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'm being banded by Dr Fang on the 6th. He was rated as one of Phx Top Docs, if that means anything. I don't like his office staff very well but they are not doing my surgery. I have heard good things about him. Also check out the Dr you choose on AZ Board of Medical Examiners.

Dr. deBarros and Dr. Orris were the doctors that banded me. They were a little higher in price, however you get a three year support package with them. I have full access to a dietician and 2 monthly support groups and the rest of the staff is terrific as well. I like being able to call there 24/7 and getting one of the two doctors. When I leave a message or send an email, I'm responded to the same day, except for the weekend. But I could get a doctor if need be. i highly recommend Weight Loss Institute of AZ and they have performed together over 700 bandings. Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling.

I also wanted to go to Dr De Barros however Medicare would not allow it as they are not a "Center of Exellence". I went to Dr Fang one of Pheonix "Top Docs". He as a great surgeon but the office staff is another story. So far I've had two fills and dropped 18 lbs since Nov 6th.

I am a self pay (insurance would not cover even a penny, due to the bariatrics clause) and wanted as much support as possible. I had a friend who was banded in Scottsdale and got no support or guidance and has not lost any weight. I'm going in for my 1st fill on Jan. 20th as I was just banded on Dec. 4th. I have lost 31 lbs so far. Good luck with your journey to thin.

The Banner Good Sam has a woderful program. It's through Medicare and they have support meetings every Tuesday. One Tuesday is nutrition, the next one is exercise and the next one is mental health. The fourth Tuesday is everything basically. We are weighed before and attend two classes, weighed at two weeks another class, weighed at 6 months and a year. It's a pretty comprehensive support system. Good luck with your journey. Email me privately if you want and we can compare notes.

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.

After tons of research this is who I am going with as well. He only does Lapband, and he is a proctor, which means he teaches the procedure to other doctors. He also gets all email immediately to his blackberry and will respond to you right away. (I shot the office a nervous email the other morning around 6:30 and he wrote me back around 7ish to let me know one of the girls would be calling me soon with all the answers to all my questions, and she did so, even before they opened) I was researching Mexico bands but thinking about the fact that 1. Its Mexico, so its unregulated. 2. They dont use the same FDA approved bands 3. Who do you go to if they screw up? I have heard many good things, but the bad things happen to outweigh it in my mind.

Is this liz?

Just wondering. Dr. Simpson does not do surgery on people over 60. What if you have had it before sixty but have a problem after 60. Doesn't he have to do the follow up. Just wondering

I am in the Tucson AZ area and went to Dr. Sarah J Lee in Oro Valley. The process, although it seemed long, was straight forward and just took time to complete and deal with insurance snags. The office called me the day I got home and made clear I should call their office if I had any concerns or questions. Dr. Lee is available 24 hours if an emergency arises. Dr. Lee is easy to talk to and provides tons of information to make sure the patient is informed of the process, the procedure, after care, possible complications, preventing complications (to the extent possible by following the recommendations and requirements) support group meetings, etc. Best of all, I didn't feel like another surgery in the assembly line.

I just wanted to give a shout out for Dr. Lee!! Thanks to Dr. Lee and her wonderful staff!!