Hi,

My name is Lisa and I am looking for anyone that lives in Arkansas that has had LapBand surgery and did they have it done in the US or Mexico. I am looking at going to Mexico to Dr. Aceves. Has anyone had any experiences with this Dr? Where are you Arkansas's getting your after care , such as fills etc or if any complications have come up? Please get in touch with me at lgr00_00@yahoo.com. I would appreciate ANY information, good or bad with the lapband surgery, places, and prices of refills etc.

Thanks so much

LisaR

I was banded Feb. 19, 2007 by Dr. Luttrell and have lost 80 lbs so far (306 to 225). Good thing because now almost 1 year to the day my wife and I are participating in a "Dancing With the Stars" charity benefit for the local Christian Health Center in Camden. We're dancing the Waltz.

We spent today shopping for her a dress to wear - lucky me, I get to wear a tux with tails.

It's a lot of work but a lot of fun too, so far.:cursing: I have to say that ballroom dancing is darn good exercise and I have a whole new appreciation for the effort the shows participants put into learning their routines! Wish us luck, we need it!

If you aren't busy February the 23rd and like a good laugh think about coming over. We can use all the votes we can get.

butterfly...Check with the insurance or with the surgeons office and see how much will be written off. My insurance paid the same as yours. But a lot was written off. Talk with the hospital they can help with that too. Also if you have met your deductible, you will not have to pay that over, I had not met mine so that meant another 500 for my doctor. I have arkansas BCBS. I had mine done at the hospital as an outpatitient. No overnight stay. Had mine in Texarkana.

HI there every one in Arkansas! I am considering a band and hve been to Dr. Wellburns seminar and was impressed. But i found out that Dr. Gibbs and Dr. John Baker are preferred providers for Federal BCBS-- nad SURPRISE Federal BCBS now COVERS lap band surgery !!! OMG !! is it possibel i could have this done and have my insurance actually PAY for it?!?!

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!!

I am starkiss_319 on Yahoo if anyone wants to chat.

Hello out there Arkansas! I posted around here sometime a few months ago (maybe it was like 7 or 8 months ago) about lab band in LR area with Dr. Wellborn. Actually, I attended a seminar & was told up front that they will not accept Federal BC/BS & will ask that I self pay. I do not have that kind of $ nor could I even finance it. At that point I felt like I hit a brick wall & didn't bother trudging through any other obstacles. Well, I'm back to lurking again. I wanted to know if Federal BC/BS will provide a pre-auth number & how did you get them to do it? That was the case with Dr. Wellborn is he said they will not give pre-auth, they just say they cover it if you meet the criteria (which I do) and will pay claims after the fact. According to Wellborn, they have had many problems with "after the fact" so they accept self pay and make the patient get the $ from the insurance company. Anyway, I had looked into Lutrell but my primary doctor said no & recommended Backer instead. I have not done any fruther research for fear of "rejection" so to speak. I guess I'm here for info and support. Thanks for listening if you got this far.

i do not have federal bcbs, but i have bcbs advantage, and they have a written exclusion for anything obesity related....anything...

Hey, Jacksonville here too, I spent alot of time today on the phone with Leslie at Dr. Welborns office. She is a delight., I would love to hear how you are doing in your weight loss. I am just starting my process...whew,,,,I hope to have it done this year.

Hi folks, I had the band on 3/5/08 with Dr. Baker. He & his office have been great. I am down 28 lbs thus far & feel absolutely wonderful! I can't imagine feeling even better as more weight is lost.

Hi everyone. I had a fill today. Lost 8 more pounds....

Dr. K. said she was proud of me that was where they want you to lose at, 1 1/2 pound a week.

This week-end I did yard work, rake and burn leaves and fishing. When I went in that evening I told my husband I don't remember the last time I have been able to work that long with out quitting.

My breathing is better.

Hi, had my fill yesterday. Lost 8 pounds.

What helped me start losing again was to keep a daily record of everything you eat.

You will be surprised at what you see.

Don't lie on the journal.

melody, how is the process going with you? leslie is great, i e-mail her all the time (well i did before work took it away). she is very fast to respond.

How is the weight loss coming? At Goal yet?

I too am considering using dr. luttrell......time will tell

howdyy, i think i will be having my surgery w/ Dr. Luttrell.. The way I am working on financing,,,,i just seem to be leaning in his direction. I went to the seminar this week and he was a delight. I have had the staple procedure back in the 80's and he is encouraging that I am a candidate for the Lap band, Ev en though I have been altered.

HI there every one in Arkansas! I am considering a band and hve been to Dr. Wellburns seminar and was impressed. But i found out that Dr. Gibbs and Dr. John Baker are preferred providers for Federal BCBS-- nad SURPRISE Federal BCBS now COVERS lap band surgery !!! OMG !! is it possibel i could have this done and have my insurance actually PAY for it?!?!

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!!

I am starkiss_319 on Yahoo if anyone wants to chat.

I have this insurance as well. Just wondering if you went ahead with the procedure, and

if so how are you doing?

I had decided against it, but of course keep wondering if I should give it a try.

I had the lap band on 3/5/08 with Dr. Baker in LR. I used Federal BC/BS and they paid everything within a month of having the sgy. I don't regret having the sgy at all. I am stuck right now, but I am going to start a food journal and see where I am messing up. :rolleyes2:

Giggle & I have the same insurance, same doctor & surgery on the same day...crazy huh? I just wanted to add also that I had no problems with Federal BCBS. My claims were all paid within a 2 month period. jaybee: If your BMI is 40 or greater, you should not have any issues with your insurance.

Actually my bmi isn't 40, but I do have degenerative discs and high blood

pressure. I understand those are some of the criteria if your bmi isn't that

high. Mine is closer to 33, but since menopause nothing seems to help and

exercise is horribly painful except walking - slowly!