ESG providers in Florida?

[KristinW 0]

Hi there,

I am new to the forum and I have been considering getting a bariatric procedure. I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. I have tried everything I can to lose weight, but I seem to just keep getting bigger. The vanity of it is one thing, but now my bloodwork is showing me some scary realizations about myself. High cholesterol, very high triglycerides, slightly high readings on the liver enzymes (I think that's what it is, but I am not 100% sure what it means other than it's high), and my fertility hormones are all out of whack. I don't want to be this way anymore, but everything I try, I just can't succeed at because I am so hungry all of the time! It's frustrating! Even right now... I just ate a healthy, satisfying meal only 2 hours ago and I feel like my stomach is about to turn itself inside out just to get some more food. I considered having the sleeve procedure done a few years ago, but decided against it because I did not want to have an operation. My mother mentioned that she's heard some good things about the ESG procedure and I just wanted to get some feedback on what it is like on the patient side. I have done my internet research, but that can only get someone so far. I'd like to know if anybody has any negative feelings about it after having it done and of course, I'd love to hear any positives. I live in southwest florida and there is a big bariatric surgery center one city over, but it doesn't look like they have the ESG. Does anyone in Florida know of where I can get it done in Florida? I have started corresponding with a place in Houston, but I'd like to try to stay as local as possible. Any advice?

[frust8 963]

Kristin i'm just going to give you the advice,to Google your search.

Also leave a message on the ESG thread,,for one of the people on there, do it as @ their name or better yet just respond to the latest posting, say Hi my name is KristinW and I have some questions about ESG? Odds are good they'll respond back. Good luck, I will be having a RnY for,multiple reasons but I try to help where I can. God Bless[emoji13]

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

[TransitionKate 4]

Hi Kristin,

I am 25 days, post-op, from getting an Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty done at the mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL.

Dr. Victoria Gomez was my surgeon. The procedure took 90 minutes total, and I only stayed overnight in the hospital. The recovery pain was manageable (I slept off the anesthesia, and the nurses came in every couple of few hours to administer fluids and pain meds). Since it was an endoscopic procedure, they warned I would have a raw throat or pain swallowing afterwards....but I didn't. Not in the least. I think that speaks to how good of a surgeon Dr. Gomez is.

Day 1 & 2 post-op, minimal pain...managed with some Rx drugs they gave me to take home. Day 3 - back at work. Seriously.

I've been very pleased. What AMAZES me is not only how so very little food fills me up now, but how I have little to no hunger. I've read that after a couple of months, my hunger will come back, but I'm telling you, it is the most freeing feeling. Food doesn't occupy my every thought any more. It's a non-issue. And tell you what, so is my grocery bill.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the process. I'm happy to share.

~ Kate

[Dana B 0]

On 4/21/2018 at 7:58 PM, TransitionKate said:

Hi Kristin,

I am 25 days, post-op, from getting an Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty done at the mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL.

Dr. Victoria Gomez was my surgeon. The procedure took 90 minutes total, and I only stayed overnight in the hospital. The recovery pain was manageable (I slept off the anesthesia, and the nurses came in every couple of few hours to administer fluids and pain meds). Since it was an endoscopic procedure, they warned I would have a raw throat or pain swallowing afterwards....but I didn't. Not in the least. I think that speaks to how good of a surgeon Dr. Gomez is.

Day 1 & 2 post-op, minimal pain...managed with some Rx drugs they gave me to take home. Day 3 - back at work. Seriously.

I've been very pleased. What AMAZES me is not only how so very little food fills me up now, but how I have little to no hunger. I've read that after a couple of months, my hunger will come back, but I'm telling you, it is the most freeing feeling. food doesn't occupy my every thought any more. It's a non-issue. And tell you what, so is my grocery bill.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the process. I'm happy to share.

~ Kate

Kate, how is it going now? I spoke to someone at mayo today about ESG, but they made it sound pretty expensive. The self pay program sounded higher than a gastric sleeve at many other locations. Do you mind if I ask ball-park how much the surgery costs at mayo? I am looking for an ESG provider in Florida.

[Picalo 0]

Hi Dana and transitionkate. Im considering the ESG with dr. Gomez. She's a great doctor but I'm completely self pay. The surgery is supposed to be about $11000... that's fine but there is another $10,000 worth of required appointments with therapist , nutritionist and the bariatric surgeon. That may be a deal killer for me... Dana, what did you end up doing?

Edited May 1, 2020 by Picalo

[Hop_Scotch 1,634]

$10,000 worth of appointments seems way over the top

[SamanthaC12 4]

I'm from Central Florida and did a ton of research before selecting a doctor. The only place I felt comfortable with in Florida was mayo Clinic, but the price was insanely high. I ended up going to Dr. McGowan in Raleigh, NC. I flew in with my sister the day before the procedure. Had the procedure on a Friday, a nurse came to my hotel on Saturday to give me IV fluids, and I flew out on Sunday. McGowan and his staff are top notch. Their costs are 10 - 12k, depending on which package you pick. For example, the highest priced one includes 1 year of complication insurance, unlimited visits with the nutritionist, etc. I knew I'd have a ton of questions for the nutritionist, so I went that route.

[flgirl23 5]

There is also a surgeon in Tampa who is doing the procedure: Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty | Weight Loss | Trinity, FL (bariatricendoscopytampabay.com). I am not sure how many surgeries he has done or know anything about him but it seems there are more and more doctors that are starting to do this type of surgery.

Edited March 20, 2021 by flgirl23

[MAWMAWX3 1]

Atlanta surgical offers this procedure for$6,500 for self payers.

[floridagirl23 3]

I wasn't aware they even offered this procedure. Or are you talking about Georgia Surgicare? I would be concerned with how many procedures they have done. I believe in order to reach master skill level, you have to have done 50-100 procedures.

[floridagirl23 3]

2 hours ago, MAWMAWX3 said:

Atlanta surgical offers this procedure for$6,500 for self payers.

Please provide link as I am curious although if they have not been doing it long I would be weary. I am leaning towards True You in NC because I have heard they have the highest success rate. I contacted Georgia Surgicare and it was almost the same price so I figured I might as well pay an extra $1K and go with the best. The lowest price I have heard was Dr. Abel Bello who does it in the Dominican Republic for $6,500. He has a practice in Plantation Florida also but he charges $10,500 here in the U.S.