Hey everyone... I am considering getting banded and I was checking around for a few places to go. I see a popular place is WLSC in Newport News. Just wondering if anyone has gone through Norfolk Surgical Group and how your experience was. I have read and heard a lot of good things about WLSC, but not too much about NSG. I have signed up for seminars for both next week. All I know so far is that NSG has a less expensive program fee than WLSC.

Angie,

I checked into both since I am self pay and I think NSG was quite a bit more expensive. If you have insurance I guess it would matter to you what the fees will be that the insurance doesn't cover.

I know years ago they were a good practice. Dr. Gould removed my gallbladder laproscopically when it was the "new thing" but I don't know how they are now.

I'm going to the WLSC and my surgery is on Thursday. So far I have been very pleased. I met one on one with Dr. Terracina today and he spoke to me for almost an hour. He didn't rush me and was very thorough with his answers. He also talked to me like an equal, no talking down to me at all.

Good luck on your journey regarless of who you choose!!

Thanks for your reply :sneaky: I went to WLSC today as well, but for the seminar. I am scheduled to go to a seminar at NSG on wed., but I don't think I am going to go. I really liked Dr. T much better than the surgeons seminars I've been to before. How long did it take you from your seminar to thursday (your surgery date)? I have tricare so I guess it depends on your insurance. Since you were self-pay I take it you got in pretttyyy quick. I have my computerized test scheduled for tomorrow morning I'm pretty excited to get started! Keep me posted on how things go!

I went to the seminar on February 4th and I'm having surgery on March 13th. I am self pay so I didn't have the insurance constraints.

I've been lurking around this forum since July/August but I had to wait for my husband to get on board. He wasn't too thrilled about me having this done but we had some pretty intense conversations and then he watched the surgery on TV and he was convinced.

We are both looking forward to a thinner, healthier, happier me.

hello, my name is della and i have just started the program at norfolk surgical grp. i also called the one in newport news and they told me their program fee was $730. nsg is $495 and if u r a sentara healthcare employee u get a discount and i paid $396. 20% off. i chose dr fontana as my surgeon.i really like him, he is very thorough and answered all my questions. so far everyone there was very nice ! his nurse barbara was a hoot. i also know 3 other people who r using nsg's program.if u have any more questons please feel free to ask. i will help in any way i can(i said that like i am an old pro...lol) NOT lol

yes they do have a less expensive program fee. i am currently going through nsg with dr fontana. i have had a great experience so far! i also know 3 other people who are going through nsg also and they love them. my friend of 7 1/2 yrs recommended them to me. she is having gastric bypass. i have heard alot of good things about dr woglemuth too. (i know i spelled it wrong lol)

I'm Heather from Chesapeake. I chose NSG as well. Dr. Fontana, I have heard nothing but wonderful things from pre-op to post. I am in the waiting stage for the surgery. Have covered all of my test and evals. Just waiting on a date :cursing: Very excited. I have been looking into this surgery or over a year now. Had an emotional set back with the unexpected death of my younger sister. Put things on hold a while until I was ready to go again. Very excited. Been following this forum for over a year now. Great info.....good bad ugly. You are able to make the best possible .... un-bias decision from this site. I wish you the best. I will be more than happy to give you a play by play on how things are going. Take Care! Heather

I went to the NSG seminar but have heard alot of good stuff about the one on the peninsula. How much of a cost difference is there between the 2 locations (aside from the program fees). I have been contemplating this surgery since November & I really need to get on the ball & stop procrastinating. :frown: I will probably end up going with NSG but I didnt like the guy who did the seminar. I am going to try for Fontana since he seems to be a forum favorite. How long did it take to get the first appointment after the seminar? My seminar was 3/26 and I have all the paperwork filled out, I am just not sure what is holding me back from the appt.

Any recommendations or words of support that will get me on track to just do this? Thanks!!! Another Heather in Chesapeake.

I live in Chesapeake and have only been to WLSC in Newport News. I really liked them there. I'm not a huge fan of the travel but it's just about as close for me to go there than to Norfolk. Good luck!

I went to the NSG seminar but have heard alot of good stuff about the one on the peninsula. How much of a cost difference is there between the 2 locations (aside from the program fees). I have been contemplating this surgery since November & I really need to get on the ball & stop procrastinating. :thumbup: I will probably end up going with NSG but I didnt like the guy who did the seminar. I am going to try for Fontana since he seems to be a forum favorite. How long did it take to get the first appointment after the seminar? My seminar was 3/26 and I have all the paperwork filled out, I am just not sure what is holding me back from the appt.

Any recommendations or words of support that will get me on track to just do this? Thanks!!! Another Heather in Chesapeake.

hello heather, mine name is della and i am currently going through nsg w/dr fontana. i went to the seminar and he was the one speaking. i was gonna go with dr woghlemuth but i really liked dr fontana when i met him. i have been to my first appt with him and he was very nice vert knowledgeable and answered most of my questions b4 i even got a chance to ask them. the people there are all nice and i felt comfortable! i have been moving right along with the program and should be done with everything by the end of the month. the only thing i can say to u about not making an appt yet is maybe u aren't quite there yet with being sure u want this. it is soooo ok to take ur time and make sure u r making the right decision 4 u. i know way back when i went t a seminar for gastric bypass and i was not sure and didn't do it. but now i am 100% sure and i called about a wk later and made my appt and my seminar was on the 27th of feb and my appt was 3/11. i will be done with all my appts by 4/28. sorry this was sooooo long but i wanted to be thorough:smile2: just know we all completely support u here in whatever u do and u will get great advice and answers to all ur questions here. good luck on ur journey!!!

Well, I made my decision and made my first appt with the surgeon (Snyder) at NSG. It is on 5/8 and I took my mom to a seminar last night (4/23) and she is calling today to make her appt. I am excited to finally get things rolling. I had been on the fence about getting started in the program because I was about to accept a new job & knew nothing about the insurance they provide. Luckily, the new job didnt work out & I am going to stick with Cigna for now. The rough part of the whole thing is not knowing if the insurance will ultimately approve it. I have the coverage, but have heard horror stories about appeals & denials so I am nervous about that.

How many diagnostic tests, labs, etc are required before surgery? I had blood work done & I am having a mammogram tomorrow. I know the psych & dietician are required, but I was wondering about x-rays, scans, etc.

Thanks,

Heather

Well, I made my decision and made my first appt with the surgeon (Snyder) at NSG. It is on 5/8 and I took my mom to a seminar last night (4/23) and she is calling today to make her appt. I am excited to finally get things rolling. I had been on the fence about getting started in the program because I was about to accept a new job & knew nothing about the insurance they provide. Luckily, the new job didnt work out & I am going to stick with Cigna for now. The rough part of the whole thing is not knowing if the insurance will ultimately approve it. I have the coverage, but have heard horror stories about appeals & denials so I am nervous about that.

How many diagnostic tests, labs, etc are required before surgery? I had blood work done & I am having a mammogram tomorrow. I know the psych & dietician are required, but I was wondering about x-rays, scans, etc.

Thanks,

Heather

Hello Heather! I was at that seminar last night too! I went with a friend as support. Small world!Dr Fontana was the speaker because Dr Brooks wasn't there? Well anyway, congratulations on your decision.:rolleyes2: I know the labs and x rays are pretty standard but alot of the tests depend on your health and issues you may have. I had to to have an ultrasound of the liver/gall bladder,chest x ray,labs and ekg.I had to get him a copy of my latest mammo and pap smear.

Yeah, I know abouth the insurance bear.I have optima for sentara employees and they require a 1 year Dr supervised weight loss attempt.That totally sucks. They just started paying for it this year.I am hoping for approval with them as well. Well good luck on your new journey and please feel free to ask any questions if you have any.

Della, Yes that was the same meeting. It is a small world. My mom is waiting for them to call her for her initial appt. I ended up being impatient and taking an appt 2 weeks earlier rather than waiting for an opening with Fontana, so I will be using Snyder. Brooks did my original seminar & I wasnt that impressed, but now that I have seen Fontana I can see why is popular because he seems straightforward and easy going. Brooks was kind of dry.

Bummer about the 1-year MD managed weight maintenance. How far through that are you? My insurance requires 6-mos and I have 2 already with my PCP, so hopefully that 4 months will fly by. I am hoping for an Aug. surgery date!!

Thanks for all the info & support!

HI! I WAS AT THE SEMINAR AT VA BEACH WED. NIGHT AS WELL. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH DR. FONTANA. I AM CALLING MONDAY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, SO HOPEFULLY I WILL GET THINGS MOVING ALONG. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!:w00t:

Hello All! I am also a NSG lapband patient in waiting... I love NSG! However I am struggling with this sleep apnea process! I am really fed up with the machine. I am clostrophobic, the machine is really getting the best of me...can anyone offer any help! I really can't take it anymore and I have to complete the study to be in complience. HELP!!!

I too have claustrophobia and have sleep apnea. Have you tried to head gear that just goes into your nostrils and is not a mask? That is the only thing I could handle. It doesn't cover much of your face and you don't feel so closed in.

I haven't used the cpap since my surgery (March 13) but my husband has noticed me snoring again so I really should use it. I do get better sleep so you really should give it a try. I know it is hard and very frustrating, but you will probably feel better.

Good luck!