I am debating if it is worth having the surgery since I will have to be self pay? I hate the idea of putting my family in so much debt, but I haven't been able to lose the weight on my own. I am a BMI of 37, so on the smaller side but still very much overweight. For anyone w/ a smaller BMI and has had surgery, was it worth putting thousands of dollars out? I can't handle going to Mexico so it would be 12-15K in the states.

I am 2 days post-op from having the sleeve procedure/ hernia repair. I had mine performed by Dr. Stowers at My Bariatric Solutions in Decatur, TX. The total cost was below 10000. My question is will the pain ever lessen up. I can barely breath and can only sip water and that still cause severve pain. When will this get better!?

SanDiegoSunshine, can I ask what your beginning and ending weights were? How long did it take to lose it? I have read that low BMIers also lose slower and less than higher BMIs. makes me nervous.

Self pay and a supplemental insurance! Over 3 months out. BMI 35 starting. Down 40 pounds. Looked a pictures from a wedding last fall. Soo very greatful. It's taking the bull by the horns, so be ready for a ride! If your child or spouse needed the surgery, would you pay for it?

What did you use for supplemental insurance?

I went to Mexico and it was the best decision I could have made, BMI 37. The surgeon was an excellent skilled surgeon and I have had no complications at all, care was also top notch. Mexico is very safe and the price is under $5000.00. Look further into mexico if price is a concern for you, no worries and it will be life changing for you.

My BMI was 39, I was self pay and went to Mexico, paid over 12,000. I felt very guilty for spending that kind of money on my self. In fact I postponed the surgery by a year because of the guilt. Nw I don't regret it for one minute. We have saved money on groceries, since I eat cleaner it was huge savings on the junk food that we no longer purchase. Smaller sized closes are also way cheaper!! Now I don't feel guilty at all! I needed this for my health and my family. In 4 months I have lost 76.5 pounds and now my BMI is 30. It is by no means easy, and lots of days I use the cost of the surgery to help drive me to eat better and excessive more.

My BMI was 36 and I was self pay in MI for $11,200 with a skilled surgeon. Also down have to go through the long process of insurance approvals so could schedule surgery quickly.

Mine was 20K with a BMI at 35 done in the states. The complications added half a million or so to the bill...this is typically not covered by insurance for an elective procedure.

I wouldn't do it again. But if I was nuts enough to do so I'd be danged sure to have a coinsurance policy to cover any possible complications.

So sorry you went through this. I would like to make the point, though, that I'm not sure I would consider VSG to be an elective procedure. It is a surgery to treat obesity, which is universally recognized as a medical issue (it even has its own diagnosis and CPT codes for insurance purposes). Did you end up having to self-pay the $20K and $500K, if you don't mind me asking? (it was unclear from your post).

The supplemental insurance was associated with the bariatric surgeon. It is actually insurance on his work. They only offer it to afew physicians with great track records for few complications. I used Blis Insurance, out of Oregon. They have a list of physicains that they cover. A $2000 for 3 months, problems usually start in that time frame. If problems start, they cover it until healed. I would not risk my families future otherwise.

I am 2 days post-op from having the sleeve procedure/ hernia repair. I had mine performed by Dr. Stowers at My Bariatric Solutions in Decatur, TX. The total cost was below 10000. My question is will the pain ever lessen up. I can barely breath and can only sip Water and that still cause severve pain. When will this get better!?

Days 2 and 3 were miserable for me...hang in there!

When I decided to do a revision my BMI was 18.4 but I had to wait 18 months to heal from lapband damage so my surgery BMI was 33 ... BEST DECISION EVER!

No doubt I'd be way off any BMI chart by now.

My life is completely different and food is only a staple to remain alive... Not an every minute thought. It's not magic. You have to know what you're getting yourself into and have a plan.

I just had my surgery with dr Ortiz on Thursday . My weight is 185 and BMI of 31. I had a lap and since 2005 that did me no good. So I just completed the revision. I'm drinking apple juice and water this am. Last night ate chicken broth and Popsicle . I have no hunger. I'm feeling a little gassy but that's it. I'm crushing my pills.. Levaquin( antibiotic ) nexium, zofran (nausea) and I take sublingual pain med..my drain is still in and prolly will stay for a few more days .. I will leave here wed morning after the leak test...

SanDiegoSunshine, can I ask what your beginning and ending weights were? How long did it take to lose it? I have read that low BMIers also lose slower and less than higher BMIs. makes me nervous.

I just had surgery 6 weeks ago. I started at 195 day of surgery im 5`5. I lost 20 pounds first month and 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks. I feel like im on track to lose 10 pounds month 2. Slow but steady 10 pounds a month.

So sorry you went through this. I would like to make the point' date=' though, that I'm not sure I would consider VSG to be an elective procedure. It is a surgery to treat obesity, which is universally recognized as a medical issue (it even has its own diagnosis and CPT codes for insurance purposes). Did you end up having to self-pay the 20K and 500K, if you don't mind me asking? (it was unclear from your post).[/quote']

Breast augmentation has it's own cpt codes and diagnostic names as any medical procedure does, but that does not mean it's not elective. If your insurance does not cover it and you have it done, legally it's "elective" surgery as you elected to do it. The same can be said of transplants or any experimental treatment for rare diseases. My son was in the hospital for "elective" care when we sent him to a feeding program because our insurance did not cover it (considered a non traditional treatment for FTT). So while it might not seem elective...if it's not covered it's considered as such.

I did self pay the 20k as well as additional fees because I had to have a new doctor (the 20k was supposed to cover after care as well). We are self insured and own the company that provides the "insurance" so yes, the half mill did come out of my pocket in a round about fashion. We like to refer to the complications as the "main floor" because that is what that money would have been used for (we're restoring a victorian). On the positive side, since I don't eat, I didn't really need a kitchen anyhoo LOL

But on a more serious note....one thing people who have this done self pay, here or out of the country need to consider is that most of the time the half mill we paid out would not be paid from any insurance plan because it's considered elective or cosmetic. That means if you don't have that money sitting around you could be risking everything you have, your home, business, savings, etc. Supplemental insurance is a cheap option that everyone should consider strongly.

Great advice on the supplemental insurance plan, IggyChic. Also, if someone really wants surgery, maybe it would be better to sign up for insurance such as Kaiser that offers VSG as a non-elective procedure and self-pay insurance premiums for a while so that if any complications were to arise, they would be covered. I think you bring up some great points.

Again, please accept my heart-felt sympathies for the difficulties that both you and your son have endured.