Hello! I'm torn...I am scheduled for Lap band on 11/7 I have a few friends who have had success with the lap band and a few friends wives who have had severe complications. I also have two friends who have done the sleeve and are having great success. I am in Houston and wondering if anyone has done self pay sleeve surgery...if so, how much did it cost and did your surgeon finance you?...I don't have good credit so care credit and all these other places will not give me credit and my insurance doesn't cover any wls procedures. I am currently going through true results for the lap band and they will face me in house with a down payment...I really want the sleeve but is the cost much more I'm paying 9,888 total with about $5000 down...I would just really prefer putting that $5000 toward a sleeve if someone will face me for the rest in house. Thanks in advance for your help and any information!

Edited October 21, 201312 yr by jdelarosa

Don't do the band!!!!!!! Lol. Same dr did my band in 2008 is no longer doing bands because of all the problems plus the excellent long term results from sleeve.

I am sleeve revision self pay. Start saving for it if you cannot finance. I did credit care or care credit (zero interest if paid off in a year, I think?)

Dr didn't finance me (paid that in cash) but the hospital did take care credit.

Good luck with your choice.

If you have $5000 you have enough to get the sleeve in Mexico.

I am in Houston and Dr. Ferrari is at Memorial Hosipital. Look him up. Carlos Ferrari. He has been around a long time and has done a ton of surgery. I had my sleeve done with him in July. No problems. I know that the Surgery was around 8,900. My insurance covered 80% . At that price that is close to what you are paying for lap band. I go to many support groups and there is so many people that have had the lap band removed and now have done the Sleeve. I would talk to him first before paying for the lap band.

Good luck.

Crazypants how much did you pay?

BTW, I am in Houston, too and if my insurance didn't pay I would be on the road to Mexico.

I have been reading about Mexico...I kind of want to stay in the US but I have seen lots of people posting th hat have had great experiences in Mexico.

Something to think about...

Edited October 21, 201312 yr by jdelarosa

Awold0 that was 8900 before your insurance covered 80%?

I too am in houston and went thru true results for my lapband. Biggest mistake I ever made!!! Since I was no longer over 40 bmi the dr would not even submit my complications to my insurance for a revision. After 2 more years of vomiting on a daily basis I got fed up and went to mexico! Best experience I ever had with doctors, nurses and a hospital with having a surgery. I had to pay extra since I was revising from the band but paid about $6,000 including flights for me and my husband. If you don't want to go to Mexico I understand but don't get the lapband just because it's what you can afford at the moment. Trust me! Let me know of you have any questions and good luck.

I thank all of you for your responses. Yeah True Results is just so eager to get me started I feel like the just want me in to take my money! That is one of the main reasons why I think I am second guessing myself. Like I stated in the original post two of my friends have had the sleeve and I never really asked them how they went about it, until last night. One friend stayed here in houston and paid 30,000 dollars!!!! The other went to TJ Mexico and went through Dr. Cabrera for around $5,000. I think I am just going to withdrawl my week PTO at my job and get some more information about Mexico Bariatric. I am pretty sure this is the route I want to go, so I am going to slow this train down and let my PCP know what I plan on doing and try to convince my husband also. In quick conversation about it last night he said NO, that Mexico expecially TJ was so dangerous to travel to right now. Also, if I decide to do it I am going to need a passport right? Thank you!

I am in the Houston area, too. My insurance would not cover any type of bariatric surgery, so I ended up going to Tijuana, Mexico for the sleeve. I used Dr. Ismael Cabrera and paid $4,500 for the surgery last month. I had a great experience. If you do decide to go the Mexico route, you will need a passport. Good luck to you!

Tijuana felt safe to us. Not once did we feel that we were in danger. Everyone said that TJ was bad 6 years ago, but has calmed down since.

Edited October 21, 201312 yr by dkandsm

Thank you!

How long did any of you have to stay out of work?

Do you need frequent aftercare?

I work in Quality Control and I have to be able to lift machines that are 60 lbs...any ideas what they recommend?

Thank you! How long did any of you have to stay out of work? Do you need frequent aftercare? I work in Quality Control and I have to be able to lift machines that are 60 lbs...any ideas what they recommend?

I was sleeved in May and believe that you cannot lift anything over 25lbs for the first month. I have not needed any after care besides blood work which I got done by my pcp with my yearly physical. My husband adamantly said no to Mexico at first. I showed him several success stories with the dr I chose and gave him time. He came around. He said he felt very safe as he had to walk to get food while I was in the hospital and everyone was really nice. Neither of us had a passport since we were told it wasn't needed and was able to get back in without any problems but I was scared when we were stopped at the border so I would get one.

It will take some buttering up but I am sure he will come around. If i want something bad enough and for the right reasons he will eventually give in. How long was your stay? Do they require a certain amount of days before you are able to leave?

One friend stayed here in houston and paid 30,000 dollars!!!!

That seems very high for Houston. I was considering Htown and researched several of the doctors and found the prices to be from $7200 or so to around $15,000. If you do a google search for gastric sleeve houston several come up.

There is also a list on the internet of self-pay docs that give prices that was helpful to me:

http://selfpaysleeve.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

Edited October 21, 201312 yr by woo_woo

Yeah I know it seems really high...thats what i thought. She said the 15,000 her doctor charged for performing the procedure was not including the hospital stay she was in the hospital for 3 days after and it totaled close to 30K....yikes.

Thank you for the link, i see what you are talking about.