Just had my lapband removed...this was the third surgery (not counting the first to have it inserted), first it slipped, then it twisted, then it collapsed...all in a period of almost 3 years....My insurance is not the same as when I first started....As a matter of fact, my insurance does not cover bariatric in any manner. I would like the gastric sleeve and am looking for suggestions that will not bankrupt me for the rest of my life....please email me directly at sonjamarder at gmail dot com with any info. I prefer not to go the out of country route unless there is someone in the new jersey area that i can go to for follow up.....

I am desperate here....I have lost 110 lbs and have already gained half of that back.

Many thanks....

I'm covered via VA healthcare (I'm a Vet) which does NOT cover any bariatic surgery at all. And because I'm not morbidly obese (just obese with a BMI of 31.5) no doctor would even approve the surgery. After a friend when to mexico and had the vertical gastric sleeve with amazing success I decided to go down the same path. I got a loan to cover it, researched an American/Mexican dual certified doc (Dr. Alvarez) and I'm now going to finally get sleeved August 17th. The price is not cheap, however what I was quoted state side was absolutely astronomical. I was quoted for a sleeve $33k and $30k in Atlanta and Birmingham respectively. Going to mexico and having a dual certified physician do it, including hospital stay of 3 days, full testing, lab work, EVERYTHING was a total of $8,700. I got financing and decided that I did something about it. Good Luck in your journey.

I can't offer a lot of advice, except to tell you that there are many people on this site who have gone to Mexico and had positive results.

Alvarez seems to be the man! I am going to try my best to jump through BCBS's hoops for the next six months or so, but if denied I will be seeing Dr. Alvarez someway somehow!

WOw, 30, 000?

15,000 here with a reasonable ext. of 17,000 if you include misc things...

Just had my lapband removed...this was the third surgery (not counting the first to have it inserted)' date=' first it slipped, then it twisted, then it collapsed...all in a period of almost 3 years....My insurance is not the same as when I first started....As a matter of fact, my insurance does not cover bariatric in any manner. I would like the gastric sleeve and am looking for suggestions that will not bankrupt me for the rest of my life....please email me directly at sonjamarder at gmail dot com with any info. I prefer not to go the out of country route unless there is someone in the new jersey area that i can go to for follow up.....

I am desperate here....I have lost 110 lbs and have already gained half of that back.

Many thanks....[/quote']

I am always leary of people that immediately want you to email them. Notice this person only has one post.

yes, i just came across this board, i have other posts on other boards; and my daughter had emergency surgery to remove her lapband 4 days ago....why are you leary? i'm asking for information as her mother....she's 25 and i thought i would amass all the info i can for her....

what is wrong with you?

thanks so much for your help....

yes' date=' i just came across this board, i have other posts on other boards; and my daughter had emergency surgery to remove her lapband 4 days ago....why are you leary? i'm asking for information as her mother....she's 25 and i thought i would amass all the info i can for her....

what is wrong with you?

thanks so much for your help....[/quote']

I am leary because people that hand out their email addresses that easily can very well be a scheme to collect others email addresses and sell them to mass marketers.

Another thing that makes me skidish is that someone that doesn't protect their information is likely to get an email virus, which can easily find its way to every person in your email list.

I think that's 2 very reasonable concerns. Not saying that you are a bad person, but the potential for harm is there.

well then by all means post it here...i don't get here that often...i am beside myself right now....

Had I not been approved by my insurance, I was definitely going to Dr. Alvarez too! Good luck...