Looking for a VSG surgeon. Trying to find out who others recommend based on their own personal experiences with them. I am self pay and want to get value for my dollar without compromising my safety.

thanks and happy new year to all

I don't know anyone in CT, but I used Dr. Nick Nicholson in Dallas and really liked him and his staff. I was self-pay as well.

Thank you. I will look him up and Happy New Year!

You should look into TLCEdge | Surgical Weight Loss Home. They are offering a special for $10,990 right now for the sleeve. They are a facility that works with different surgeons in the Dallas/Plano/Ft. Worth area. I went last week for my 1st visit & everyone was super nice & very informative. I have my appointment with the actual surgeon on Jan 13th & scheduled for surgery on Jan 21st. Hope this helps. I know how it feels to be self pay so I had to look at all the deals available & this was the best I found in the US.

Good luck & Happy New Year!!

Thank you Marci so much. I emailed them for now. Do they accomodate out of state patients for the preop work do you know? Its a really good price. Up in NE where I am I'm being quoted 20,000 for the sleeve surgery -- twice the price!!!:thumbup:

I drove 2 ? hours & they accommodated me as much as they could but I would definitely talk to them about you coming out of state. I had to come up & see a PA for a generic preop physical & saw the dietitian & the program director. The following morning I had to do my blood work but you can do the blood work in the same day. Then I have to go back to see my surgeon a week before my surgery. You may want to advise them that you'll be traveling in from out of state & see if you can see your surgeon around the same time as your preop visit. I know you have to do the surgery within 30 days of your preop visit.

I emailed them also in the beginning and it took a couple of days to get back to me. I would call the 1-877 number and talk to Cindy. She's super informative & helpful. Make sure you tell them you want the sleeve & not the lapband.

Good luck & let me know if I can help you with any other information.

I'm out of state and self pay as well...I'm heading to Dr. James Davidson in Dallas. Phone number is 214-696-2890 web address is:

Weight Loss Surgery Dallas Gastric Bypass Sleeve Gastrectomy LAP-BAND? Adjustable Gastric Band Home Page

I have an appointment for the seminar in April and they are letting me have a pre-op appointment the following day since I am out of state; usually you do this two weeks prior to surgery.

I have been penciled in for surgery for June, I'll fly in the day before for all the pre-surgery blood work. They are VERY easy to work with. I've been talking to Trevor. There is a one week follow up and then another one at two weeks. I don't know if that one is mandatory or not. We have planned a week in Galveston between week one and two, so it's not a big deal. Price is $12,500 and they are a center of excellence, which apparently, according to my doctor is something she told me to look for. Good luck!!!! :w00t:

I am self pay and went to Texas Bariatric Specialists and my surgeon was Nilesh Patel. He has done over 1000 WLS and I got the sleeve. I paid $14,000 out of pocket through Care Credit. It was all inclusive for my pre-ops and all post-op appointments and the hospital was Innova in San Antonio that has a 4 to 1 nurse ratio and you have a private suite to recover in with your own bathroom etc. It was wonderful. It was really helpful to recover in a specialty hospital where all they do is weight loss surgery.

You should google them and check it out.

I am sure they would work with you as well from out of state!

Good luck!

i went with aceves in mexico and surgery scheduled for 1/29 to take advantage of special pricing. wasnt really looking to go so soon but self pay do what we have to... congrats on your surgery!!

thank you all for all the replies. i made the choice i made not just based on the cost. surgeon credentials and experience also factored in. i do believe non us surgeons can do as good a job if not better than us surgeons. just not sure about travelling to Mexico alone but thats life...

health and happiness,

maggie

Maggie -

Congratulations on your surgery date. I have only heard wonderful things about Dr. Aceves so I'm sure you're in GREAT hands. Keep us posted on your journey.

thanks so much. this forum is a life saver for me. i dont really share this journey outside of this forum. i feel like people judge to damn much in this world but on here i feel they understand.

:crying:

Maggie -

Before surgery I only told my husband, my best friend and my parents. I didn't want to hear anyone's opinion on the matter. I was nervous and debated on whether or not to tell my parents - my mom is 5'9" and skinny - I wasn't sure if they would be supportive, or if my mom would understand. In the end, I ended up telling them the week before surgery. They have been super duper supportive.

After losing about 40-50 lbs, I have found myself telling people that I wouldn't have thought I would have ever told. This surgery ROCKs and I don't mind screaming it from the roof top.

Congratulations again and we're here if you need anything.

Congrats Maggie! I'm going to Dr. Aceves on 1/8. I know what you mean about the stigma of "getting surgery done in MX". If you do go to Dr. Aceves I don't think you're compromising your health at all, it appears from this forum, everyone received excellent care and numbers don't lie. I beleive the healthcare system here in the U.S. is ridiculously overpriced; among other things. I weighed my options just like you are now. Also, Mexicali is Americanized from what I heard. The price is right and I wouldn't go to a cheap American doctor that no one has heard of on this forum just because he's in the US verses a fabulous Mexican doctor with TONS of experience. Just my thought. But I know were you're coming from too....Just weigh your options carefully. This is the beginning of the rest of your life. Hugs, Kimberly

thank you all for all the replies. i made the choice i made not just based on the cost. surgeon credentials and experience also factored in. i do believe non us surgeons can do as good a job if not better than us surgeons. just not sure about travelling to Mexico alone but thats life...

health and happiness,

maggie

Maggie - Dr. Aceves is so awesome - you will love him and his staff. As for traveling along to Mexico - you'll be safe - if you fly into San Diego, Ernesto will pick you up at the airport (or the hotel if you have to stay the night due to flights) drive you to the hospital where you will have all of your pre-op tests performed, then he will take you to the Lucerne Resort - everyone there is so nice - and they have several restaurants on site, plus room service. Ernesto will pick you up the next morning and take you back to the hospital where you will be taken to your room, then you will meet with the internist to go over your tests results, then Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos will come talk to you - you're then taken to surgery, then recovery and then back to your room where you stay for 3 nights - on the day you are to leave, Ernesto will pick you up at the hospital and take you back to San Diego to the airport -- so you are 100% safe the entire time you are in Mexicali. Any more questions, feel free to ask or PM me.

Hi ! i can only tell you about my doctor. . . Dr. Ramiro Cavazos, here in San Antonio. . .if your self pay, you go to the ultra private hospital (very nice) private room, own bathroom with shower, even a living room where your family member can stay overnight on a pull out, daughter stayed with me all 3 days and was very comfortable. . . . . Dr. Cavazos is a very nice physician, he listens and to me that is important. . . he wants to know all your concerns and all the questions you may have. . . he wants to be sure you are prepared for this surgery and doesn't just cut on you because your self pay. . . you still have to go through the seminar, office visit, nutrition class, and psych evaluation. . . then after all that you are given an appointment (actually you pick the appt) and then still have to go back to talk with him to make sure you don't have questions. . . blood work is done on that day as well at the hospital. . . then that's it . . . surgery day, he makes sure he is there to greet you, you meet everyone, anesthesia, etc. . . after your awake and in your room, everyone comes to see you, Respiratory therapist, nurses, director of nurses, social work, etc. etc. by that evening your up to wander around a bit, later on it's into the hallway. . . you have to do to help yourself though, they make sure you have lots of pain meds so that your basically comfortable. . . my experience was good, I see Dr. Cavazos again on Thursday along with nutrition class and exercise class, sign up for support group which are held once a month. . . get labs drawn to make sure i'm ok. . . . who ever you chose, make sure you research them though and your going to have a good experience too. . . .good luck!

Edited January 4, 201016 yr by thinoneday