Did you have your surgery in a hospital or surgical center? I read an article on the boards here last night about 3 deaths from lap band surgery in CA all performed in a surgical center. That spooked me. I was looking forward to having it done in a center now I am questioning whether I am making the right decision all together. HELP. Can you tell me if you had your surgery at a center and what your experience was?

I had mine in a hospital. I arrived at 6:30 and left before 11 am:)

I had my surgery at a hospital. I preferred this versus of a surgical center because of the availability of doctors and nurses as needed. However, I have not heard anything negative about surgical centers.

I actually had surgery AT the center where there was a death, and my Dr was the one who did the surgery. Her death was actually the fault of the anesthesiologist, who they don't have with them anymore, for obvious reasons. The other death I know of was at the other affiliated center, But not by my doc, and the guy was severly septic from infection, but had not gone to post ops. This is from what I read. I called the center and spoke with management regarding what measures were taken after this, and googled my Dr like crazy, trying to find anything else negative (like past lawsuits or anything) and only positive things came up. I was nervous but ultimately decided that it wasn't worth finding a new Dr and doing it at a hospital. People do die of anesthesia, a lot. I'm saying all this to try and provide some comfort. Things can happen anywhere, anytime, and I'm sure that statistically you are not in any more danger at a center, than a hospital. I would have preferred a hospital too, I'm a Paramedic and know the level of training in these places and just would have preferred to have an er nearby, but like I said, ultimately I decided to use my Dr with the center and it was a good experience and I love my Dr and am glad I stuck with him.

I had mine done at the TRUE RESULTS Center in Houston Tx. Great experience. I did have some minor complications, but there were pleanty of docs and nurses monitoring me. After being supervised all day, I was transfered to a nearby hospital, to monitor me overnight, per docs precautions.

Thanks Caryn that gives me peace of mind!