I am really surprised to hear:omg: (besides the ones who went to other countries) that your surgeons are not performing the fills.

I know. I would never allow anyone to fill me but my surgeon.

I have my PA who works with the surgeon fill me. She actually does a much better job and listens to me much better than the surgeon! She is just as qualified as him!

that's really good. Though I have to give my surgeon much props!!!

But again what's up with charging for these fills if they are included with the band

Some do, some don't. Mine does but since he is in Mexico, although he has great rates, it's simply cheaper to go where I live. He charges about the same but if I went to him I'd have airfare to contend with.

Some docs pad the price of surgery to include aftercare and fills. That's great if you are happy with your doc and always will be. But time and time again I've found those who want to switch providers but can't due to already have paid one person...they can't afford to pay another.

I think gastric banding will be so commonplace that surgeons will do surgery, and Adjustment techs will do fills.

We have a couple of really GREAT doctors who do the fills at my clinic that arent the surgeons. I'm perfectly happy with it, they know what they're doing, they've worked with banded patients extensively and are empathetic and experienced. If I want to see the surgeon at any point in time, I can make an appointment to do so without a problem, I simply dont see the need. My doctor knows all that is necessary to supervise me, he just doesnt operate, is all. He's actually a sports medicine specialist too and has helped me quite a lot with my ankle and been supportive of my running, referred me on to a great podiatrist in ways that my surgeon, being a dedicated bariatric surgeon really couldnt have.

The act of a fill is not so complicated, the major possible complications are not so many that I feel exposed in any way. If anything unusual occurred, they'd have me straight back into the surgeon anyway, its all in the same building. So I'm fine with it.

And I dont pay a cent for fills anyway, its all bulk billed.

Wow, I didnt realize the surgeons werent doing the fills. Mine does all the fills for her patients, right in her office. Its nice because I can talk to her about any questions I have while getting filled...Dave

My surgeon does all of the fills, but he doesn't use fluoro. That probably saves me $100, but I'm worried that he will puncture the tubing or worse, especially since my port is tilted and he has to stick me numerous times.

I'd say the reason my surgeon doesnt do the filling, unless you specifically make an appointment with him is so he concentrate on the well paying surgery and not the time consuming day to day stuff, lol.

thanks guys, i'm sure that a tech can do it, actually they would always want to come in and see how my surgeon did it. Its so busy around the office that they can't and so i'm stuck with surgeon. what i really love about him and the staff is that they are really hands on, concerning.