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Q bout cost in Brisbane

Sunwyse

By Sunwyse, in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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Sunwyse    1

Sunwyse
Posted

I'm looking at getting my band done by Dr Bowen through the Wesley and I just wondered if anyone else here did and how much were the out of pocket expenses? Also, if you have health insurance, how much did they cover? I know some cover more than others. I'm with HBA and they only cover upto 50% of the doctor's bill.

Michelle

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Chickie    15

Chickie
Posted

Hi Michelle, have you joined the BrisBanders group? They might have some insight...

I was banded almost 3 years ago, and my total out of pocket (after Medicare + private cover) was like $1800... But I am sure things have gone up since then.

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Sunwyse    1

Sunwyse
Posted

Hi Chickie,

I have joined the group, I just thought there might be some people here who aren't there :) From what I can find out, it sure has gone up!

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vixen79au    0

vixen79au
Posted

Hi Michelle,

Blair did my surgery in October 06 and I'm with HBA. I accessed my Super for the out of pocket expenses. I got $6,500 out, probably should have made it about $7,000 but you get a 20% rebate on any amounts of your out of pocket over $1500 on your tax. I got $900 back on my tax. I'm not sure if HBA have changed their policy but I didn't have to pay out of pocket for the assistant surgeon and they covered the whole amount of Blair's fee that has an item number. Blair does have a $4500 fee on top of that which cannot be claimed on your health insurance. There are cheaper surgeons and I'm sure they're good but I didn't really look into any others. I've always been happy with my decision.

Good luck with it all :)

Vicky

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Ashnurse    0

Ashnurse
Posted

I was originally going to go with Dr Blair Bowden but I found him a little expensive...so I looked down the road to Dr John Copp at Greenslopes (operates out of St Andrew's Private at Ipswich too) and in total after getting my rebates back I paid about $3800.... I cannot sing the praises enough of Dr John....a very approachable surgeon with a sense of humour (hard to find) and his staff are fantastic. Also all his visits for fills are bulk billed so no out of pocket expenses after.

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Go To Topic Listing LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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    • LeighaTR

      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!
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    • Doughgurl

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      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!
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    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

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

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