Can anyone tell me how much the surgery costs in USA???? I live in Illinois....My insurance sucks - GHP - they are denying me with an exclusion policy.

I've seen as low as $10k and as high as 20k... shop around, some of the doctors post their cash prices up front, others say it's case by case.

Good luck!

Janet

Do a search on it, there are lots of posts with this kind of information in them.

I was self-pay and was banded by Dr. Thomas Lavin in Mandeville, LA. He's very well-known and well-respected. He's also one of 4 proctors for Inamed, which helped me make my decision to have him as my surgeon.

If you qualify for his low-risk, self-pay option, the cost is $12,900, which covers surgeon fees, the surgical center, the anesthesiologist and 1 year of follow-up/fills.

You can find out more information about him on his website, which is www.whyweight.com or read his patient comments section on obesityhelp.com at http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Thomas+Lavin+fnp.html .

I was self pay in Arkansas. I paid $14,000. If you are in the healthcare profession, ask for a professional discount. My surgeon gave me one. Good luck to you!

I self-paid. I think it was $12,500, full boat, no extra's. Even included a year's fills and complete, I MEAN COMPLETE, care for a year. During the first 7 months or so, I have had 10 fills. Based on the idea of paying for fills, that means I would have already been at $15,000 had I gone somewhere else that charges $250 a fill.

I feel like a got a great surgeon, a great support staff, and a great deal. In short, "a low-cost, high quality, new lease on life"

Check out Dr. O. Layton Alldredge in Sandy, UT if you want a low cost, ultra high quality alternative to Mexico. SLC is a Delta hub, and I imagine that at $12,500, its competitive with Mexico. That way, you also get state-side FDA oversight, and Dr's covered by US malpractice insurance, and domestic flight expense if you are not close enough to drive.

Cheers!

Wow! Brad got the deal of the century there. It would be worth a trip to UT for that price and that value. I self-paid in WI and it was $18K for all hospital and clinic fees plus lots of pre- and post-op visits/support/fills included. I get a year of nutritionist visits (actually, she's watching me like a hawk!), my fills for a year, my surgeon visits 90 days, and a free monthly support group. Regardless of the price, I feel like I got a great deal. I love my "team" and feel like they're always available for me. My experience has been very positive. (Plus, the clinic is walking distance from my office! Perk!!)

Dr. Pleatman in MI has a great set rate, he is a member here so I am sure you can find more about him if you do a search. ~Mandy

Just today, I handed over checks in the amount of $11,000 to the hospital and $8,500 to my surgeon. $19,500.. but wait! There's more:

psychologist evaluation - $ 400

nutritional counseling - $ 100

sleep study - $3,622

CPAP machine - $1,350

pulminologist exam - $ 263

blood work, EKG, chest X-rays, primary care visits - unknown yet

Have I sat up at night thinking how much this money could help my family with debt and other important things? Yep. Have I felt guilty spending this money on me when I -should- be able to control myself and eat like a "normal" person. Oh yes. But I have a loving family who insists that having me healthy, happy, and around for a lot more years is what they all want. So my meager savings account is empty again and here I sit wondering what life is going to be like after Monday when I cross over to the "other side" and enter band land.

Here in utah it's $12,900 with the first year of fill included.

jen