Hi Everbody! I am really interested in this surgery. I have so many questions I just don't even know how to start. First of all-I do not have insurance...I live near Knoxville, TN...do you know of any great doctors there for this? Also-did I read I could be financed for this? I am a single mother to two kids so I wonder about recovery time? I do have lots of help though during the healing time. How long does it take to get started on this and actually have the surgery? and then how long until you are allowed to lift things? sorry so many questions...I see a glimmer of hope and I am so excited to check back tomorow for your responses. Thank you so much ahead of time! :thumbdown:

Mine: Seminar to surgery was >70 days.... self pay.. some financing from capital one health care(cosmetics surgery)..... ask your docs office if they work with any financing.. sometimes they get deals for referring... I had a 1 year old(at the time), needed help 2 days post-op.

Good luck.

I decided to do this self pay in October, attended the seminar and did the pre-op stuff and had my surgery out patient January 15th. I was back to work on Friday January18th. I have lost 20# so far and have my first fill on Wednesday. This is the BEST thing I have ever done. I say go for it. Good luck .Diane

Welcomed to the forum! I,too, am just beginning myjourney and have found that this sight offers so much insight and support that any questions you have, JUST ASK! There is someone who is always willing to offer advice or suggestions. Good luck to you!

Thanks so much everybody-another question-how do I go about finding a good doctor near me?

I first checked my healthy insurance plan to see who was In-Network. Once I found out which facility/which groups of doctors were, I actually went out on the internet and bought the background documents about the different doctors I was considering to know where they graduated, where they interned, any issues reported to the board etc.

Then I checked who was a member of the American Bariatric Surgeons

Then I checked with others on this website who had surgery by the same doctors.

All combined, I felt I had alot of information to make my decision.