I'm located in Newport News, VA near Hampton, Williamsburg, & Yorktown, VA. Has anyone had their Lap-Band Surgery done in one of these cities(w/ good experiences)?

Thank you,

I live near Tappahannock. I had my surgery done in Richmond. I travel about 2 hours each way for my appointments, but it's well worth the drive. My surgeon is Dr. Schroeder. He is excellent. I would highly recommend travelling to Richmond for your surgery because he is excellent in the bariatric field. If you have any questions about his practice or the hospital, please feel free to ask me. Good Luck!

I really would like to get the surgery done, but I'm not sure how to get started and I'm sooo nervous and money is tight.

Have you been to a seminar yet? They are very informative. The number to my doctor is 804-893-8676. They can schedule you for a free seminar and tell you the process. The seminar was very informative...the surgeon spoke as well as one of his WLS patients. Everyone asked lots of questions and they were willing to answer and explain everything that day. There are financial options if you don't have insurance.

I have scheduled a seminar through a WLS center near me, but they ask that I bring my ID, Insurance card, and list of medications that I take. Is insurance necessary when going to a seminar?

It is not necessary, but if your seminar is like the one i attended...they had packets ready for each person depending on their insurance. Each insurance company requires different things so my packet had a check list of everything that i would be required to do to get approval from my insurance. If you are a self pay then you would get a packet with all of the cost information and what your individual requirements will be.

It is not necessary' date=' but if your seminar is like the one i attended...they had packets ready for each person depending on their insurance. Each insurance company requires different things so my packet had a check list of everything that i would be required to do to get approval from my insurance. If you are a self pay then you would get a packet with all of the cost information and what your individual requirements will be.[/quote']

That exactly how it worked at my Bariatric center here in FL too.

The Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth could be an option. It's a military hospital but they treat civilians, as well.