I have contacted three surgeons so far in my search for a surgeon.

The first office charges a $210 program fee that has to be paid upfront before they do their group meeting and get you started. They were unable to tell me exactly how much the surgery would cost with my insruace. They also said that I won't get to meet the surgeon until I have been approved for the surgey through my insurance.

The second office has taken over a month to contact me. They charge a $2500 program fee. This is supposedly one of the most reputable surgeons in the area. This fee is on top of the surgery cost. They did not say when I could meet the surgeon.

The third office wasn't covered by my insurance. So my out of pocket maximum is $10k. That is almost the same as self-pay. I guess I figure if I am going to spend that much I may as well have purchased the surgery yesterday, kwim?

My questions are:

1) Is it normal to not meet the doctor before you start the program? I feel my decision to go to a certain surgeon is going to be based upon my MEETING them and seeing who and what they are.

2) Is it normal for such a range of program fees? $2500 on top of the costs of surgery seems excessive to me.

I am getting really disappointed because I want the surgery but I feel as though I am viewed as a fattie with a fattie wallet and it just reeks of fatsploitation. I want to feel as though I am actually a person and not just chattel in the money farm.

And I DO NOT WANT to go to that scam 1-800-get-thin. Any surgeon associated with that is off my list automatically.

Wouldn't it be so fun if we ended up having surgery together? Or meeting at the office?

Since you're in SoCal' date=' did you get to see the shuttle?[/quote']

I know right.... Do u see him in the Visalia office? & no, i haven't seen the shuttle.... I didn't even know there was one....

I know right.... Do u see him in the Visalia office? & no' date=' i haven't seen the shuttle.... I didn't even know there was one....[/quote']

No I saw him in the Antelope Valley.

No I saw him in the Antelope Valley.

Oh i see, that's why i didn't see a shuttle, lol.... I thought i was losing my mind :-P

If you saw him in Visalia, where will you be having surgery?

If you saw him in Visalia' date=' where will you be having surgery?

[/quote']

In Tarzana, it's in the L.A. area.... Just waiting on approval.... I did the dietician eval on Monday & that was the last step i had to meet for my insurance.... Excited & nervous at the same time....

In Tarzana' date=' it's in the L.A. area.... Just waiting on approval.... I did the dietician eval on Monday & that was the last step i had to meet for my insurance.... Excited & nervous at the same time....[/quote']

Well, that'll be the same place as me! Ill let you know how it goes for me. My surgery is on the 27th at 9:00am. Both Dr's will be doing it.

Well' date=' that'll be the same place as me! Ill let you know how it goes for me. My surgery is on the 27th at 9:00am. Both Dr's will be doing it.[/quote']

Good luck!!!! Yes, please keep me posted, especially cuz i would like to know how your experience is with them.... I wish they would call me already, I'm anxious :-)

I promise to keep you on the up and up. Call your Insurance and ask them what's going on.

I promise to keep you on the up and up. Call your Insurance and ask them what's going on.

Thanks, & i think I'll suck it up an call tomorrow :-)

One thing to note when you have any major surgery there is a 90 day global period. What this means is that the provider s paid a global fee to include the surgery and all follow up visits during the 90 day period.

This means that your fills during this period are covered under the global fee that the provider was paid by your insurance. They should not be charging you an additional fee. The global covers all expected follow up visits for 90 days. I would shop around its competitive out there, but ask the right question how soon can you get in if you have any problems, what kind of support system do they have, how often can you get a fill etc.