I won't be living in the same area forever. In fact, we'll probably only live here another 6 -9 months. If I have surgery with a certain surgeon, and fills are part of that price, what happens when I move? Am I just out of luck? Have any of you had to have another doctor work on your band for slippage, or removal because you have moved? I've heard some say that surgeons won't touch someone else's patients sometimes, but I can't live in the same place forever and I don't want to wait until I'm sure I'm not going to move before getting the surgery. Anyone else have experience with this?

I would definitely have another surgeon approve you for fills before you move. Maybe you could negotiate a little less for surgery based on no fills. My insurance doesn't cover fills and I have probably spend over $2k in 1 1/2 years.

I'm getting my fill done in Mexico and having my post-maintenance done in New York City. You can ask your surgeon to provide you with a list of fill doctors in your destination city. Some docs won't perform fills on patients that aren't theirs, but unless you're moving to a small town, you shouldn't have too much of a problem finding a doc. I'd do that before surgery, though, and price it. Don't know if you're going through insurance, but some insurance co's will cover it and some won't. Good Luck!