I just can't take the incompetenc of the staff at The New Program in Newport Beach, CA.

I need to find a new doctor, but I've heard it's hard to get a new doctor to care for you and your band if they didn't put it in. Does anyone have any experience or advice on finding a new band doctor?

You need to start making phone calls to other band doctors in your area. It may be difficult to find another doctor who will accept other physicians's patients post op.

I would also ask pertinent questions prior to scheduling an appointment so that you can avoid finding yourself in a similar situation again.

I know that my surgeon is one of the few in my area that will accept post op patients.

Good luck...

I had no problem finding a new doctor. I needed a new doctor after I moved. Thank god because my tubing was disconnected and my original doctor never told me. Don't go to dr. Awad in palm Springs.

I would think it would be the same as when you first interviewed drs while deciding to get banded. I called 5. Spoke to 3 in person and settled on 1. One of the reasons I did was the staff, the references and the drs willingness to answer every question I had without the fluff. I needed to know the medical answers but more importantly what he offered to help me get to my goal if I did everything he instructed.

A new clinic opened up in my town a couple of years ago. I had to go there for an emergency unfill once. My clinic is 3 hrs away. I made an inquiry of what it would take to transfer to this newer clinic. The new one wants $1,600 just to transfer and then $300 for very fill/visit after that. My dr is $160. It's worth it for me to drive 6 hrs round trip. Make sure you get the low down on the costs involved in transferring also. You can find referrals on this site. Just click on the "Lapband Surgeons and Hospitals" part on the forums. You can get a little info about each surgeon. I didn't have too many choices, as I was covered by Medicare and they only cover Centers of Excellence. There's only 2 in the whole state of Oregon. I'm very happy with mine tho. Even tho I have to drive so far to see him.

Good luck!

Marci

Surgeons dont like to mess with pts that they didnt do surgery on. I know this because i work as an rn on a surgical unit.