GatorTime

I was banded in 2005. I now weight 20 pounds MORE. I was unfilled totally in 2009 due to ALL of the problems my fellow bandsters here have mentioned. I drank the koolaid - I believed the band was going to make me feel like I ate Thanksgiving dinner after 1/2 cup of food. LIES all LIES. The band does NOTHING for hunger!! The amount of Ghrelin that your stomach produces does not change because the full stomach is in tact. I was choking on top and starving on the bottom... it is a nightmare for me. Some folks are ok - but only about 30%. I am trying to revise now, but BCBS has denied me. My appeal was submitted last week. I am praying for revision!! The band is my plastic demon and it needs to come out!!!!

That is an excellent question, in my office we do not "upcharge" people that pay with credit, therefore we do not give cash discounts. If you are going in to the surgeon's office - I would go about it this way... 1. Ask what the cost of the surgery is, personal pay. 2. If you are asked how you intend to pay - I would straight up ask why that matters. At that point they should disclose to you if they charge people that pay with care credit more. 3. Technically, you cannot charge people that pay with credit MORE. You can charge people that pay with cash LESS. Care Credit is something the surgeon has to agree to take, it is not like a regular credit card you can just swipe. Sometimes Care Credit offers a special discount on financing. Right now they are running a special on the 18 month rate (at least they are in my office...) so you may find that surgeons offer different rates at different times of the year. Good luck!!! Sherrie

I had no official slippage on my band or erosion or anything else. It just sucks and I haven't lost weight. I was denied revision. now trying to figure out what to do. BCBS.

If you are willing to go all the way to Florida, you should think about Mexico. You can get it for under 7K. I know you said you wanted to stay in the US -- but $$ is $$.

I am considering Lapband to Sleeve in Mexico. I was banded in Mexico. The band sux.