So, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Maybe tell me what you would do.

Would you go to a Dr. that has a good reputation, good on price, but doesn't work in a hospital, and you don't really know what kind of service you would get from the coordinators because you have read mixed reviews (not that they are doing your surgery, but they do effect your experience)

Or would you...

Go to a Dr. With a impeccable reputation, stay in a hospital, but pay double what you would have with the other Dr. This dr has been doing the surgery for many more years so you feel a bit more at ease with him.

So, would you go with the one Dr. Who is half the cost? Chances are things may go all smooth and you would save like 4 grand! Or, would you go with the pricier Dr. But with a Doc that's done it longer and in a hospital.

Jesser, I've followed your journey somewhat, and i think you should think about satisfaction rate and cost. With anything I buy, I don't go with the dirt cheap wannabe & I don't go with the top of the line best of the best either, and I didn't in this situation. (Well except for my blender, but it didnt set us back 10k either )

These are the prices I've seen.

$4,500 Almanza

$4,700 (about to go up in may) Garcia

$5,500 pdl

$7,500 ortiz at OCC

$8,900 Alvarez and Aceves

These are the ones I'm aware of and I could be off on prices.

Basically, the more expensive choices are in big fancy hospitals and a lot of the cost is going toward that, not quality of surgeon necessarily. I think it'd be neat to have that be my experience, but honestly I don't want to wait Long enough to save that much $ and I don't think it's necessary. I'd rather buy my daughter braces, etc.

I have 6 children who need me. Not just one very special person that I love more than life itself, but SIX. This is not a decision that I made in haste.

I haven't heard an oz. of negative about the surgeon I chose. None. Maybe a bit of old news about mi doctor, but it was so minor and the issue has been fixed. I've read over and over about happy patients, my surgeons bed side manner, my coordinators etc. and I'm positive that I'm in good hands.

Honestly, yes, this is a very important life decisio,n but were not playing Russian roulette here. All of the surgeons I've read about are good surgeons, & it really boils down to your gut feeling and your heart.

For me personally, I was had it narrowed down to two surgeons. dr. Ponce de leon and dr. Fernando Garcia. This was when I had heard that garcias price was raising by $500 which at the time would put them only $300.00 less than pdl. I still chose Garcia. It just felt right. I watched the videos of both if them over and over an just let my heart speak for me. Garcia or was. And THEN I found out thy aren't raising their prices until may. BONUS!!! Lol

Pdl taught Garcia, Almanza and I believe kelly some techniques and for some that makes the feel safer going with pdl. Or me, I feel that that means they had a great teacher, not a crummy one. GREAT!

Shrug

Are you still able to go in march?

If it the dr Almanza that uses Jerusalem clinic, please research this clinic, I have heard he also does too many surgeries in a day.

I used Dr Cabrera & Venezuela and they are $4,500 ( i paid 5,600 for a recision) and use MI Doctor and the marriot for recovery.

Keep asking questions!

Jana, sleeved 1/31/13

If it the dr Almanza that uses Jerusalem clinic' date=' please research this clinic, I have heard he also does too many surgeries in a day.

I used Dr Cabrera & Venezuela and they are 4,500 ( i paid 5,600 for a recision) and use MI Doctor and the marriot for recovery.

Keep asking questions!

Jana, sleeved 1/31/13[/quote']

I know about dr. Almanza. I don't agree with the way he handles things but I still think he's a good surgeon. I personally wouldn't go with him.

Jesser' date=' I've followed your journey somewhat, and i think you should think about satisfaction rate and cost. With anything I buy, I don't go with the dirt cheap wannabe & I don't go with the top of the line best of the best either, and I didn't in this situation. (Well except for my blender, but it didnt set us back 10k either )

These are the prices I've seen.

4,500 Almanza

4,700 (about to go up in may) Garcia

5,500 pdl

7,500 ortiz at OCC

8,900 Alvarez and Aceves

These are the ones I'm aware of and I could be off on prices.

Basically, the more expensive choices are in big fancy hospitals and a lot of the cost is going toward that, not quality of surgeon necessarily. I think it'd be neat to have that be my experience, but honestly I don't want to wait Long enough to save that much and I don't think it's necessary. I'd rather buy my daughter braces, etc.

I have 6 children who need me. Not just one very special person that I love more than life itself, but SIX. This is not a decision that I made in haste.

I haven't heard an oz. of negative about the surgeon I chose. None. Maybe a bit of old news about mi doctor, but it was so minor and the issue has been fixed. I've read over and over about happy patients, my surgeons bed side manner, my coordinators etc. and I'm positive that I'm in good hands.

Honestly, yes, this is a very important life decisio,n but were not playing Russian roulette here. All of the surgeons I've read about are good surgeons, & it really boils down to your gut feeling and your heart.

For me personally, I was had it narrowed down to two surgeons. dr. Ponce de leon and dr. Fernando Garcia. This was when I had heard that garcias price was raising by 500 which at the time would put them only 300.00 less than pdl. I still chose Garcia. It just felt right. I watched the videos of both if them over and over an just let my heart speak for me. Garcia or was. And THEN I found out thy aren't raising their prices until may. BONUS!!! Lol

Pdl taught Garcia, Almanza and I believe kelly some techniques and for some that makes the feel safer going with pdl. Or me, I feel that that means they had a great teacher, not a crummy one. GREAT!

Shrug

Are you still able to go in march?[/quote']

I don't necessarily think the higher price is wrapped up in needless expenses. And I don't think hospital vs clinic in strip mall is price padding. Also, i am not saying that's what you meant. Just "weighing in"... <----- pun!

The higher the price the longer they've been at it too. As you're climbing the ladder of cost the experience level of the surgeon rises.

If, when you make your choice, you feel comfortable and confident then chances are you chose well. It's surgery. There are risks. Period.

Just my 2lbs... <------- another pun!

Amanda Rae

I chose to go with a doctor that had experience and an impeccable reputation. I spent a year researching him and the surgery before I went through with it. I did however pay more, but I had the money to spend and I looked at it like an investment to my future health. Good luck with your decision!

Amanda, I agree with you. I think it's some of it. Sometimes I send rough drafts from my phone. I know I should post from the pc but I keep at it on my phone. Sigh.

I do somewhat believe in the "more hand holding" thing though, when you pay more.

Anyway. For some, 10k isn't breaking the bank. For others(self), it kind of is. I'm glad we have other options. Go with your heart, jesser.

Amanda' date=' I agree with you. I think it's some of it. Sometimes I send rough drafts from my phone. I know I should post from the pc but I keep at it on my phone. Sigh.

I do somewhat believe in the "more hand holding" thing though, when you pay more.

Anyway. For some, 10k isn't breaking the bank. For others(self), it kind of is. I'm glad we have other options. Go with your heart, jesser. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Great minds think alike... :-)

Amanda Rae

My mom alway says: you get what u pay for! With my life I would pay the extra. My Opinion

My mom alway says: you get what u pay for! With my life I would pay the extra. My Opinion

It's only true to a certain extent.... Pay for quality yes, but not for the fancy trendy label.

Well, I will just come out and say it... Lol

I was going back and forth between Dr. Lopez and Dr. Aceves. I never thought I would be able to afford Dr. Aceves, but he has a great financing plan that doesn't do a credit check, and I would be able to go to him. In the long run I'm going to pay a lot more, but he's been at it a long time and highly recommended.

It's only true to a certain extent.... Pay for quality yes' date=' but not for the fancy trendy label.[/quote']

My daddy says if you feel you got your money's worth then it is worth the expense.

Amanda Rae

Good luck, Jess! Glad you're getting this show on the road!

I was told that the Mi Doctor Hospital is actually a clinic. Not an actual hospital. One of the coordinators said that the word hospital is used loosely down there. I'm sure Mi Doctor is perfectly fine' date=' but I've thought for the longest time it was an actual hospital.[/quote']

Mi hospital has an ICU so It has to be a real hospital.

I would consider the Mi Doctor a hospital for the purposes we need it for. I was at INT hospital which I'm sure is similar, they are small hospitals, much smaller than we're used to in Canada or the US. But it wasn't what I would call a clinic by OUR definitions either. Doctors on staff 24 hours, operating rooms, ICU, INT even took ambulances. I chose Dr Ponce de Leon but I would have been comfortable with Garcia or the other surgeons at Mi Doctor, the tipping point for me was just Trish (Dr Ponce's coordinator), but since I went with my husband it wasn't even that needed. If I went alone the choice of a coordinator would probably have been a bigger deal to me. In the end, I think you have a lot of choices between a clinic and double the price, there are dozens of good surgeons that fall between, but I think if you're truly talking about Mi Doctor I personally wouldn't toss it aside as just being a clinic.

Well' date=' I will just come out and say it... Lol

I was going back and forth between Dr. Lopez and Dr. Aceves. I never thought I would be able to afford Dr. Aceves, but he has a great financing plan that doesn't do a credit check, and I would be able to go to him. In the long run I'm going to pay a lot more, but he's been at it a long time and highly recommended.[/quote']

You definitely won't regret going to Aceves. I had a wonderful experience there in December!