HI,

I am newbie and was wondering if anyone knows of any good doctors in the KC area. I would really like a woman-but any good suggestions would help. Thanks so much.:help:

Hi-

I went to Dr. Malley's seminar. I had been to one other, but I am impressed that Dr. Malley has done nearly 700 lap bands and he takes my insurance as in-network. I had my consult today with him and he is quiet, but really nice and gave me lots of encouragement.

I have only heard of one woman in the KC area. I think her name is Wanda something... not sure of her last name.

Hey thanks so much. Yeah, I heard about him and his clinic. I also thought about the kansas city bariatric center. What kind of requirements does he have? Do you have to wait long for a surgery date?

I am going through insurance so yes, I have to wait a long time. Well it seems like a long time to me. I am still doing my 6 months of required doctor's diet. My insurance requires it, not Malley. I am only into my 2nd month of the diet thing and i'm not sure I am doing it right so waiting to hear from the insurance gal at his office.

I think if you are self pay, you can get in much quicker. I got my appoint for the consult in less than a week so I am sure if you are self pay, you can get in much quicker for the surgery.

Are you using insurance?

Have you checked out one of his seminars. They won't even see you until you do one of those.

Good luck-

Rebecca

Sarah,

Malley patient here also. Love him! Quiet, but a very nice, caring man. Go to one of his seminars, they are quite informative. I was self-pay so I had my surgery scheduled within 4 weeks of attending the seminar. Best decision I ever made. Good luck with your decision.

Another satisfied Malley patient here! He is very quiet, so if you are looking for a lot of conversation, he is not the guy. He will answer any question and give you good advice though. He is a very good surgeon and well thought of by the staff at Menorah, so that says a lot. I mentioned how quiet he was to one of the nurses when I had my surgery - she said he is quiet unless he thinks his patient is not getting what they need.

He was the first surgeon in town to get the new AP band also, since he is a proctor for Allergan he had them in May. My husband was one of his first patients to get one and he made sure they had one for me when I had my surgery in June, because he knew how much I wanted one.

I used the WTLSC. They have online and in person seminars. Had my consultation on May 9th, was apporved by insurance within 2 days, and had surgery on June 15th. They have 5 docs I think, Dr. Ellison was my doc and he was very good.

Hey thanks so much for all of the good info guys. So, does he have his own clinic or is he part of a larger clinic. I have BCBS insurance and the pay for WLS and the restrictions aren't too bad. Have to have a BMI of 40 and have tried a weight loss program for at leat a year. I think there is one more but I can't remember. I am hoping to get it done at the beginning of August or like around loabor day weekend so I don't miss too much school. For those of you that had the surgery- what was the requirements from Doctor Malley?

Hey Sarah-

At the seminar I went to for Dr. Malley they indicated that they may not be able to accept any more BCBS patients. The woman at the seminar said they might be renegotating or something, I didn't quite understand what they were talking about. Anyway, you may want to call and make sure that they can take it.

I hope they can take it! Good luck.

Rebecca

Malley Patient and BCBS!

the problem is that Menorah is the BCBS hospital a person must use, and they are booked through Christmas.. apparently, Menorah only schedules a few days a month for the band. Dr. Malley does surgery on tuedays and thursdays... I had the approval letter in my hand by the end of January but couldn't get in to Menorah until April 26.......... and the wait is much much much longer now.

He is a very quiet but funny guy........ He has a lifesize cardboard cut out of the band Kiss in his office.. I can easily imagine him to be the very SMART, QUIET, ROCKER Guy/student at KU. His requirements are what YOUR insurance requires......... except you DO have to attend HIS seminar before Darlene will make your consultation appointment.

I asked Darlene on Monday (the date of my 2nd fill) if I should keep quiet about our little jewel of a doc and she said no.. cause the search is on for another Doctor to join the practice.......... I think any doctor he would allow to join would have to have the same mentality of the entire staff.......

The woman dr is Wanda Kanowski or something.. look on the doctor/insurance board and you will find out more.

Hi Tracy!-

I'm so glad you popped in on here. I have been reading your posts and your story.

I am hoping and hoping my insurance will cover it. I am still working on my 6 month doctor supervised diet. I am waiting to talk to Rachel too b/c not sure if I am doing that right.

Thank you happy friday!

Rebecca

Malley Patient and BCBS!

the problem is that Menorah is the BCBS hospital a person must use, and they are booked through Christmas.. apparently, Menorah only schedules a few days a month for the band. Dr. Malley does surgery on tuedays and thursdays... I had the approval letter in my hand by the end of January but couldn't get in to Menorah until April 26.......... and the wait is much much much longer now.

He is a very quiet but funny guy........ He has a lifesize cardboard cut out of the band Kiss in his office.. I can easily imagine him to be the very SMART, QUIET, ROCKER Guy/student at KU. His requirements are what YOUR insurance requires......... except you DO have to attend HIS seminar before Darlene will make your consultation appointment.

I asked Darlene on Monday (the date of my 2nd fill) if I should keep quiet about our little jewel of a doc and she said no.. cause the search is on for another Doctor to join the practice.......... I think any doctor he would allow to join would have to have the same mentality of the entire staff.......

The woman dr is Wanda Kanowski or something.. look on the doctor/insurance board and you will find out more.

Tracy I was thinking of you today! I'm going to copy your photo idea and add it to my siggy line if I can figure out how to do that!

Hello everyone!

I wanted to pop back in and add that my step mom works at Olathe Medical Center where Dr. Harlan Opie works. He started doing the a year or so ago, and she says he is very nice. There is also a doc in Leavenworth that has started doing them.. a friend of mine works for him part time.... there is a wide variety of people who use Hoehn at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.........

If you are self pay and in the KC area, you might want to trot on over to Topeka to Tallgrass where they do bands for around 11K.......

KU girl: I will say that MAKE SURE you check and see your doc 1 time a month every 4 weeks and have them note it on your chart. If your insurance is demanding a 6 month diet, they are obviously picky.

I am a regular over on the GENERAL Discussion board on the Shrinking Violets thread.......feel free to pop in and post.

I'm also a Malley patient! He is wonderful. Yes, he's quiet but he is a sensitive and funny guy once you get to talking with him. I definately feel confident going with him for the procedure. My surgery is for July 31st, I'm so excited!

City: Have you started your pre op diet yet??? LOVELY Congrats on your date its fast approaching.

Congrats on your date citygirlInKs that is awesome!

Thank you Tracy!

I'm going for my 3rd appointment for the supervised diet next week or the week after I think. I have Cigna so they are pretty strict and I am not sure going to the doctor and telling him that I am sticking to the diet that the nutritionist gave me is good enough or if I should be doing WW or something so guess I will need to talk to Rachel at Dr. Malley's office.

I think I will be approved, but I do have plan B which is Tall Grass in Topeka if I have to be self pay. I can borrow against my 401K and get a small loan for the rest. I would rather pay myself back with interest than a bank with interest. I have heard the doctor over there is good too. My friend's step mom is a post-op nurse so she sees all those patients. But that is plan B and I am going to think positive that plan A will come to be! Cigna will pay Cigna will pay Cigna will pay Cigna will pay Cigna will pay. I will put it out to the Universe. Watch the Secret, it's awesome!

Happy weekend every one!

Rebecca