A warning about Mexico.

[monicabygs 4]

I had dr kuri Santiago in Tijuana in December of 2001. I have not had problems with the band. I have had problems with no support and expensive fills. But I don't regret going there. Great experience.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

And if you don't believe that last fact, ask your doctor for a 4cc band,I'm sure he will come up with a load of excuses why you can't have one, But NEED a larger AP band instead

Yes, I NEED the larger band because it's not linked to high slip and complication rate. Go to the FDA website and search 4cc band. You will find literally hundreds of incident reports on complication as a direct result of the 4cc band. http://www.fda.gov/default.htm

There is very good reason the 4cc band is no longer used in the US and that is because the risk of complication is way to high to justify it.

I suggest you do your homework before throwing out fiction based on opinion.

[feelinggood 152]

The main issue with the 4cc lap band has to do with port leakage. I have done some research and also spoke with Allergan who confirmed. I was concerned because all the comments I read and wanted to know what to expect. In any case, anyone interested in finding out the manufacture date of their band can call Allergan. Your surgical report and the medical card both have the S/N listed. Mine is a 4cc and was manufactured on May 2, 2012. The 4cc bands continue to be manufactured and sold in Mexico and other countries and are not "old" as others have said. There have been modifications to correct the problems with the original 4cc bands.

[larsylooloo 33]

I got a 4cc band done in England x

[JACKIEO85 308]

I suggest you do your homework before throwing out fiction based on opinion. OPINIONS Like.....we all have one

I was just stating a FACT that you can't get a 4cc band in the U.S. IF anyone was so inclined

But I'm curious about the 5% complication rate, if that is from the study from monash? and Dr. O'Brien, I've read it and it was done from 1994-2011 was that done with some of the 4cc bands?

The Facts are that bands didn't start in the U.S. so why Scare anyone in England, Australia, Mexico because they have a 4cc band. Years have passed and improvements have been made. surgical techniques perfected ( hopefully)

If anyone is interested in whether your U.S. Doctor was proctored by a Mexican Doctor let me know I can provide a link.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I suggest you do your homework before throwing out fiction based on opinion. OPINIONS Like.....we all have one

I was just stating a FACT that you can't get a 4cc band in the U.S. IF anyone was so inclined

But I'm curious about the 5% complication rate, if that is from the study from monash? and Dr. O'Brien, I've read it and it was done from 1994-2011 was that done with some of the 4cc bands?

The Facts are that bands didn't start in the U.S. so why Scare anyone in England, Australia, Mexico because they have a 4cc band. Years have passed and improvements have been made. surgical techniques perfected ( hopefully)

If anyone is interested in whether your U.S. Doctor was proctored by a Mexican Doctor let me know I can provide a link.

You can try to sway the facts however you like, but just because you don't like the truth doesn't make it any less true.

Fact: American doctors no longer use the 4cc band because of the high rate of slips and complications.

Fact: The FDA has hundreds of adverse complication reports directly linked to the 4cc band

Fact: If you go to the US Allergan site, they don't even list the 4cc band as an option because it's no longer used in the US

Bottom line- if someone chooses to put the almighty dollar above their long term health, that's their choice. But as the saying goes "you get what you paid for" and that goes for both products and services.

[JACKIEO85 308]

your Doctor just might have been trained by Dr Tony Boutt, since they share the same office. Who himself was proctored on 10/02 by a Mexican doctor I'm just saying Services by your surgeon doesn't mean their any better than someone that went to mexico. So why scare anyone that went there?

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

your Doctor just might have been trained by Dr Tony Boutt' date=' since they share the same office. Who himself was proctored on 10/02 by a Mexican doctor I'm just saying Services by your surgeon doesn't mean their any better than someone that went to Mexico. So why scare anyone that went there?[/quote']

I'm flattered you feel the need to stalk me, however you got it backwards. My doctor was the first in the state to regularly offer the band and he was actually trained in Canada.

[brianb 81]

Bottom line- if someone chooses to put the almighty dollar above their long term health, that's their choice. But as the saying goes "you get what you paid for" and that goes for both products and services.

Interesting statement. Lot of people seem to think this way and it does seem to be true more times than not, but you can easily be overcharged in the U.S. and get sub standard care.

Research seems to be the key to a good purchase, not price.

For instance, Dr. Ortiz seems to be a much better choice than many U.S. surgeons.

All that said though, I don't think I would ever consider Mexico seriously for the surgery. Just too many scary stories and no recourse if they are negligent.

[Bandakat412 26]

Ugh. I hate to get caught up on negativity...BUT...this is a sensitive topic for me. I actually made a well educated, purposeful decision to go to Mexico for surgery...on multiple occasions. Likewise, I made a decision to have a 4cc band.

It is factual that there is a higher slip rate, but as previously stated, there are some contributory factors to that statistic that are not band, but rather surgeon related. Also, why get a band if its not as efficacious? 4cc banders reach and feel restriction, and for that benefit need to be smart about their fills more so than those with a larger band.

We can all banter for a while...each has pros and cons. Some of the evolution was in response to band competition and marketing in the market...some was for reduced slippage.

Regardless, people with 4cc bands are not damned to horrible complications. And on a final note, Mexico can be a very safe, and for me SAFER because of anesthesia issues, than in the US.

[Bandakat412 26]

Ugh. I hate to get caught up on negativity...BUT...this is a sensitive topic for me. I actually made a well educated, purposeful decision to go to Mexico for surgery...on multiple occasions. Likewise, I made a decision to have a 4cc band.

It is factual that there is a higher slip rate, but as previously stated, there are some contributory factors to that statistic that are not band, but rather surgeon related. Also, why get a band if its not as efficacious? 4cc banders reach and feel restriction, and for that benefit need to be smart about their fills more so than those with a larger band.

We can all banter for a while...each has pros and cons. Some of the evolution was in response to band competition and marketing in the market...some was for reduced slippage.

Regardless, people with 4cc bands are not damned to horrible complications. And on a final note, Mexico can be a very safe, and for me SAFER because of anesthesia issues, than in the US.

[Bandakat412 26]

Oh and PS to back up my rant, I had a Tummy Tuck covered by insurance in the US because of my Weightloss, and I opted instead to have it for cost, in Mexico.

[dawalsh 919]

Oh and PS to back up my rant' date=' I had a Tummy Tuck covered by insurance in the US because of my Weightloss, and I opted instead to have it for cost, in Mexico.[/quote']

Your insurance would cover a TT? May I ask how much a tummy tuck was in Mexico? I'm thinking I'm going to need a TT eventually.

[dawalsh 919]

Oh and PS to back up my rant' date=' I had a Tummy Tuck covered by insurance in the US because of my Weightloss, and I opted instead to have it for cost, in Mexico.[/quote']

I may need a TT someday I wonder if my ins. Will cover it. How much was your TT in Mexico? Thanks.

[Bandakat412 26]

Yes at the Time my insurance was paying for a panniculectomy- skin removal. I was paying for breasts. It was still cheaper to pay for and get all the surgery done in Mexico than to have part paid for here. I think a true Tummy Tuck here runs close to 10k. Plus I knew people who has used my surgeon. Just emailed him today....and got a response within two hours. I think I saw my RNY doc once in 5 years after surgery.