I was recently banded in Belgium buy an excellent surgeon named Dr. Chris DeBruyne. I felt I received excellent care in the hospital there and could not have asked for a more positive "banding" experience. Most everyone in the hospital spoke much better English than I expected and I was treated with the utmost care while in the hospital. The cost for my surgery was 4,000 Euros about $5,500 US dollars. I can't say enough about how wonderful my care was in this particular hospital and how happy I am to have Dr. DeBruyne as my surgeon. I had very little postop pain, very little gas pain and was walking around Brussels the next day with my husband. I was amazed at how quickly I recovered from this surgery.

wow only 5,000 did they pay the air fare?

heck even if they did not thats a great deal...do you have his contact information and the name of the hospital out of which he works?

(((((((((Madeline)))))))))) Welcome back sweetie! I am so glad to hear of your great experience and you are healing well! How was the plane ride home? What you planning on doing for aftercare!

Keep on going girl! I am going on Thursday so I will meet you in bandland!

Found him!!!

http://euroband.co.uk/surgeons.htm

Glad you had a great experience!!!

The airfare was completely seperate. The cost of the surgery included one or two nights in the AZ Jan Portaals Hospital. I was given IV Paracetamol every 6 hours and was given fraxiparin ( lovenox shots) to prevent DVT. The band I was fitted with was the 11cc Ionamed band and was also given 3cc of saline during surgery. I was also supplied all the necessary dressing supplies and oral pain medications for the trip home. But I have to say I experienced very little pain and I am usally a sissy about pain. Try this link http://www.zyworld.com/acr/surgeons.htm

chris.debruyne@advalvas.be (personal email)

Also he is a very experienced surgeon performing over 1,200 lap band placements.

Wow.... sounds like youve discovered a great alternative - one that LBT isnt real familear with - alot cheaper too!

Glad you are doing well... how much weight have you lost so far?

Hi

I had my surgery in France and know of many that have had surgery in belgium and it seems to me that its a real option if you are looking to self pay. The surgeons are well experienced and the cost is minimal. My surgeon is on the euro surgeon site mentioned in this thread

Love tracey

It a wonder no one knows about it...cool. I would have loved to have seen a little bit of Europe while I was there...Humm maybe I'll just go:)

We had a wonderful time there and am really glad I did it. Even after the surgery I was able to walk around Brussels without much discomfort.

Many thanks for the info... If I ever get the money up, Brussels sounds like a good place for a second banding...