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Hello,

I am looking into how to start my journey. I don’t know where to go or to contact? Could you please help?

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Check for insurance coverage of WLS➡

Primary physician ➡

Get a referral to Bariatric surgeon ➡

Decide if its right for you ➡

Eat at favorite restaurant ➡

Begin required diet/testing ➡

Wonder if you can just do it "naturally"➡

Tell family/friends ➡

Hear horror stories ➡

Eat at your second favorite restaurant ➡

Gain 5lbs & decide it's time to get serious ➡

Complete all prerequisites ➡

Wait for insurance approval & receive it ➡

Schedule surgery ➡

Wonder if you should just do it "naturally" ➡

Decide to do it anyway ➡

Start and finish some form of pre-op diet ➡

Have surgery ➡

*The rest is up to you*

Good Luck 🌈

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44 minutes ago, Ikram said:

Did anybody pay out of pocket? How much was it?

I did. I did the fast track program through Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas Nevada... I don't have insurance, so my total cost was $15,000, but I know they offer it for around $6500 with insurance if it's approved. :)

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Even if you are looking into WLS (and I totally agree with the list above), let me suggest one thing you can do already starting now. Keep a food journal! It doesnt have to be detailed but should just be something for yourself of what you eat and when you eat it. This is THE best first step that I did on this journey and everyone can do it. It also showed my doctor that I was serious about the process and showed me where my weak spots were. I started this as a New Years Resolution two years ago and am still doing it.

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2 hours ago, Ikram said:

Did anybody pay out of pocket? How much was it?

I’m paying out of pocket through Blossom Bariatric and it’s $9499 bc they are estimating they can get our insurance to pay the difference up to their $15k fee. The deal with Blossom is if your insurance doesn’t pay the difference then you only pay the amount they quoted you. If you’re 100% cash it’s $15k.

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12 hours ago, Ikram said:

Hello,

I am looking into how to start my journey. I don’t know where to go or to contact? Could you please help?

which country are you in as the process is very different

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3 hours ago, Bastian said:

which country are you in as the process is very different

I live in California and it will be 100% out of pocket since I don’t meet any of their requirements except my BMI is 31.

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12 hours ago, ronjsteele1 said:

I’m paying out of pocket through Blossom Bariatric and it’s $9499 bc they are estimating they can get our insurance to pay the difference up to their $15k fee. The deal with Blossom is if your insurance doesn’t pay the difference then you only pay the amount they quoted you. If you’re 100% cash it’s $15k.

I was looking into that too, I was contacted by an agency this morning and gave me options in Tijuana, Baja Mexico. Also Las Vegas. But Mexico way cheaper. Do you think staying in the US is a better choice? And mine will be 100% out of pocket.

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1 hour ago, Ikram said:

I was looking into that too, I was contacted by an agency this morning and gave me options in Tijuana, Baja Mexico. Also Las Vegas. But Mexico way cheaper. Do you think staying in the US is a better choice? And mine will be 100% out of pocket.

Hey! I’m not self pay, but there is a forum on this website for those who are & also discusses options in Mexico. I like to read through it just in case I were to get a denial or something. Hope this helps!

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46 minutes ago, danielleleigh90 said:

Hey! I’m not self pay, but there is a forum on this website for those who are & also discusses options in Mexico. I like to read through it just in case I were to get a denial or something. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much!!! I will look for it :)

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Check for insurance coverage of WLS
Primary physician
Get a referral to Bariatric surgeon
Decide if its right for you
Eat at favorite restaurant
Begin required diet/testing
Wonder if you can just do it "naturally"
Tell family/friends
Hear horror stories
Eat at your second favorite restaurant
Gain 5lbs & decide it's time to get serious
Complete all prerequisites
Wait for insurance approval & receive it
Schedule surgery
Wonder if you should just do it "naturally"
Decide to do it anyway
Start and finish some form of pre-op diet
Have surgery
*The rest is up to you*
Good Luck

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I used insurance for mine, but I know a TON of people who went to the OCC in Tijuana and it's suppose to be world renowned. My sister is going there this week for surgery and she had to pay $6500. Def worth looking into!!

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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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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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