Hi all I was banded in TJ on July 6 of this year. I received my first fill in Chicago all day trip but I got a great fill it cost 250.00 well I called to make an appointment for my second fill and now they charge $1000.00 per fill if not banded by them. I need a fill and now I have no where to get one. Could someone help me and tell me where I could find a fill center in my area? I am very close to South Bend Indiana. I know I could fly back to TJ but with the holidays the flight cost is so costly. I hope someone can help me

Thank you for reading my post

Did you ever find someone closer to you? Right now travelworm.com has flights to Sandiego (for Tijuanna doctors) for only $207. Dr. Kuri has someone that picks you up at the airport and takes you to his clinic for $50. Beats $1,000. no matter how you look at it. And Kuri is supposed to be one of the best.

So glad to talk to you the other day - you were so helpful.

Since then I've been diligently working on securing a "fill-facility" before having surgery in Jan. with Dr. Kuri.

I talked to Park Nicollett Bariatric Dept. (St. Louis Park, MN) today and Teri Barker, physicians manager - told me that she suspects that they will soon (sometime in 2006) be opening their facility to patients other than their own. This is because they have recently added staff and would be able to handle the extra patients. She said that they currently charge $114-$175. (The $175.having the fluro). And appointments need about 1-2 week notice. Maybe this would be different if it were an emergency, I don't know. Anyway their number is 952-993-3180.

(She did not give me a hard time about Mexico - she knew I was self pay.

If people who need this would call Park Nicollett and let them know of their need - I think it would spur them on.

I'll keep you posted if I learn of others!

Good luck and maybe we'll share a cab some time when we go for a fill by Kuri!

Patti

$1000 per fill??! I'm in shock -- a fill takes about 2 minutes to do. Utterly ridiculous.

I do fills for patients banded elsewhere. I charge $250 for the first fill and $150 for subsequent fills. The first fill costs more because I spend more time collecting information and providing education on what to expect from fills. I use ultrasound guidance in the office to find the ports if I need to(no extra charge), so x-ray is usually unnecessary.

Others charge $1000 just to discourage people from coming, and to punish them for going to Mexico.

Mark Pleatman MD

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

248-334-5444

www.laparoscopy.com/pleatman