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Hi, I live in the Tampa Bay Area and I’m looking into getting the gastric sleeve, but there are SO MANY options of doctors out there. Also, I will be self pay. While the price isn’t and shouldn’t be the main factor, it is one since my insurance has a specific exclusion. I’ve looked up reviews online but it’s hard to tell what’s real and fake, and some aren’t even about weight loss surgery, and none mention self pay. I was hoping I could come to real people with real experiences. I also don’t want to waste a bunch of doctors times. I’ve heard really good things about Bay Surgical Specialists, and am set to go to a upcoming seminar with Dr. Kevin Huguet. Any and all advise and experiences would help! Thank you.

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I’m in Boca Raton and some people in this area speak highly of Dr. Shillingford. He didn’t work out for me but they offer a flat rate all inclusive package that covers everything for gastric sleeve at $10,500.

I had a hard time with my insurance due to not meeting their comorbidities even though I have plenty of medical problems. I have metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, bone and joint problems, I couldn’t prove my sleep apnea, (the list is long)

I fought my weight gain so hard but In the end I ended up qualifying based on BMI, though no one ever told me exactly what qualified me. After a long fight they finally did.

What made things work better was when an endocrinologist referred me to Cleveland Clinic, and I already had record of my weight loss efforts with her and my general practitioner for months. The endocrinologist and surgeon wrote letters for my insurance as well. I was referred to Cleveland clinic because the process is not as complicated. It’s hard for me to travel but I don’t think it would have happened without my dr at Cleveland Clinic.

BariatricPal actually has a surgery center in Mexico if you can travel. Compared to Dr. Shillingford, sleeve is $4,900 flat rate all inclusive in a highly rated facility. If I could possibly even consider it at some point, I would go there for dealing with excess skin. It looks like an excellent hospital that’s an affordable option for self pay.

https://bariatricpalhospitalmx.com/weight-loss-surgeries/

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Hi, I live in the Tampa Bay Area and I’m looking into getting the gastric sleeve, but there are SO MANY options of doctors out there. Also, I will be self pay. While the price isn’t and shouldn’t be the main factor, it is one since my insurance has a specific exclusion. I’ve looked up reviews online but it’s hard to tell what’s real and fake, and some aren’t even about weight loss surgery, and none mention self pay. I was hoping I could come to real people with real experiences. I also don’t want to waste a bunch of doctors times. I’ve heard really good things about Bay Surgical Specialists, and am set to go to a upcoming seminar with Dr. Kevin Huguet. Any and all advise and experiences would help! Thank you.
Hello, i live in Dunedin and i used Dr. Small. I love him and his staff, they work along with you,to help you prepare for surgery and help you after to make sure you get the best results from your new tool. I'm so happy i went with Dr. Small. Good lick to you and your new journey!

Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

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Hi, I live in the Tampa Bay Area and I’m looking into getting the gastric sleeve, but there are SO MANY options of doctors out there. Also, I will be self pay. While the price isn’t and shouldn’t be the main factor, it is one since my insurance has a specific exclusion. I’ve looked up reviews online but it’s hard to tell what’s real and fake, and some aren’t even about weight loss surgery, and none mention self pay. I was hoping I could come to real people with real experiences. I also don’t want to waste a bunch of doctors times. I’ve heard really good things about Bay Surgical Specialists, and am set to go to a upcoming seminar with Dr. Kevin Huguet. Any and all advise and experiences would help! Thank you.
Hi, I live in the Tampabay area. Dr. Keyur Chavda at Surgical Associates performed my surgery. I was sleeved on 7/31/19. Dr. C and his staff our wonderful!!

5'4"
Starting weight 297
VSG on 7/31/19
Surgery wt: 266
CW 238
GW 135

Sent from my [samsung Galaxy] using BariatricPal mobile app

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Dr. Keyur Chavda is an excellent Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon. He is skilled in Robotic and Laparoscopic surgery. He is very compassionate and caring and his stats speak for themselves. He is very skilled and takes his time. He has been in practice for 23 years and has been at Brandon Regional Hospital for 12 years, he holds the Master Surgeon Certification with SRC and is a Comprehensive Verified Surgeon with MBSAQIP.

Always ask specific and stats when researching your surgeons.

Cases performed, death rate, leak rate, all the quality indicators is essential when researching Surgeons

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Dr. Keyur Chavda is an excellent Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon. He is skilled in Robotic and Laparoscopic surgery. He is very compassionate and caring and his stats speak for themselves. He is very skilled and takes his time. He has been in practice for 23 years and has been at Brandon Regional Hospital for 12 years, he holds the Master Surgeon Certification with SRC and is a Comprehensive Verified Surgeon with MBSAQIP.
Always ask specific and stats when researching your surgeons.
Cases performed, death rate, leak rate, all the quality indicators is essential when researching Surgeons

I agree 100% with you. Dr. Chavda was my surgeon and he is amazing!!

5'4"
Starting weight 297
VSG on 7/31/19
Surgery wt: 266
CW 231
GW 135

Sent from my [samsung Galaxy] using BariatricPal mobile app

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Check out Dr. Fridley in Hudson, FL. Just north of tampa. Excellent surgeon and great office staff. Great self pay pricing structured so you can discuss realistic monthly payments for you.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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