I had my band put in in Mexico. I found a Dr. here in Michigan that will do fills for me. His prices are 250 for the first fill, and 150 for each fill after that. He also offers a two year deal which includes unlimited fills, dietician visits and support groups.

I don't know which to choose? If I only get three fills per year in the first couple of years, it will be 550.00 per year alone.

How many fills are average per year?

this is a respected bariatric surgeon and I consider myself LUCKY to have found someone that is only a 2 hr drive from where I live that will even touch my mexican band.

YIKES! I need advice!!!

I'd go for the $550.00 deal then you can bug the heck out of him. Hopefully you won't need 4 fills, but if you do, the 4th will be free. Go for the deal, two years, that's a deal, IMO.

OOPS. Maybe I didn't explain that right. It's 250 for the 1st visit, 150 each visit after that- three visits at those rates is 550.00. I don't get a 4th one free, the 4th, 5th etc.. would all be 150 each. I just wonder how many fills everyone else needed in the 1st and 2nd year, and if it would be worth the 2000.00 for the unlimited fills should I need lots of them, plus have unlimited access to a dietician and support groups.

Thanks!

Every single person is different. Nobody, not even your surgeon, can tell you how many fills you'll need. Heck, if I had a guy 2 hours away, I'd be happy to pay $150.00 every time. I personally think the $2000 is too high. That's an awful lot of fills. Plus, what does this $2000 cover other than fills? Does it cover port revisions or other surgeries? Or does it just cover fills, dietician and support groups? I would just pay the $150 for each fill (after the intial higher fee.)

Pati,

I would go for the two year deal. No one knows how many fills you will need. I have had 5 fills and one unfill in 19 months. You would be better off with someone who will offer you a program for your first two years that is local. You may not need more than 1-2, but most bandsters need 3-5 in their first year during ongoing weight loss. The need for a fill should slow down as you get closer to goal. So that would be my advice.

Babs in TX

334/185/170

-149

6/23/03

Babs lost twice the weight as me - listen to her, she knows best! Now I really want another fill. The one I got 1/6 doesn't feel any different at all.

I'd pay each time. I had to have what I consider to be a lot of fills because at first my fills kept leaking out. I also had to have an unfill and re-fill. Still, I don't think it's been more than 7 fills altogether. Since I'm only 16 months into it, let's say I might need another 2 fills before I reach the 2 year mark. At the rate your doctor charges, that would be $1450. That's a lot less than $2000. Personally, the dietician's services and the support group would not be worth paying any extra to me. I've seen many people post about advice their dietician gave them that I consider to be wrong, all wrong. Such as to be on a specific number of calories. You definitely don't need a band for that. And support groups are usually free. If it is a professionally led therapy group, that would be different.

Nancy

Faced with that choice I think I'd go for the package deal, too. Money should never be a reason to delay an adjustment, and if you go for this deal you won't have to worry about it at all for two whole years! Whether it's a fill or an unfill or just a checkup, the peace of mind I'd get from knowing it's all included would be priceless.

Sure, you may not "use it up" but if you don't, that just means things are going extremely well for you. It's like insurance against a situation where you need lots of fills or adjustments, and we all know that's entirely possible and there's no way to predict. I've had four adjustments and, oh, maybe 6 office visits in the last 19 months. I'm sure if my insurance carrier had been given the option to pay $2000 for all services in the first two years, they'd have JUMPED at it.

Pati,

You didnt say how much he charges for the two year plan. Do you know how much this is?

babs in TX

Hi Pati,

Oops I saw the $2,000 price tag for the two years. SO I change my opinion. I would go for the per fill price then. I cant see you needing more than 5-7 fills, although no one can tell you for certain. I cant say that I know any bandsters except for Southern Bandgal that has had more than this. If there is anyone out there that has had more, now is the time to speak! LOL And Nancy is right. THe post op support from most of the docs as far as dietician and meetings and such is not worth the extra money. But if you opt to go for the per fill price, then I would put away at least $1,000 dollars as a contingency budget so you dont have to worry about whether you have the cash for a fill (or unfill ) if you really need one.

Babs in TX

334/185/170

-149

6/23/03

I guess our perspective depends, too, on where we are. My four fills and six office visits would have likely cost me $2400 or so if I paid out of pocket. My doctor does fills at a hospital under fluoro so it's an expensive undertaking.

I had my band placed in November and had my 1st, & 2nd fills in December and a third fill in early January. I may be getting another fill soon. Some people can go for months on just one fill, some can't get through the first month on just one fill, LOL! Its a gamble, that's for sure!!! Good luck with your decision.

I have a different view on this subject.

I had mine done in Mexico and yes I live close to the border, but even if I did not I would continue to do my aftercare with my original surgeon..I chose him for a reason his experience and knowledge of the band not the price because believe me I could of gotten it done cheaper. Does he use flouro when he does fills? Is this the price with or without fluoro? If he does not use flouro do you feel comfortable with that, alot of us here like the fact our Dr's use flouro it gives peace of mind To me that is so important for me to actually see my band and my port and my restriction..2 of the girls who had surgery the same day as me live out of state and they both fly into San Diego and go to TJ for their fills. Not to mention US docs are very conservative with their fills so in the long run you may need several fills if they only give .5 cc's- .7cc's at a time. Would it be cheaper in the long run to go to TJ and have Kuri give you a decent size fill under flouro? These are the questions you need to aks yourself

Who's to say you will need more then 3 fills. For me I Just had my third and I know this one will get me to goal 25lbs from goal ..Everyone is different I know..sometimes though we just have to work a little harder ( mental things) instead making the band do alot of the work, the less ammount of fills/ unfills you have the longer life your band will have according to Ortiz /Martinez

Michelle,

I knew from the beginning that I'd be getting my fills as close to home as possible. And Michigan is a LONG way from TJ. I knew when I got on the plane to come home that the only way I'd be going back was if I had to have the band revised or removed. The airfare, taxi, hotel, food and fill would be over 1000.00 each time if I returned to TJ, and unfortunately that's just not possible. And truthfully.... I felt VERY uneasy just being in Mexico itself.

That's why I found someone who's (in my opinion) highly qualified and close to home. he's done over 200 bands himself and has a nice weight loss clinic set up- he was one that I called to get a price from and talked to before I found out how much surgery costs.

If I had insurance that would have covered the band I would have had it done in Port Huron Michigan.

So now,I need to have my fills take up no more then 1/2 of a day due to my schedule and the schedules of my 4 young children.

I wish I could go back to Dr. Kuri, I'd be crazy not to if I lived close like you do. His fills are FREE for life.

And yes, this Dr. will do flouro. not every time, but he does use an ultrasound to guide the needle into the port so that the chances of damaging the port or puncturing the tubing are lessened.

Pati, sounds great I am glad you have it all worked out. I hope your fills go very smothly for you. As long as you are happy with your decision that is all that matters right? Good Luck