Hi everyone,

Has anyone got info on which surgeons in Phoenix & Tucson, Arizona have (1) the most VSG experience and (2) their prices?

I attended a seminar with Burpee & Chiasson in Tucson - their $$ = $18,500 for self-pay.

I see that other states have some docs around $12-13K. Are there any in Arizona?

I can't see waiting until my insurance would cover VSG as I've sacrificed enough of my life feeling miserable, fat, & unwell. I really don't want a bypass or band although insurance would pay; it seems that many get a band & end up sleeving when it fails to really work for them.

Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Cherie_B

Have you considered going to Mexico? It less than 1/2 the cost.

I certainly haven't ruled Mexico out, but I would really like to see what else is in Arizona or neighboring states as well.

There are an awful lot of us who have gone to Mexicali to Dr. Aceves. It's a 4 hour drive from Phoenix and he is a fabulous dr. and it's a wonderful hospital. You will save a lot of money and have a very experienced sleeve doctor if you do decide to choose him.

I know there is a Dr. Blackstone in Scottsdale AZ but I have no idea what she charges or if she does sleeves. I know she is a band doctor though.

That price is slightly more than what I paid. I don't know what the CoL is like in AZ, but it's pretty high where I am. But surgeons in SoCal charge more than up here in NorCal.

I have heard of Chiasson, but not Burpee. Chaisson seems to do a reasonable number of sleeves and is respected. I don't know how many he's done altogether though. IMO, for that price, he had better have done at least 100.

I know the title is looking for arizona docs, but I just had the sleeve 07/24 with aceves. I have not been sleeved very long, but I will tell the only negatives I have was I cannot believe how long the drive from the san diego airport was and I wish I would have had a morphine pca on the 2nd day from gas pain. My nurse was great and she held my head and rubbed it while I cried for some reason the pain made me emotional,or maybe I was just feeling lonely I went by myself.

I am in Phx and know some of the MD's that do the sleeve but not sure of the costs.

I know that Dr Blackstone has started doing the sleeve. I would strongly encourage you to go to Obesity Help website and ask the question on the Board for AZ. You can find it by going to forums at the top to the page, then find the part where each state is listed. While many of the folks there may have had RNY or the band they will likely know which MD's are doing the sleeve.

I certainly haven't ruled Mexico out' date=' but I would really like to see what else is in Arizona or neighboring states as well.[/quote']

Did you ever find a good surgeon?