Can anybody give me testimonials about doctors in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Lake Charles areas that have done VSG??? And if you were cash paying, how much did it cost you?

Thanks in advance!

I had my surgery with Dr. Ponce de Leon in Mexico and I could not be happier! My total cost with flight and spending money was $6000. One ofmy sleeve sister and her hubby both had surgery with him the same day and they are from Louisiana. He is super experienced, has been doing the sleeve for over 7 years and has been a surgeon for over 20. I posted videos of my surgery and journey in YouTube if anyone is interested.

How about Jonathan Taylor at BR Clinic? Any feedback at all?

I personally used Dr. Brent Allan from OLOL surgery center excellent staff and surgeon would recommend him to every one! Not sure of cash price total cost to insurance was around 26 k! Call them they won't let money be a issue or insurance for that matter he personally told me money was not a issue and would let you work out payments if need be for good health very personable and caring doctor! No one else offered me that option or level of caring.

Sincerely

Brent

I personally used Dr. Brent Allan from OLOL surgery center excellent staff and surgeon would recommend him to every one! Not sure of cash price total cost to insurance was around 26 k! Call them they won't let money be a issue or insurance for that matter he personally told me money was not a issue and would let you work out payments if need be for good health very personable and caring doctor! No one else offered me that option or level of caring.

Sincerely

Brent

Thanks Brent! I really appreciate your feedback. Dr. Allain did my gallbladder surgery in 2009 and I really like him. Unfortunately for me, he's not in-network as a bariatric surgeon under my Aetna plan. All it would take is a quick call to Aetna requesting a Non-Participating Provider Request for him to do my surgery as in-network. That call is the difference between my paying $250 vs. ~$3500 for my surgery.

I have gone around and around with his insurance coordinator for 3 weeks now and she flat out REFUSES to make that call. Her last email to me said, "you have to use your out of network benefits since we are out of network".

I found out today that Jonathan Taylor (BR Clinic) is in-network. I made an appt w/ him for June 12, but I've kept my appt w/ Dr. Allain for June 19, just in case. The bottom line is that I trust and like Dr. Allain very, very much, but a $3000+ difference and a rude staff may make me turn to someone else for surgery and that's upsetting to me.

I loved Dr taylor he was in network and covered 100% with my ins. It took two weeks to schedule the surgery. Dr. Taylor is so down to earth that its hard to even tell he's a surgeon. He doesn't have the cocky arrogant attitude most surgeons have. I am so glad I picked him. He's awesome and soo nice! I had my surgery at Woman's

How about Jonathan Taylor at BR Clinic? Any feedback at all?

I love Taylor! I chose him for financial reasons over Dr ballengar and hargroder. I met with Housmann too at OLOL and Dr Taylor's office got back to me the quickest and was super nice. They had my surgery approved in 4 days. I have united health care through the railroad! I can't say enough about Dr. Taylor!

For those of you in or around BR, who did you use for your psych eval? Did you just have to pay your co-pay?

@Geauxforit I used Ed Bergeron in Lafayette I had to pay $100.00 as my insurance did not cover it

For those of you in or around BR' date=' who did you use for your psych eval? Did you just have to pay your co-pay?[/quote']

I've been seeing Dr. Chu with Surgical Specialists of Louisiana in Lafayette. They recommended the psychologist. He was 100 because insurance didn't cover the eval. I think his name was Bergeron.

I wanted to post in this forum that I was approved by my insurance company because when I was looking for information on my insurer in Louisiana, I couldn't find any information on this site. I am a parish/state employee and we are self funded. The insurer or third party administrator is CCMSI or Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc. I hope that if anyone starts searching in the future for information, they will find this post and know that it can be done!

I've been seeing Dr. Chu with Surgical Specialists of Louisiana in Lafayette. They recommended the psychologist. He was 100 because insurance didn't cover the eval. I think his name was Bergeron.

If anyone cares to add to this topic...or especially if any previous posters have follow-up or update info, I would appreciate it

My surgeon was Dr. Bellanger. My surgery was at the new Woman's Hospital. My cost was 14500. That covered all my preop testing, psych eval, overnight stay in the hospital, 2 years post op visits, my dietician, one visit with personal trainer, and BLIS insurance. I absolutely love him.

Thanks, Doreen. Actually I was considering seeing either Dr. Bellanger or Dr. Hargroder. I love Woman's Hospital and don't think I would consider having the surgery anywhere else but there. My only concern was that Bellanger and Hargroder are so popular that I worry that I won't get personalized attention post-op and will just be one of the masses, so to speak...how has your post-op experience been with him and his staff?

I love Dr. Bellanger. His staff is great. His front office girl is a doll-calls everyone "my darlin". She will be one of your cheerleaders post op. Dr. Bellanger takes his time, and explains everything as much as you need, is very patient. My husband had a lot of questions as well. I had an issue with my body not dissolving the internal stitches, and they pushed out. One incision looked a little funky, and I called Dr B on a Friday night. I kept apologizing for disturbing him and he was so kind. He even told me to call him Saturday so he could check on me. And the dietician at woman's is a doll. She will tell you that you get one post op visit with her officially, but she is always there at no charge. There is a support group meeting at woman's on the second Wednesday of every month, you should come. It's open to anyone.