has lost 139lbs and had it done the same time as me. What are you doing so differently to make it work so well for you Nip50? I feel so much like a non-loser... or part loser or whatever you want to call it... but I am not losing as much as others have and I am still HUGE. Any thoughts?

Anybody ever used him? He is the closest to me so I am considering him. Thanks.

I haven't gotten the lapband surgery yet and I am in the process of attending a seminar in a few weeks. Has anyone gotten the surgery in Baton Rouge,Louisiana? If so where do you go to get your refills if needed?

I have a fill appt. the morning of Oct. 29, and a work conflict will prevent me from keeping it. I would like a fill the next week, but of course by now, the next available appt. is in late Nov. Does anybody have an early Nov. appt. they would like to try to trade w/ me? if so, please send me a private email message.

Has anyone heard of any doctors doing the lap band over a verticle sleeve surgery? My doctor and I are thinking of doing it, but i am concerned with possible slippage.

hi! i already had the surgery but i recently relocated to San Francisco, CA and can't seem to find a doctor willing to take me as a patient for fills / follow ups. Help! Does anyone have a recommendation? Thanks in advance!

Anyone have experience with Weinstein, Hannon, Lane, or Ringold in Mobile?

Good morning all!! I have since had to change directions, and am now looking for a doctor near the Odessa/Midland, Tx area. I was wondering if anyone knew of someone in Lubbock, Abilene or even San Angelo. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!! :regular_smile:

:help: I need to find a good doc/hospital. I have looked at Valley Care in Pleasanton, Good Sam in San Jose and Mills Penninsula in Millbrae. Please let me know if you have had any experience with them. Thank you!

WTF????? I do not understand what is going on with me and my scale. I got my latest fill a few weeks ago. It worked very well, I was so motivated and lost 8 pounds pretty fast. Then last week, TOM, and Water weight gain + cravings. I didn't give in to cravings, etc. Now, understand that I retain SERIOUS water - like 5 to 10 lbs of water. It sucks. Okay, so water gone, scale went back to normal. I fully admit I fell off the wagon on Friday night and gave in to temptation (Marble Slab Creamery is the of the devil). I logged my food at thedailyplate, and yes, I was way over, but not enough to even gain a pound, much less the NINE pounds that my scale reflected Saturday.…

He is probably the best doctor I have ever had. His team is fantastic. When I went to the seminar and heard them speak, I was convinced that day that I was going to have the Lap Band. They have been wonderful and I lost 90 pounds today! They have been there for me since I filled out the paper work saying I was interested. I am frequently e-mailed by half of his team. If you just google lap band ucsd its the first link.

Ok so Albany is only 1 - 1.5 hrs away from Warner Robins, I am 1 hour away from WR too - which is 2.5 hrs from Albany (3 with traffic)... Anyone wanna meet this month or next month in Warner Robins? I would love to meet everyone but can't afford gas and sitter for a super long drive to Albany. For a one hour drive, I can do it. Anyone else game? ~Amy

Hi everyone! I just had my consultation with Dr. Bagnato on 9-30-08. Waiting on insurance approval. My husband's BCBS will pay for the surgery,but have to have a denial letter from my insurance (United Healthcare). I hope it doesn't take to long. I've been visiting the Lapbandtalk website for a couple of months. Now that I'm on the road to a new me, I get a little anxious and nervous. I'm 57 years old and need the surgery due to multiple health problems. I live in Dublin. I am so thankful I found this support group. Anything you can share about pre-op, the surgery,.... would be helpful. LOL Lojo:smile:

Hello out there has any body been recently banded at loyola hospital with Dr Sarker with in the last month or two? judymarie:wink_smile:

Has anyone had experience with Dr. Tull in Illinois? He used to work with Illinois Bariatrics. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you

just saw a commercial for Dr. Barker - 10,500 special for cash patients.

I'm to have my band done Oct. 20 now I'm not sure what to do! I have been trying to get as much info as I can. I am a self pay and don't want to make a great mistake. Has any one had their band done at Providence in Waco Texas? I can go there or Scott and White in Temple. Any help out there would be nice.

:confused:I need a lapband revision and have been referred to Dr. Jahnavi Srinivasan at Emory Bariactrics in Atlanta. Does anyone out there have any knowledge of her or her experience. Dr. Edward Lin at Emory is referring me over to her as his is so booked and I am needing to get this taken care of quickly. Both of them work at Emory Bariactrics in Atlanta. Any input is appreciated.

Just looking for some reccomendations on Dr Jesse near Tampa Fl

Hi, I haven't posted before but I am looking for a good surgeon in the Tracy, California area. (Bay area, Stockton, Modesto) I was hoping someone might have had some experience with someone local if possible. Reading the posts hear has helped me get the courage to try and look into getting banded. Thanks for your time.:wub:

Hi I will be having surgery in the South West Medical center in lafayette,la with Dr. Cunningham. I am curious about others experiences with the hospital staff and doctors. How long does it take after the insurance approval usually for them to get the surgery schduled. Also if they filed your insurance for you how long did it take? I am a little woried about using them because they never return my phone calls and my Dr. Cunningham is not very nice. So I am worried but I am to far into it to change hospitals. Any personal experiences will help. Thanks :biggrin2:

Hey all, Just looking for soem info on anyone in Jacksonville that had surgery and was approved through tricare. Thanks:thumbup:

I have my first pre-opt appointment scheduled in Dec (my choice) with Dr. Schrope and the staff over at NYPH/Columbia, but reading all the different threads here on this site I see a large percentage of ppl have been banded by the Dr's over at NYU. Has anyone on here been banded at NYPH/Columbia? And did anyone have the choice over the two and deceided to go with NYU and if so for what reason? Thanks:confused:

Hello Everyone: If ya'll have not heard from me (or any Bandit) for a while ya'll are good about putting out the APBs on them. Well, I am probably going to be not posting for a while. I hope that I will have to sense to at least come in and read thes forums, but good sense and I are not always the best of neighbors. Anyway, I am goign through some personal things right now in my life (what's new, right?). So I am taking some time to think. Honestly, I am pretty sure that I am going to take the time to throw a pity party for myself that is going to rival Mardi Gras. There will be alot of crying and a lot of "why me's?" There will be a lot of blues music and I …

I looked at my insurance companies website today. They show that they have received and processed my surgeon's charges. The insurance company shows my part as $180.22 out of $9,100. I was already charged by the surgeon's office $305 which they said was my part left from insurance. Has anyone ever had this happen? Were you given a refund of any of that money?

Has anyone been banded by or heard anything about Dr. David Rohrer, Dr. Amy Elizabeth Martin, or Dr. Dale Mortenson from Benifis Bariatric Institute in Great Falls Montanna? I'm from Alberta and waiting to get in to a Dr. here, but concidering self paying if the wait is too long. How long did it take to get in and how much $ if you did. thanks, Marie

I was banded on mon and boy do I feel pretty good. I am having some pain which I am taking some pain killers for. I am still pretty sleepy so I keep on dozing off and on today. I was most comfortable sleeping on my couch since I was able to sleep semi sitting up so it wasn't soo hard to get up. My bed is really hard to get up from. I hope tomm I will not have as much pain. I keep on walking and that feels great. I am so happy that I made this choice to do the surgery. anyways just a little update. I will be in touch in a day or two to let u know how I feeling then.