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Anyone Self-Pay In The United States?



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Hi sleevers. I am in the process of waiting for the Dept of Veterans Affairs to approve my surgery. In the meantime (and due to excessive worry), I am thinking about what is going to happen if they don't approve it for some reason. I don't want to go to Mexico (not bashing it, just not for me). Has anyone self paid in the US? How much did you pay, and can you send me your surgeon's name? I meet the minimum quals of 35 BMI and hypertension. Thanks very much.

tdskkenn

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I THOUGHT I was going to be insurance...but my policy did not cover it. So, now I am self pay, scheduled for March 5! My total is almost $14,000...that includes hospital, doctor, 2 week diet plan post op, and Vitamins for first 3 months. My doctor is Drake Bellanger, MD in Baton Rouge, LA. So far, I really like him and his staff...along with the staff at Women's Hospital. I know it is a lot of money...but Mexico is not for me either and I have wanted this for so long. I'm gonna work hard and it is going to be SOOOOOOO worth it!! Good Luck!

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I was self-pay with Dr. Morris Washington in Myrtle Beach, SC. It was $8000 for everything.

Good luck with your choice and you can inbox me if you have questions.

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My surgeon's fee were just under 9K and about 1K for anesthesiologist. It was the hospital fees that pushed it to about 20K. I got in just under the wire as the hospital increased their fees. I was sleeved in San Francisco, California. Great surgeon, great hopital, incredible care before,during and after. It really was a great experience. I don't regret it one bit and I am soooooooooo thrilled, and greatful, that I did not have to wait for insurance. I was ready and did not want to go through more. I am greatful I was able to do it. I know it's a huge hardship. But I made the decision to do this for me. Best of luck with this. I know it's a big decision!!! Let us know how things go.

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I am getting the surgery on March 12th in Birmingham, Alabama and the cost is $13,500. My husband would never let me go out of the country to have it done and the surgeon I am using is excellent. My insurance excludes WLS.

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I am self pay as well. My insurance won't cover anything related to weight loss :mad5: . My surgery is March 20 and my total is $12,500. That includes everything - hospital stay for one night, surgeon, anesthesia, etc...and followup visits. My surgeon is Dr. Domkowski in Sebastian, FL. He is wonderful!

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I was self pay. $9500 covered surgeon's fee, anesthesia, 1 day hospital stay, pathology and radiology. I also work for the hospital I had it done at so I got a bit of a discount, but not much.

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I was self-pay with Dr. Morris Washington in Myrtle Beach, SC. It was $8000 for everything.

Good luck with your choice and you can inbox me if you have questions.

Mocha,

Were you happy with Dr. Morris and the hospital???

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christin (a poster here) was self pay with my surgeon. Dr. Marema in St. Augustine Florida. He is FACS and a surgeon of excellence. Has done thousands of surgeries. Send christin a private message in case she doesn't see this. I don't know how much she paid.

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I was self-pay and had my surgery with Dr. David Kim in Dallas TX. The surgery, hospital, anesthesia, year follow-up with complication insurance and all pre-op testing included was 12,300. Well worth the money considering the credentials/experience of this surgeon.

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I am self pay. $16,850.00 includes procedure, two year comprehensive nutrition and fitness program and anesthesiology. Puget Sound Surgical Center located in Edmonds Washington. Good luck to you!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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