I called Dr. Cottam's office in SLC today inquiring about doing the Sleeve Plication for my best friend. I wanted to know what insurance he was able to get to cover it as he's one of the few US Drs. that performs it. His office told me that they have just recently had enough Sleeve people to convince Cigna and Aetna to begin coverage and that getting coverage on the Sleeve Plication would be years down the road. But then what he said blew my mind! He said in order to get more patients to have had Plication he was doing them completely for FREE on his services but the Hospital, room, Anesthesiologist etc. complete walk out the door price was $6375, but the work up was $500, which included a same day blood work and visit with Psychologist and all Administration costs.My Sleeve Plication cost more than that down in Tijuana, so before going to Mexico, if you're a self pay and want Plication, he's one of the leaders in the field, I just wished I'd know that....B

Edited June 6, 201016 yr by Betterbytheday

I can't find the other 2 US docs that do the plication for the life of me. In all my research I've found Dr. Cottam, the Mexico doc and I saw something somewhere about a doc at the University of Florida but when I looked him up I didn't find anything about him doing this type of surgery. Guess I'll just sit back and wait awhile and keep trying to lose weight on my own until more info becomes available. Thanks for all the info!!!!

Hi, K... you probably have discovered by now that the other surgeon in the US who has done the most VSPs is Dr. Watkins, in Cincinnati Weight Loss Clinic. He's done like 12 or 13 by now.... I've heard real good things about him. Good luck!! That's the surgery I'm going to have, and hope to go to Dr. Watkins.

Rainyrue