After wading through insurance crud, I looked into self-paying and doing it thru Blossom Bariatric's Fast Track program in Las Vegas. My cost would be $6300 all-inclusive, including hotel and transport between hotel and facility for the five days.

The selling points include convenience as opposed to the options available with my insurance (closest hospital covered by insurance is a 6-hr drive vs. a 90-min flight to LV), no worries about losing weight before the procedure and getting declined (I'm borderline 40BMI), and no 3- or 6-month waiting period.

I have three concerns:

1) Post-surgery followup and care.

2) The "safe sleeve" procedure they do... I can find very little information about it.

3) Not being able to meet the surgeon prior to committing to surgery at the facility.

So... has anybody out there had the "safe sleeve" procedure through Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas?

Did you do it? I signed on with them for February

After wading through insurance crud, I looked into self-paying and doing it thru Blossom Bariatric's Fast Track program in Las Vegas. My cost would be $6300 all-inclusive, including hotel and transport between hotel and facility for the five days.

The selling points include convenience as opposed to the options available with my insurance (closest hospital covered by insurance is a 6-hr drive vs. a 90-min flight to LV), no worries about losing weight before the procedure and getting declined (I'm borderline 40BMI), and no 3- or 6-month waiting period.
I have three concerns:
1) Post-surgery followup and care.
2) The "safe sleeve" procedure they do... I can find very little information about it.
3) Not being able to meet the surgeon prior to committing to surgery at the facility.
So... has anybody out there had the "safe sleeve" procedure through Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas?

I only know about future preop and post OP video's

After wading through insurance crud, I looked into self-paying and doing it thru Blossom Bariatric's Fast Track program in Las Vegas. My cost would be $6300 all-inclusive, including hotel and transport between hotel and facility for the five days.

The selling points include convenience as opposed to the options available with my insurance (closest hospital covered by insurance is a 6-hr drive vs. a 90-min flight to LV), no worries about losing weight before the procedure and getting declined (I'm borderline 40BMI), and no 3- or 6-month waiting period.
I have three concerns:
1) Post-surgery followup and care.
2) The "safe sleeve" procedure they do... I can find very little information about it.
3) Not being able to meet the surgeon prior to committing to surgery at the facility.
So... has anybody out there had the "safe sleeve" procedure through Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas?

Their website provides a detailed explanation of safe sleeve, with pictures if you would click on Procedures in the menu

Did you do it? I signed on with them for February

@Niabird. I'm going to Blossom, my surgery is 1/9, I'll keep you updated on how it goes. I had a friend go 2 years before they had the FastTrak program and has nothing but great things to say about the facility, Dr.'s and staff.

I am scheduled with them for surgery in February also! I cannot wait to hear your feedback.

Psyched to hear about the Jan and feb blossom babes! I’m scheduled for 2/21?

Psyched to hear about the Jan and feb blossom babes! I’m scheduled for 2/21[emoji846]

Yay! I fly out Sunday!!! I am ready to get this going!!

I am scheduled for February 1st. I think my biggest dread is making it through the 2 week pre-op diet!

Good luck to you for your January 9th surgery.

Preop has been challenging that's for sure, my 4th day was the worst...its been much easy after I got over that hump. Stick to it, I have read and been told that recovery is much easier when you follow a good preop diet. Everything all works together. Congrats on your date. You got this!

Thanks I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Good luck! Wishing you safe travels and much success. Can’t wait to hear about your experience.

Good luck! Keep us posted. Mine is feb 1 there. That was the cost without insurance correct?

I am unclear about the cost quote given with respect to insurance. She said that was the quote with my insurance, and it would never exceed that amount, even if insurance declined coverage post-surg. You get the quote in writing, and with the $500 down payment, you're ready to schedule.

I have decided (at least for now) to go to a local bariatric group; however I won't know for three months (after I've gone through all the prep procedures [with their out-of-pocket deductibles] and weigh-ins and classes, etc etc) whether insurance will approve my procedure. I had to bulk up by a couple of pounds to get over 40 BMI (and at the first weigh-in, they used an incorrect height to calculate my BMI). I'm not wild about this particular local group--not particularly good about followup and communication. For example, they scheduled me for an endoscopy mid-December. When I showed up, I was told I had to pay a $900 copay/deductible for the procedure. Afterward, I kicked myself black and blue because I should at least have postponed it for two weeks so it would count toward my 2019 out of pocket max. It just seems to me that someone should have given me a heads up about that cost. (God knows how much the sleep study will cost me.)

So I have to master the art of changing all of my eating habits, exercising daily, but NOT LOSING ANY WEIGHT until my final weigh-in for insurance approval. After that, it'll be full steam ahead.

If insurance doesn't approve my surgery, I'll be back in touch with Blossom Bariatric.

Thank you! I’ll let you know. I paid the 500.00 then my husband had me second guessing doing it at all so now I’m into the next deductible year also and we switched from bc/bs to medica. I also am paying down the 6200.00 but they never made it clear if thaf was including insurance or that plus what’s billed. I started at a local Bariatric place here in mpls and they did the same- said I was a foot and a half taller than I have ever been lol. It was like they had no intention of doing the surgery. I went through 6 months of meds, hoops and everything I have tried all these years and only gained and figured blossom was the way to go. Sorry this is so long but I will keep you posted. ? best of luck !!

I am unclear about the cost quote given with respect to insurance. She said that was the quote with my insurance, and it would never exceed that amount, even if insurance declined coverage post-surg. You get the quote in writing, and with the $500 down payment, you're ready to schedule.

I have decided (at least for now) to go to a local bariatric group; however I won't know for three months (after I've gone through all the prep procedures [with their out-of-pocket deductibles] and weigh-ins and classes, etc etc) whether insurance will approve my procedure. I had to bulk up by a couple of pounds to get over 40 BMI (and at the first weigh-in, they used an incorrect height to calculate my BMI). I'm not wild about this particular local group--not particularly good about followup and communication. For example, they scheduled me for an endoscopy mid-December. When I showed up, I was told I had to pay a $900 copay/deductible for the procedure. Afterward, I kicked myself black and blue because I should at least have postponed it for two weeks so it would count toward my 2019 out of pocket max. It just seems to me that someone should have given me a heads up about that cost. (God knows how much the sleep study will cost me.)

So I have to master the art of changing all of my eating habits, exercising daily, but NOT LOSING ANY WEIGHT until my final weigh-in for insurance approval. After that, it'll be full steam ahead.

If insurance doesn't approve my surgery, I'll be back in touch with Blossom Bariatric.

The price quoted is what you pay them, no more. If you do have insurance they will also bill your insurance carrier and collect that amount. If your insurance carrier does not provide any coverage you will not pay more than that quoted amount. Their Fast Track program starts at $6,799, you pay a $500 deposit to secure your date and pay the balance prior to surgery. My date is 1/9, it has been a great experience thus far.