So I have been looking into surgeons in Mexico and some here in the US. I have been researching for a while now and even had a full bariatric work-up (up to pre-surgery visit) before learning my insurance has an exclusion. My sis had the sleeve in the US and her surgeon had her drain tube left in for a full week (just to be extra safe, he said).

I consulted over the phone with a surgeon's staff in Texas (Dr. Stowers?) today and was told he doesn't keep a drain tube in AT ALL. I was perplexed and told the office rep that I have not heard of any surgeons not leaving it in AT THE VERY LEAST for the duration of the hospital stay. I was told that it is just a one night hospital stay...I was also told that if I have a hiatal hernia (which 90% of patients have) that, since I have insurance, the cost would be lower.

I seem to have some red flags in my head going off, so obviously I don't think he's the surgeon for me.

Has anyone here experienced this response regarding the drain tube?

I appreciate your responses.

If you can get it done without drain tube do it. The d r ain was the source of my pain for two nights and when they pulled it out I thought I was going to jump off the bed. Definitely the most painful part of the whole experience.

OMG! I had the same experience. I had mine in for a week, and while everyone was saying they had no pain when they had their drain in, I was in serious pain because of the drain. It actually filled up during the night! I was in so much pain that two percocet couldn't cure it. I waited until my doctors office opened and they removed it. Whoever says that thing doesn't hurt when it's removed must be on some serious sh#$! I almost jumped out of my skin when the doctor pulled it out. I know I screamed, good thing the waiting room was empty. I'm pretty sure people would have run off!

My VSG was done outpatient. I had the J-P drain for one week. [J-P is for Jackson-Pratt drain.] it does not hurt when removed.

Im glad yours didnt hurt but mine cause contant discomfort and hurt like hell when removed. So please be acurate, didn't hurt you.

Agreed! I thought I was having organs removed at the same time they pulled out my drain!!!

Sleeved by a VERY conservative surgeon. No Drain tube. 2 night stay was planned. I stayed 6 nights due to a cardiac issue.

NOT a surgical issue.

Drain tube generally used, but not everybody use a drain tube. It feels a little bit uncomfortable and strange, but no feeling of pain. You can clear your thoughts about it.

Drain tube generally used, but not everybody use a drain tube. It feels a little bit uncomfortable and strange, but no feeling of pain. You can clear your thoughts about it.

Even though she is not getting a drain it would probably best to state that YOU did not have pain. Some people are not that LUCKY. Everyone is different. I'm just saying.

I know several doctors that have a lower price for self-pay VSG if they are already going in to fix a hiatal hernia. As a matter of fact, a little over a yr ago, when I was thinking I was going to be self-pay, every single dr I talked to lowered the price Bc insurance was paying for hiatal hernia repair.

April

I'm 13 days post op, I had one for the duration of my hospital stay which was 4 days.

I too had no drains, I was his last surgery of the day(2pm) and by 11am the next day they said I was ready for discharge, but since I paid cashed I opted to stay the second night since I paid for it anyway!! I had a leak test in surgery and one the next day in radiology! I'm glad I stayed two nights, the difference in how I felt day 2 was amazing! Plus their halls are muuuuch longer than mine so my mucho walking was a but more exciting!

I didn't have a drain. Just a 2 night stay at hospital.

I had a one night hospital stay and no drain...

Two nights; no drain. Leak test at the end of surgery. I really don't think surgeons are "saying" you have a hiatal hernia when you don't. At least Aetna will not pay more for the hernia repair, but as someone else said, my surgeon corrected it anyhow. I knew I had it from pre op testing. If you want to go to Texas, BMI in San Antonio has great surgeons! Mine was Dr. Seger; Dr Duperier also is. "Top Doc". And, as a side benefit, both are very attractive and have super bedside manner. At least that was my experience.

Done in Maine. No drain tube for me. A 2 night hospital stay is required. I was in for 3 nights.

No drain. 1 night stay (though I could have stayed two) and I had a hiatal hernia repaired.

Re the hernia...insurance will cover hiatal hernia repair even when they won't cover wls, so a lot of the expense then can be covered by them because it is covered as hiatal hernia repair.

For me it was a moot point because my insurance paid for the wls

Same for me.

Done at Kaiser! No drains! 1 night stay! Perfect recovery!

Done at Kaiser! No drains! 1 night stay! Perfect recovery!

Same for me! What Kaiser facility did you have your surgery? I had mine done at Kaiser in West L.A. and it was a great experience...minus the gas I had.