Considering Lap Band in India

NWMarc · January 30, 2006

Hello all,

I'm a prime candidate for lap band surgery. BMI>44 with at least 2 co-morbidities.

I will be paying for the surgery out of pocket. I don't want to spend more money than I need to but I also don't want to through myself under some hack. However, 60 minutes did a story last Sept. about medical procedures in Thailand and India. The procedure in India is significantly less than half of cost of the most popular provider in the NW U.S.A. (even with airfair and hotel). The Apollo hospital in India is Joint Commission International certified so I think their proccesses and procedures have to be good.

My main concern is getting the all important fills and aftercare.

Has anyone been banded in another country?

Is finding good aftercare a problem?

Thank you,

NWMarc

niche · January 30, 2006

lots of folks here have been banded in Mexico and have various experiences securing aftercare. just make sure that you do find a doc willing to treat you after before you get the surgery.

but on the insured surgery option, i'm not sure why you're so against that route. although the surgery in india will prob be cheaper than self pay in the states, insurance co-pays must be far lower than india. and i'm sure that although your insurance co will restrict the number of surgeons they will cover, you will get some choice in the matter. so i would say try to explore that before you go overseas. best of luck to you!

NWMarc · January 30, 2006

I currently do not have insurance and don't want to wait until I do.

Aftercare is the issue. At an info session for a lap band practice the Dr. basically said that they wouldn't take any band patients who had their band done in another country because of liability issues. Which didn't make any sense to me since they didn't do the band surgery.

niche · January 30, 2006

got ya. well, if you live in/near a large city, there should be several aftercare options. if not, i would tread very carefully with the band b/c as you said, aftercare is the issue. if you will have to travel to get aftercare, just make sure to budget that into the cost of the procedure.

niche · January 30, 2006

i remember that someone on the board said that she got her aftercare at Fill Centers USA. the link i found for that is http://www.fillcentersusa.com

justamom · January 30, 2006

Don't do it! I'm an American Indian - grew up here but still have a lot of family etc. there. I know of Apollo - it is an okay place but can't compare to centers here especially in terms of infection rates, ability to deal with complications, pain management, bedside manners, etc......We are VERY spoiled here!

My spouse is a physician (grew up in India and knows colleagues working at Apollo) - he would never suggest anyone to have surgery overseas (India, Mexico, or probably even Europe).

The most important thing we looked for was in a physician was: in our are and had done 500+ procedures. My Hubby even asked for special permission (professional courtesy) to watch a surgery before I got banded. It really does take doc 100-200 procedures before they can do it 'flawlessly'. I was self-pay, my insurance wouldn't cover it. It cost me $15K.

Good Luck with your decision!