Hi looking for anyone banded in Austin Texas. Looking for where, when, how much, etc. THANKS Trying to do my homework on where to have it done.

I'm getting banded Friday. The cost is $12,500, including a year of after-care and free fills. In addition, it was $250 for the initial consultation, $75 for the nutritionist, $150 for the psych evaluation, and $515 for the labs and tests through my GP's office. I will also pay $100 for the preoperative appointment next Tuesday. So that's a total of $13,500. I will probably also get a bill for the blood tests from the lab.

Here's Dr. Ganta's site: ::: AUSTIN INSTITUTE OF BARIATRICS & LAPAROSCOPY :::

If you give them a call, you'll talk to Joy, who is very friendly, helpful, and informative. Good luck!

Thanks Longhorn! That's exactly what I'm looking for. I have been to True Results this week, and for some reason I don't feel 100% confident with them. Nothing really tangible, just a gut feeling. So, I'm trying to weigh (no pun intended) my options. THANKS

I signed up online to go to a True Results "free, $400 consultation." I was supposed to be contacted about it but never heard a word and since it's on the other side of town (I live in Dripping Springs) I decided not to go.

There's a member here, lonestar, who got banded with Dr. Ganta. I emailed her and she was very helpful and encouraged me to call. I also read about him in an Austin Chronicle article written by their food critic. However, she mentioned taking out an $18,000 loan so I thought he was too expensive. He told me that his fees haven't changed but he has worked out better deals with the hospital. He now uses Austin Surgical Hospital on Bee Cave Road near Mopac.

I felt VERY comfortable with Dr. Ganta and his nutritionist, as well as the psychologist he sent me to. And he uses the new AP band, which I really wanted.

He does seminars but I wasn't able to go to one before my surgery because I teach at ACC in the evenings this semester.

Feel free to email or PM me for more information! :car:

Wow Longhorn, you moved fast!! I'm so jealous!

Robynn, I'm also an Austinite, and have my initial consultation with Dr. Ganta on 11/8. I went to both his seminar and SW Bariatrics, and liked Dr. Ganta a lot better-his didn't feel like he was trying to sell me something, and he presented the "bad" statistics as well as the good ones. SW Bariatrics didn't have many hard statistics to quote. Lonestar was also very complimentary about him, and that made a big difference to me as well. I've really got my fingers x'd about my insurance coming through for me.

Longhorn, just out of curiosity, what has your experience been like so far? The psychology exam-who did he send you to?

I'm so excited for you, lol!!

Hi, Laura:

Since I live in Dripping Springs and work south, he sent me to Allison Wilcox. She was great, too! I felt even more positive about my decision after talking to her. She's very "pro-band" for the right people.

I had the same impression about Dr. Ganta. I didn't feel like he was trying to sell me anything but that he believes in the surgery. He answered all my questions very patiently and seemed to enjoy explaining everything. I teach math and teach the same thing over and over again but I love what I do and it never becomes boring for me. It seemed to be the same way for Dr. Ganta.

Good luck! Sounds like you'll be next! :clap2:

Ooooooooooooo I lived in Austin for 13 years and left there kicking and screaming when the bottom fell out of the economy back in the 80's. I miss Austin SOOOOOOOOOO much! I may move back there when I retire....or at least somewhere close.

Hi there, I wasn't banded here, I moved from Scottsdale, Arizona, but we (husband also) have found a Dr. Patel who is establishing a bariatric practice here (he's from San Antonio) and he seems to be quite good. He's uncovered something with my band by doing fluoroscope that hopefully can be corrected. My other doctor didn't use the scope and this wouldn't have been uncovered until it was an emergency. He's only in Austin 1 day a month, going to 2 days soon. If you want his name and number, just let me know.

Hi everyone, Im Mindy I live in Austin but was banded in San Antonio ( I actually live in Buda) I was banded by Dr Jincon . $12,000 first yr of fills free.

There is an additional cost for pre op tests which ran around $700 I think ?

But the $12,000 includes surgery and anestiologist ect. Click on his name in my sig line and it will take you to his site.

I LOVE Dr Rincon . he's awesome. And its only about a 45 mintue drive to SA from here. There is another patient of his I have become friends with that we try to schedule appts on the same day so we car pool.

Longhorn looked into him but he didnt work well with her schedule being in San Antonio. Feel free to ask me any questions . I Highly recommend Dr Rincon .

Love

Mindy

Hi there, I wasn't banded here, I moved from Scottsdale, Arizona, but we (husband also) have found a Dr. Patel who is establishing a bariatric practice here (he's from San Antonio) and he seems to be quite good. He's uncovered something with my band by doing fluoroscope that hopefully can be corrected. My other doctor didn't use the scope and this wouldn't have been uncovered until it was an emergency. He's only in Austin 1 day a month, going to 2 days soon. If you want his name and number, just let me know.

Carole, made me think of a good point , Dr Rincon does all my fills under Flouro until he can feel the port himself. You do have to pay $125 to the hospital for the flouro . But I feel much better using flouro espically being that i am self pay .

Mindy

Hi there, I wasn't banded here, I moved from Scottsdale, Arizona, but we (husband also) have found a Dr. Patel who is establishing a bariatric practice here (he's from San Antonio) and he seems to be quite good. He's uncovered something with my band by doing fluoroscope that hopefully can be corrected. My other doctor didn't use the scope and this wouldn't have been uncovered until it was an emergency. He's only in Austin 1 day a month, going to 2 days soon. If you want his name and number, just let me know.

Carole, what did he find wrong ??

mindy

I am looking into Dr. Ganta. I am attending one of his seminars Thursday evening. I have really not heard anything bad about him or his staff, it has all been great so that makes me feel good.

Wish me luck!

I used the Southwest Bariatric Group (Capital Surgeons Group) in Austin, TX. They have a staff of about 10 or so doctors and their offices are located on 38th & Lamar (across from St Davids).

My surgeon was Dr. B. Brady. She was wonderful (I was banded 11/30). Surgery, hospital stay, and fills until I reach goal totaled $23K. My out of pocket was for the psych eval ($40), the pre-op tests ($60), and the nutritionist eval ($40).

I was banded at St David's hospital (downtown Austin on 38th). Day surgery; was great!

Sorry, forgot something. I tried TrueResults in Austin as well. They never called me back. Didnt research abt whether or not my insurance would pay. The also don't have surgical facilities in Austin. Was going to have to travel to San Antonio for the surgery but they don't tell you that until the end of the "evaluation."

I thought they were shady and I'm glad I didnt use them. Would not recommend them (the Austin location) to anyone.

I used the Southwest Bariatric Group (Capital Surgeons Group) in Austin, TX. They have a staff of about 10 or so doctors and their offices are located on 38th & Lamar (across from St Davids).

My surgeon was Dr. B. Brady. She was wonderful (I was banded 11/30). Surgery, hospital stay, and fills until I reach goal totaled $23K. My out of pocket was for the psych eval ($40), the pre-op tests ($60), and the nutritionist eval ($40).

I was banded at St David's hospital (downtown Austin on 38th). Day surgery; was great!

I'm confused! Does St. David's have a branch at 38th and Lamar now? I thought that was Seton and St. David's, where my first three children were born, is at 32nd and IH-35. But the way these hospitals keep merging, maybe I haven't kept up with the times!

I wonder if the self-pay charge would have been lower. My surgery, if I add in the labs, psych, nutritionist, etc., including a year of free fills, came to about $13,500. But I suspect it would have been more if I had insurance that would cover it. I don't know if that's a discount for us or a gouge of the insurance companies! (Not that they don't deserve it. )

My friend went through TrueResults, the staff in Austin are nice, but not organized. The staff in San Antonio were AWESOME and ORGANIZED!

One of my docs recommended Southwest Bariatrics, but they are not covered on my insurance. Dr. Ganta is, so I will go through him first and see what I think.

I hope you are feeling good since your surgery on 11/30. My friend had hers that day as well.

I will let her know that you did, so if she wants she can ask you questions if you are feeling the same things she is, etc.

Take Care and thanks for keeping Southwest Bariatrics in the back of my mind.

Charlah