Hi all,

i am looking to get my surgery through 'beliteweight' in detorit, they have a couple of doctors, i believe that their main surgeon is Dr.Webber however. Anyways i was wondering if anyone has gotten their surgery through this group ?? any input on your expierences would be great too!!! ANd i am open for suggestions for doctors in the northeast who are well reputed and inexpensive(i have no insurance!) thanks for all of your help!

Lauren

I'm sorry but where is Detorit? Is "Beliteweight" a support group or group of doctors

Hey pam,

sorry for the spelling error i meant detroit, michigan. Im not sure but it seems to be both a support group and a surgeons group. They offer all inclusive packages for people without insurance coverage. They perform surgery in Detroit or Mexico.

A lot of people have been complaining a LOT lately about belite (sp?). They say that once surgery is booked they are ignored. Phone calls go unreturned, etc.

Might want to do a search and see for yourself. I don't really know a lot about them. They are an agency paid by docs to advertise and drum up business for them. They used to work for Dr. Kuri in Mexico and when that contract ended they went to other docs. They get a commission off of each person they recruit for their docs.

Lauren, I went through beliteweight and I wasn't overly impressed. They seemed pretty disorganized and my husband never did find the hotel he was supposed to be staying at. Instead he spent 2 nights on a drafty bench in my room. I received one post-op phone call at about 2 weeks, and after that nothing. There were just lots of things. They did give me the phone number of a local doctor who does my fills when I asked, so I'm grateful for that. Maybe they're better at it now, it seemed that they were trying.

So, beliteweight is just the booking company...ok..so who has had the surgery done in detroit?

So, BeLiteWeight is just the booking company...ok..so who has had the surgery done in detroit?

BeL is the company that advertises for the doc, arranges surgery, schedules everything, and does all the before and after work. If you have problems getting return calls just think of what it will be like after the surgery is done and you have a problem or question.

I would find a doc where you can work directly with the doc's office and THEIR staff. If BeL won't let you do that, or if the doc doesn't want to deal with you before or after surgery then I would find someone else. This is a band for life, you need follow up care for life.

Talk to the doc or at least his staff personally. If you can't get through to the staff now you won't be able to after all is done and over.

Most docs want the best for their patients, their rep depends on it. Besides, they didn't go into medicine to screw people over, they want to make a difference. So talk to the doc's staff if you can't get anywhere with BeL.

Hi,

My name is Jane. I had Lap-Band surgery at Harper Hospital in Detroit, on August 28th. I went through BeLiteWeight. I have no complaints. My doctor was Matthew Weiner. I was impressed with him. Everything went great. I just had my first fill with him on October 8th. It went great, no problems. And I am not hungry. I would recommend Harper Hospital. I got great care. Really no problems with BeLiteWeight either. But when I was there on Oct. 8th, Dr. Weiner told me they probably won't be using BeLiteWeight anymore because of all the complaints.

I am presently going thru paperwork for surgery Nov 9 at Harper. I assume I get assigned a doctor when I get there?

I live in St. Louis so I will be going to Kansas for refills. Anyone been to the persons in Shawnee Mission or Topeka? How hard is it to go get refills from the person who did not do the surgery. I will have to get established good with a re-fill Doc!

I am booked for Nov 9 at Harper Hospital thru Belite at The Michigan Obesity Surgery Specialists. $11,700 for self-pay fills are $150.

I was banded Sept 27th at Harper Hospital by Dr. Weiner. I also went through Belite. I was very unhappy with them. Once they have your deposit you can not get a call or email response from them. It was not until I finally threatened to cancel my surgery did they call me back.

I have not complaints about Dr. Weiner though. He was so nice and I loved him. I will go back to him for my fills. I was not happy with his staff. Jackie who is the girl you have to call and deal with for anything. She does not call you back. It was the day before my surgery and I still had no idea when my surgery was (at what time). I left her 5 messages over 2 days and never got a call back. I live about 4 hours from the hospital and planned on leaving the day before. But since I could not get a call back from her I had to leave at 5:00am the day of my sugery. The only reason I got a call back from her the day before my surgery is because I found an email address to an administrator of the hospital and complained. I received a call within 30 minutes of sending it.

I would recommend Dr. Weiner but not Belite.

I wonder what is going on. It used to be that nobody mentioned BeL one way or another and now it seems to be mostly one complaint after another. Not enough staff? Too much business? Thoughts?

I am presently going thru paperwork for surgery Nov 9 at Harper. I assume I get assigned a doctor when I get there?

I live in St. Louis so I will be going to Kansas for refills. Anyone been to the persons in Shawnee Mission or Topeka? How hard is it to go get refills from the person who did not do the surgery. I will have to get established good with a re-fill Doc!

Often it is VERY difficult to get fills from someone other than your surgeon. You MUST MUST MUST get after care set up RIGHT AWAY, as in NOW. Call around in your area and find someone who will take you WELL BEFORE you have surgery. Please, please get your aftercare set up now.

Frequently there will be an extra charge for you not being one of their patients. It varies so widely I can't even give you an average. Sometimes it's an extra charge per fill, sometimes it is like a "program fee" to even take you on as a patient and then an additional fee per fill, too. Make sure when you call around that you ask about their fees for coming on as a patient banded elsewhere.

I wonder what is going on. It used to be that nobody mentioned BeL one way or another and now it seems to be mostly one complaint after another. Not enough staff? Too much business? Thoughts?

I dont know what the issue is with BeL. I think maybe they are to big and once they think they have the sale they move on and look for more. Instead of giving the customer service they should

I had surgery September 21 through Belite with Dr. Webber at Harper. I was very pleased and was well taken care of. I have no complaints.

We stayed in the International House for 3 nights. The place is old and not the Hampton but it was close and convenient in case something should happen before going home. We had a 5 1/2 hour drive home and I was instructed very well on how to be careful with my new band. The doctor gave me his home phone in case of emergency.

The hospital is full of interns and new students. It is an old hospital but it was very clean. I had a private room and around the clock nursing. Doctors here in Indy do the surgery on an outpatient basis and I felt good at least staying the night.

I am doing great, no vomiting, no gas problems, all is well!

If anyone out there would like to ask a question about Belite or Harper I would be glad to answer.

I also was taken care of by Jackie in a very timely manner. All of our correspondence was answered right away.

I just got banded on the 11th by Dr.Wiener and he was GREAT! I dont deal with belite anymore, once i scheduled my surgery and got my dr, i talked to him. He is very informative and conforting, i plan on returning for my first fill. Belite is ok if you plan to deal with ur doc as soon as your booked. Dont expect to hear from them, really you dont need to either. Jackie, shannon and Dr.Wiener took care of all my pre-op questions .. and i plan on calling them for post op questions too!