Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Self Pay Vsg Us Based Surgeons



Recommended Posts

So, I was all set to go to Mexico for surgery next month and then one of my sister's friends went down for the same procedure and did not come back. I know, I know- the odds and lots of other things- but to say that this has caused a family freak-out is an understatement. SO- rather than turn this into an all out "sh8t show" I have agreed to look into options in the US.

Here is the problem- I am 100% self pay and the Drs I have spoken to in the NYC area have said that they don't do gastric sleeve for self-pay patients- only the lap band (which I don't want- I can't get my head around having a foreign object into my body AND I have very stubborn PCOS and have heard that the resopnse from the sleeve is better than the band).

Does anyone know of a US based surgeon who will do the sleeve for people self paying?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was self-pay. I'm in Austin, TX. My surgeon quoted $14,500 for self-pay, which is for surgery, one night in the hospital, and a year of followup visits. Some of my pre-op testing went through insurance. I financed my surgery, so there was an extra fee for using financing & they paid for my blood work, so it ended up at $15,100 total.

Most US doctors who do the sleeve are anywhere from $10k - $20k from what I've seen so far - with the average being around $15k.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Look up PDXman, he went to Las Vegas and I think his was around $11k?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was self pay in KY and paid about $16,500, including hospital stay for 2 nights, anesthesia, etc, and 180 days of post op office visits. My pre op testing was covered by insurance, as was the post op bloodwork.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr borland does them for 9800 in louisiana, gaschassin and eschete do them for 11500 in louisiana, dr lavin is 13600 also in louisana.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr. Tersigni in Coos Bay, Oregon. $12K plus some additional fees, may end up close to 13K

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was self pay, with Dr Chung in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It cost me $14,000

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr Wizeman in FL for $12,500 if you want the BLIS coverage for 90 days $13,651

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr. James Davidson in Dallas, TX was $11,000 for two night stay and 1 year follow up! He is awesome and prayed with me and my husband before going onto surgery... A bonus in my books!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The same response I put in on the other thread where you asked this question still applies:

I've never heard of a sleeve surgeon refusing to work on a self-pay patient. They get more money out of self pays than insurance, so if anything I'd think it would be the other way around. Odd! Regardless, my surgeon does self pay. $11,999.00. I got insurance approval, but if I hadn't I would have self-paid for him to do my sleeve. Being able to use my surgeon of choice is far more important to me than saving a few thousand $$$. Not to mention the convenience of being 45 mins away.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So' date=' I was all set to go to Mexico for surgery next month and then one of my sister's friends went down for the same procedure and did not come back. I know, I know- the odds and lots of other things- but to say that this has caused a family freak-out is an understatement. SO- rather than turn this into an all out "sh8t show" I have agreed to look into options in the US.

Here is the problem- I am 100% self pay and the Drs I have spoken to in the NYC area have said that they don't do gastric sleeve for self-pay patients- only the lap band (which I don't want- I can't get my head around having a foreign object into my body AND I have very stubborn PCOS and have heard that the resopnse from the sleeve is better than the band).

Does anyone know of a US based surgeon who will do the sleeve for people self paying?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.[/quote']

Are you saying that she died? Can you tell us the doctor or any details? That's very disturbing.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi there, sorry that it has taken me a while to reply- was out of town on business and consequently offline for most of the past few days. I honestly don't know who the surgeon was. Mostly because my sister's friend did the whole I'm doing this and not really telling anyone- so the details are a little sketchy. Havind said that, I am not sure if I did know that I would feel comfortable saying because I know less than nothing about the girls medical history and given the fact that ALL surgery has risk, I feel really strongly that I could be unfairly maligning a surgeon. I know this isn't a great answer and I'm sorry if I've caused any alarm for others on the site- it wasn't my intent. Thanks to all who offered information on surgeons in the US. It is very appreciated.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry for your loss. The surgeons in Mexico are very experienced and fatalities are few and far between. Best wishes with whatever and whoever you chose. I'll be sleeved in 10 days. Mexico here I come, God place your protective spirit over me and all of your children stepping out on faith. Amen.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×