I want to be banded. I don't want to wait for insurance to cover it as I am not sure they even will, I am 5'2, 191lbs. I am not sure if that is obese enough to get banded through insurance. So I am going to pay for it out of pocket but I am a little freaked about going to Mexico ( I would have to go alone). So I want to know of anyone who had it done in the US that they paid for themselves, who the doctor was, and how much you paid. Thank you all for any help you can give.

Danyielle

In Oregon I know it ranges from $12k to $20k. Dr. Eubanks at Portland Surgical Specialists does it for $12k and I have heard great things about him. I don't know where you live but thought I would throw the numbers out there. Teresa

P.S. My insurance wouldn't pay and I did go to Mexico and I am very happy with my results. I was freaked a little but did a lot of research and saw pics of the facility on the internet. Best wishes!

Danyielle,

Hi, congratulations on your decision. Where do you live? I was banded in Mexico but recently found out that a doctor very close does the bands for 12k. I am in Washington State.

Where do you live? If you were to be banded in the US, you'd want someone relatively close for your follow up and any incidentals like fills, complications, etc. Have you checked out the surgeon locator at www.lap-band.com ?? That might be a good place to start seeing exactly who is in your area.

Welcome to the forum!

Why are you freaked out about Mexico. I was a self pay and went to Mexico, it is 3 xs more money here in California then what I paid for in Mexico not to mention one of the 3 Drs. here in Cali that I saw one of them told me about Dr. Ortiz since he was trained by my mexican doctor on how to do the surgery. Lots of us here on this site went to Mexico, this is where they were taught first and all the Mexican docs train the US docs. Most Mexican docs have placed more bands then many of the US docs.

Here is a link to my doctors new book and some info about him, his facilities , who he has trained, info all about the band etc..

www.lap-bandforlife.com

There are several outstanding docs in Mexico

Kuri

Ortiz

Rumbaut

Rodriguez

Just to name of few that are very experienced..No reason to be freaked about Mexico Danyielle, they all have beautiful. clean facilities and most of them speak English with English speaking staffs..

I can tell you that I looked into 3 Dr.'s here the lowest being 18,000 the higest being 22,000

I paid 8995 for mine in TJ

I know cheaper is not always better but experience is always better and "most" Mexican docs are more experienced then "most" US docs

Talk to Betty (Iluvharleys), she was banded in Dallas 2 weeks ago, self pay, and loves her doctor. Best of luck to you!

I live in Dallas, TX. Thank you all very much for your help.

In response to the question as to why I would be freaked out about having it done in Mexico, because I don't speak spanish and would be going alone, just seems a little scary to me. I am researching like crazy though and going to a lap-band seminar on Monday to find out all I can. Thanks again.

I had surgery here is Dallas, I went to Dr. Provost. The cost with everything was a little over $18,000. If you go let them know right away you would be a self pay, you will get in sooner.

Good Luck!

Hi Danyielle,

I had my band implanted by Dr. Montgomery, in Kirkland Washington. It was $18,000 and included surgeons fees, hospital stay (one day), anestesiologist and one year of aftercare (fills ect). Outpatients there pay $17,200 (extra $800 for the one night in the hospital -- needed due to other conditions). I have still asked both the doc and hospital to submit a bill to insurance...who knows if they might pick up part. Good luck to you!

Danyielle,

I was banded two weeks ago by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I couldn't be happier! I wasn't "fat" or sick enough for insurance to even think of covering for a little of it. Dr. Ortiz and his facility are the best. Oh and by the way, I took the train from my home in Sunland to San Diego on Thursday, was picked up by their team, and was taken care of the whole time until they dropped me off on Sunday to take the train home---by myself. It was scary at first to think I was alone, but my cell phone still worked and I called all my friends, and then I wasn't alone. If you decide to do it, and need a hand to hold, I'm only about 3 hours away from San Diego, and wouldn't mind holding someone else's hand! (Although the staff did a great job!)

Take care!

I was banded at The Wish Center in Tampa and an out of pocket patient pays around 16,000 and that also includes the support groups they have every month.

I was banded by Dr. Spivak in Houston and paid cash. It cost $14,000, which included all fills for a year. However, an acquaintance just called him to inquire about it and she was quoted a price of $12,000. While doing your research on price, be sure to include costs of travel (if any), costs of fills, etc. I've been very happy with Dr. Spivak's surgical skill, his aftercare, and his office staff. He does not have a dietician, psychologist or any of that, but I don't feel I need this because I have learned so much online. If you can find a good, experienced band surgeon in Dallas, that would be the way to go. Good luck!

Nancy

Danyielle, I'm in Virginia, my doctor charged $4500.00, and my hospital bill, which includes pretesting, ekg, xrays, blood work, etc, anesth, 1 night stay..$10,500.00..in ADVANCE..cash or cashier's check.

Oh yea, my doctor's bill includes fills and follow up for a year.

I was banded in TJ Mexico, and would do it again in a minute. I was treated much better in Mexico than here.

Staci

It's always best to get banded locally, close to home. But if Mexico is your only choice, who said you have to go alone? People from this board go to Mexico all the time for fills, so maybe you can hook up with a band buddy that will meet you there to hold your hand. You don't have to speak Spanish since most doctors send a car to the airport to pick you up. The doctors and their staff all speak both English and Spanish and are very understanding of our American needs (most doctors, that is.)

I wish I could have afforded getting banded here in Vegas. I've been sitting here on hold trying to find out how much it currently costs, and I just choked on my own saliva! The hospital fee alone is $13,000, then you have to add in the surgeon's fees and the anesthesiologists. The surgeon's office wouldn't even quote me a fee, but they said the surgeon is about the same as the hospital.... choke choke.

Danyielle,

Please don't be afraid to go to Dr. Ortiz. He has trained a good many surgeons in the US. He speaks better English than most people here in the US!! So does his staff. I went alone, and was fine!! He belongs to the American Surgeons Assn. ( I forget what it's called), and he is a rep of Inamed (who makes the band). His office is only about a 20 min. drive from the San Diego airport, and he has a driver who picks you up. It was a very positive experience.

Gayle