I went to a wls seminar during which I learned that the doctor that performs the sleeve surgery charges $14k for self pay. I am going to try to use my insurance but was just curious about what other good, safe, competent doctors charge for the sleeve in the VA area?

Hi! I'm in Newport News! I was going to the Weight Loss Surgery Center in NN but I wasn't crazy about some of their requirements - like a mandatory $1,000 that the Dr. wants from the patient (can't be run through insurance) to attend his gym and some other workshops. So I switched to Tidewater Surgery Specialists - Dr. Anthony Terracina (out of Mary Immaculate Hospital). What a great group of people!!!! Dr. T actually taught the laprascopic procedure to the Dr. from the former center I mentioned. I have 23 more days! Hope this helps you!

Hi Ssilian! We must have gone to the same seminar because I was told the same thing although the 'downpayment' is $1100 now. I was also told that the prices on their pricing sheets weren't what they would charge the insurance and weren't what we would ultimately be responsible for paying...that made me think that maybe that center overcharges their patients, moreso than just the $1100, and that maybe I should look elsewhere. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though Dr. Terracina accepts my insurance. I contacted his center though and was told that self pay would run around $16k. I really had no idea how expensive this surgery can be!

Wow, $16K???? I had no idea. I wonder why Terracina doesn't take your insurance! You would think they would take all the major companies. I swear, he and is PA and the whole office staff, for that matter, are super nice and knowledgeable. I had a friend that chose the gastric bypass and Terracina did that one for her. That's how I found out about him.

The only other thing I suggest, is to check out the doctors in Mexico. Tons of self-pay people on this forum have gone to MX for very cheap and have had an awesome experience. good Luck!

Thank you for the suggestions but I'm really not brave enough for Mexico. I may have to expand my search outside of my area though. I've read that a surgeon in SC offers the surgery for $8k and that supposedly includes everything. I don't like the idea of staying in a hotel or traveling long distances after the surgery though. Does anyone know of any surgeons in VA that offer the surgery for less than 10K?

My surgeon told me the self pay option was $15,000. So, not too far off from where you are.

Are you sure Dr. T taught Dr. C? I thought Dr. C was the first to do it in our area, here is an article I read about it. http://weblogs.daily...performs_t.html According to this article he was the first to perform the surgery in Hampton Roads.

Also Dr. C charges 14,000 for all pre-ops and a year of checkups, o and a year of the group classes and 3 personal training sessions, if you want the gym access its 29 a month. Dr. T charges over 16K and dosent included any checkups or pre-ops and when I went to the seminar last year it was just his assistant and he basically said "we just started doing vsg but hey if we can do bi-pass we can do vsg", it really put me off... But I will say I know people who have went to him and had good results. O and with dr. C i did not have to put any money down so I do not know what that is for.