I am in Orlando and know there are two Fill Centers USA locations within a few hours from me (Tampa and St. Pete). I am trying to stay away from the Fill Centers USA locations because I've read too many negative comments about them.

Where is everyone in Florida getting their fills? I would really like to have the first few fills with fluro (figure I've invested way too much $$ into this for a blind fill).

I've called a ton of surgeons in the area and no one is willing to take patients banded in Mexico. What was most surprising to me is that Dr. Lee Grossbard (who was trained in Mexico, is one of the co-founders of Fill Centers USA and was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico) won't take patients banded in Mexico either! *sigh* :cry

I am willing to travel anywhere in the state for a fill doctor that uses fluro and won't bankrupt me in the process. (Heard Dr. Kim in Celebration is great, but $1000 just to be accepted as a patient is a little crazy.)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Gojaguars,

It's not a dumb question. Fluoro (or Fluoroscopy) is a type of X-ray imaging that allows the Dr. to see your stomach and your band in action. You take a barium swallow and the image of the Fluid traveling through your "pouch" to your stomach can be seen in real time on a screen that both you and your Dr. can see.

Usually what will happen is the Dr. will have you take a sip of the barium and observe how it travels through your pouch to the stomach, then he/she will inject some saline into the band and have you take another sip of the barium. If they like the restriction they see, then you're done for the day, but if not, they will have you repeat this process until they are satisfied with the restriction.

Your stomach will immediately begin to swell as soon as the saline is injected, so even though a fill is being done under fluoro, it might still take a few more minor adjustments in subsequent days or months to get your fill just perfect.

Not all Dr.'s use fluoro for fills, and yours might not -- which is why you might not have heard of it. I personally would not even consider having a fill without it, as it takes all of the guesswork out of the whole process. I also like the fact that every time I have a fill, the Dr. can see my band, my stomach, and my pouch, and confirm that everything is okay and working as it should.

Frangi, thanks so much for the info. That is really interesting. I had noticed some others mentioning the barium swallow and was wondering about that too. So this was very helpful to me and I am sure others too! Thanks for sharing!

Frangi, thanks so much for the info. That is really interesting. I had noticed some others mentioning the barium swallow and was wondering about that too. So this was very helpful to me and I am sure others too! Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome Go J ! :smile::smile:

Hey there

I am being banded soon and need to find a Dr who will 'fill' in Miami. Or near there anyway. Did you find anyone???

Hey there

I am being banded soon and need to find a Dr who will 'fill' in Miami. Or near there anyway. Did you find anyone???

Hi Kizzie,

No I did not -- let me know if you should happen to find anything out. I do know of a few Dr.'s, but as I said before, the prices they want for fills under fluoro are way ridiculous.

Dr.Wizeman does fills for 150.00 if under x-ray 300.00 but most patients

only need the x-ray for first fill he is in Pompano Beach

Wow Bamagal, thank you so much for the information -- that's terrific! Did you use Dr. Wizman for your first fill? Did you like him?

Wow Bamagal, thank you so much for the information -- that's terrific! Did you use Dr. Wizman for your first fill? Did you like him?

Yes I used Dr.Wizeman and will continue to use him,yes I like him.

Does anyone know anything at all about the fill center in Moultrie, GA?

Dr. Kim in Celebration is great!!! He did my surgery and he is wonderful. He is leaving US Bariatrics and opening his own practice with Florida Hospital in the next month. Maybe price will be cheaper!!! Just thought I would let you know!!!

Can you provide an address and telephone number for Dr. Wizeman? Thanks.

Please respond to

komishe@yahoo.com

Can you provide an address and telephone number for Dr. Wizeman? Thanks.

Please respond to

komishe@yahoo.com

Here is his website you can find out anything you want to know about him

there .

http://www.drwizman.com/

I get my fills at a clinic in Tampa. Send me a private e-mail and I will give you the details. I have been to her 2 times and one fill in T.J. I think I am at my right spot of restriction. If I don't stave to death......LOL aprilk1772@hotmail.com The clinic is called Sandels Primary Health. She casts $150. w/o fluro and $75 extra for flouro. I think it may be a little more for 1st timers. Do not get it w/o flouro cause it is a guessing game then.... Get it right the first time.

Edited July 21, 200818 yr by aprilk1772
spelling

Dr.Wizeman does fills for 150.00 if under x-ray 300.00 but most patients

only need the x-ray for first fill he is in Pompano Beach

Hi All,

Have some updated info for you on Dr. Wizman in Pompano Beach/Margate.

If you have been banded by another Dr. he charges $730 for the first fill under fluoro not $300. There is a $500 "program fee" (whatever that is) plus a charge of $230 for the hospital.

Every fill thereafter (which would not be under fluoro I might add) would be $150.

Thanks, but I think I'll pass. First of all, I only have my fills done under fluoro, and secondly at that price, it's still cheaper for me to travel elsewhere.

Still looking........any other info on Dr.'s in South Florida who are in the $200 - $300 range would be great!

Thanks again :smile:!

Hi All,

Have some updated info for you on Dr. Wizman in Pompano Beach/Margate.

If you have been banded by another Dr. he charges $730 for the first fill under fluoro not $300. There is a $500 "program fee" (whatever that is) plus a charge of $230 for the hospital.

Every fill thereafter (which would not be under fluoro I might add) would be $150.

Thanks, but I think I'll pass. First of all, I only have my fills done under fluoro, and secondly at that price, it's still cheaper for me to travel elsewhere.

Still looking........any other info on Dr.'s in South Florida who are in the $200 - $300 range would be great!

Thanks again :smile:!

I personally use Dr.Wizeman myself and was banded in May in Tj,Mexico and he did not charge me that ,so either he is overloaded in patients or this info is wrong.I will be going for my second fill on Wednesday I will ask him then.I paid $75.00 for office visits $75.00 for office fill and $225.00 for fills under fluoro.