Hello my name is Tina and I live in Oklahoma. I am currently 359 pounds and in desperate need of surgery but my insurance refuses to cover the procedure. I am considering a self pay option with Dr. Kim in Texas. Has anyone had surgery with him and what was your experience. Any information will

Be most appreciated.

Hi Tina, I don't have any experience with Dr. Kim, but you might explore whether a hernia repair/sleeve option might be for you if your insurance does not cover the procedure. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia (which my insurance covered), which my surgeon then repaired and I paid a small additional fee in addition to also do the sleeve at the same time. This was a significantly less expensive option for me. I'm in Dallas.

Tina, my insurance paid for my surgery but I used dr. victor gonzalez in dallas. He and his staff are absolutely wonderful. I think you should at least give them a call and talk to them.

Hello my name is Tina and I live in Oklahoma. I am currently 359 pounds and in desperate need of surgery but my insurance refuses to cover the procedure. I am considering a self pay option with Dr. Kim in Texas. Has anyone had surgery with him and what was your experience. Any information will

Be most appreciated.

Hi Tina, I don't have any experience with Dr. Kim, but you might explore whether a hernia repair/sleeve option might be for you if your insurance does not cover the procedure. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia (which my insurance covered), which my surgeon then repaired and I paid a small additional fee in addition to also do the sleeve at the same time. This was a significantly less expensive option for me. I'm in Dallas.

I agree, I did the same thing thru Dr. Clayton Frenzel in the Dallas area. You have to go for an EGD test to determine whether you have the hernia; if so then the sleeve only costs you $3500 out of pocket. I just had my sleeve done on Monday and think Dr Frenzel did a great job; other than the incisional pain, I feel great and am very able to drink broth and the Isocure clear Protein drinks with no nausea. In fact I was able to drive back home (NW Arkansas area) two days after surgery. Can't say enough good things at this point.

Thank you for the information.

Had the inverted gastric sleeve with Dr Kim this past August. Best decision I ever made. Down 80 pounds!

He is an amazing doctor and the office staff is incredible. They have an amazing support group as well. I would not have been as successful without them. Dr Kim also has the hernia program available as well (which is what I did).

I started out with Dr Frenzel but his office staff was inept and what a blessing it turned out to be as I couldn't be any happier with Dr Kim and his staff!

Thank you so much for the information Browneyedgirl. Are you local to the area or did you have to travel? If you did have to travel, how many days did you stay in Texas before heading home if you do not mind me asking.

I am local but I do know they welcome/work with traveling patients.

Dr Kim has his own surgical center. It is an amazing facility with a staff that caters to bariatric patients only. My surgery started around 6 am in the morning and I was released around 1 pm the same day. Surgery was on a Monday and by Wednesday I was no longer taking pain meds. By that Saturday I would say I was 85-90% back to normal and was shopping and going to the movies like any other weekend!

Wouldn't trade my experience for anything!

If one needed to stay the night do they have that option or do they close up shop at night? Because you did not stay overnight with an IV did you experience any dehydration? Sorry for so many questions but I really appreciate your answers.

Not sure about overnight stays. I would suppose they have some plan for people who were not ready to be released but I have never heard of anyone needing to be admitted overnight.

No dehydration issues at all. They have precise instructions on how many ounces you have to drink each hour.

It really was overall a painless, easy experience for me but know that each situation for each person is different.

Also, what part of Oklahoma are you in? If possible I would suggest coming to the DFW area one day and meet with two or three surgeons. I actually interviewed three doctors before making my decision and I am so glad I did!

Hi! Dr Kim did my inverted sleeve almost 4 years ago! I've lost 90 and doing well keeping it off! Hes a GREAT doctor. He does not beat around the bush at all. He will be straight forward with you. He is very serious about people and getting their lives changed through WLS and he cares a lot about you!

If you have insurance they have a hiatal hernia program that cost anywhere between 6995-8995 depending on your insurance and if it qualifies for that program. Of course you would have to have a hiatal hernia program too which is very common. It is possible though, he may put you on a weight goal to get to before surgery. If you carry a lot in your belly area its very possible. He wants his patients to have a safe surgery.

The support is amazing going through Kim Bariatrics. The office support groups are held once a month in the office but you can watch them online. They also offered once a month FREE fitness events. Also we have an amazing private patient only Facebook support group you can join after you have surgery. We do lots of fun things together each month! We have gone dancing, bowling, roller skating, ziplined, and we had our very first KBI cruise this past year!! I know you live far away but being on that group helps you big time because you are surrounded by the same information that your doctor teaches. Not like other groups with tons of doctors being represented.

I wish you the very best during your journey! Give them a call or fill out the contact us form on their webpage and someone will call you. https://www.drdkim.net/

You may want to investigate going to Mexico for the surgery. I am an intelligent person and did my research. I was sleeved on 12/28 in mexico. There was someone there from OK as well $4200.

How was Mexico? I am scheduled for the 18th in Mexico

Mexico was amazing, I had a great experience, felt like I was so well cared for. So much staff, I never needed to use my nurse call button.

Hi Tina, I had my inverted gastric sleeve with Dr Kim 4 years ago this month. I lost 75lbs and have kept it off since then. I would highly recommend him and his practice. As mentioned by someone else on the post, he has several different programs depending on your insurance so I would give them a call to see what they can do for you. When I had my surgery it was in the hospital but I know he has his own surgery facility now. I've heard great things about it from other patients in our support group. The support group is one of the best benefits of having my surgery with him. We have a private FB page for just his patients and it is run by patients. We organize local events like going to 5Ks, going bowling, dancing, monthly breakfasts and dinners. I know you are in OK so it might be hard to do those things but we also have lots of online exercise challenges like last month we did a daily plank challenge and this month we have a Abs/Squats challenge. Some of the remote people on the page have even found other patients in their area and been able to arrange meet-up events. It is a very active group, friendly and non-judgmental. I see Dr Kim and his staff once a year for my checkups but I talk to my fellow patients every day and some of them have become like family.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best! This is a scary decision at first but it was one of the best decisions of my life.

Best wishes,

JoAnn