I am so confused on what Dr to choose. They all seem qualified and have completed a lot of surgerys. These who are i am thinking about:

Terry Simpson Total cost $16,500

Eric Schlesinger Total cost $13,500

Hilario Juarez Total cost $14,500

I am not looking who is the cheapest but it does help since I am paying out of pocket.

Anybody have good or bad comments on these Dr's??

Please help!!

Need to Lose:help:

I was going to go to Terry Simpson but at the time I was having surgery there was one staff member I just couldn't stand and there was no way I was going to deal with her. So I crossed him off my list however, she's not there anymore.

I didn't like the office policies for Juarez, haven't heard of the second doc on your list.

To be really honest I wasn't looking for price either, I was looking for skill and experience. Had I known about De Barros in Tempe I might have considered him especially since he was just banded himself (I believe in May). After a lot of time, research, and thought I picked a Mexican surgeon. He's 3.5 hours from N Central Phoenix. I adore him and for ME I made the right choice. Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. It was $7800 and that includes absolutely everything including two nights in the hospital.

But Mexico isn't for everyone so you need to see what works for you.

Hi, I went to Dr. Nirmul at True Results. Price was self pay 14,500. They are at FLW/101 area. The office is just starting out. Good luck.

According to LapBand.com, Dr. Simpson and Dr. Robin Blackstone in Scottsdale are the only two surgeons in the Phoenix area that performed over 75 Lap Band procedures last year. Dr. Blackstone charges about 17500 according to her website. Dr. Nirmul at True Results was trained by Dr. Simpson and has assisted on a lot of surgeries, but doesn't seem to have done too many on his own without help; that makes me nervous.

I am curious about Dr. Debarros, but his website doesn't say how much he charges. Does anyone know

I'm just starting out on this journey, but for now Dr. Simpson is my guy.

According to LapBand.com, Dr. Simpson and Dr. Robin Blackstone in Scottsdale are the only two surgeons in the Phoenix area that performed over 75 Lap Band procedures last year. Dr. Blackstone charges about 17500 according to her website. Dr. Nirmul at True Results was trained by Dr. Simpson and has assisted on a lot of surgeries, but doesn't seem to have done too many on his own without help; that makes me nervous.

I am curious about Dr. Debarros, but his website doesn't say how much he charges. Does anyone know

I'm just starting out on this journey, but for now Dr. Simpson is my guy.

Dr. Ortiz from Mexico is who trained Terry Simpson. He's done about 4000 bands and he charges around $8500 or so. You want to find someone who has a total of about 250 bands and no less. I don't know how many De Barros has done.

Hi, I went to Dr. Nirmul at True Results. Price was self pay 14,500. They are at FLW/101 area. The office is just starting out. Good luck.

I think the staff member that was let go from Simpson's office (the one I just couldn't stand and that's why I didn't go to Simpson) is working for your guy now.

I used dr monte shwartz in Tucson AZ and he did a great job. I had my band done on October 1

Who is the name of the staff member you dont like?

Also, Dr Schlesingerr was under a clinic and that is why is stats say under 75 operations. Well, that is what the office told me. Do anyone think this is true?

<p><p>Dr. Debarros charges $19,500 ish. They say it cost so much cuz of two Dr's present.</p></p>

Who is the name of the staff member you dont like?

Also, Dr Schlesingerr was under a clinic and that is why is stats say under 75 operations. Well, that is what the office told me. Do anyone think this is true?

I shouldn't say because I'm only about 99% sure she works there and also, she may have changed her ways. If she is getting a fresh start somewhere I don't want to bring up bad history, for all I know she may be attempting to be nice for a change. HA!

I don't understand what being in a clinic has to do with "under 75 operations". Did he or did he not do 75 BANDS (vs. operations)? That's what I would ask.

Someone might have done 74 bypasses and 1 band. That's a whole lot different from 75 bands.

If you ask most extremely experienced surgeons (1000 or more) what THEY consider "experienced," they will tell you about 250. By that time they have experienced every weird anatomy, every bizarre thing under fluoro, etc. That is not 250 weight loss surgeries but 250 lap bands.

<p><p>Dr. Debarros charges $19,500 ish. They say it cost so much cuz of two Dr's present.</p></p>

That disappoints me about De Barros. That's a horrible answer. ALL bandings have two surgeons, one is the primary surgeon and one is the asst. surgeon.

During banding there are usually five incisions made. Each incision has a trocar where they slide instruments in and out of these metal pole like looking trocars. One is held by a piece of equipment (the one inflating your belly with gas). The others have to be held by the docs. Since most docs just have two hands it requires two surgeons. Four trocars/two surgeons. So even the $7800 Mexican surgeons or the $10K Denver surgeon has two surgeons during the procedure.

The fees are ridiculously high. Guess I won't be pushing his office anymore.

I was impressed with many of the things he has to offer but his fees are high and they don't tell the whole truth about surgeons. They just plain charge too much for self pay folks.

From what I understand, and (I am really just learning all the lingo), Dr Schlesinger worked for a clinic in Scottsdale titled Barix Clinic that closed down earlier this year. I guess all the surgeries were under that name? When I spoke with the coordinator she said she was going to have Obesityhelp update stats. He recently went into private practice and his trying to make a name for himself that is why is is on the lower end. One thing I think is cool is he is a keynote speaker at Obesityhelp conference this weekend.

I went to seminar today and he seemed nice. But nice is not everything.

Gosh Steven C. Simon has over 1000 lapband, I wonder how much he charges! Any one heard of him??

I too went to Monty Schwartz in Tucson (surgery on 09/16/08) and cannot say enough good about this skilled surgeon.:crying:

I went to Dr. Simpson. I was banded on 8/12/08. I like everyone in the office and they have all been very helpful. If I e-mail a question they get back to me fairly quickly. One of the reasons I went to Dr. Simpson is because Lapband is all he does. My surgery took all of about 20 minutes. They give a lot of support.

I went to Dr Schelsinger in north Phoenix and was banded on 8/19/08. Total self-pay is $15,000. The coodinator, Jen is awesome, although I thinks she works in a different department. Dr Schlesinger is very involved and concerened with patient care. His personality is a bit "dry", but I'm not there for the personality. He does eveything himself, consultations, exams, and fills. he seems to be a little on the cautious side, but this reassures me that it's better to be safe than sorry. I am having some complications, but that's a another story. The jury is still out about whether or not he was the right choice.