Insurance doesn't cover the lap-band surgery,i have inquired about Obesity Control Center,the clinic is in Tijuana,Mexico.Has anyone on here gone the "over the border" route? If so,how was your experience?Also, I am a smoker,is there any way to get out of smoking 2 weeks prior to surgery date,as that is what i am being told by the OCC.?

All I can say is persistance pays!!! Our insurance did not cover it either, but I went back and forth with our benefits department until I got what I wanted. It is now approved. I started in March of last year and it got approved back in September to be on the 01/01/08 Benefits package for us. Believe me, when I started my journey, I was told by SEVERAL people that the Lap-Band was something our company would not be considering for a long time...NEVER GIVE UP...Always fight for what you believe in!!!

Thank you very much,i will remain persistent...

Are you asking if you can avoid not having to quit smoking for two weeks beforehand? Not to sound harsh, but if the doctor you are going to says you gotta do, just suck it up and do it.

I read on here yesterday about someone who decided they didn't need to or couldn't quit smoking before their surgery, lied to their doctor about it and went into cardiac arrest three times on the operating table.

It's two weeks out of your life, I guess you need to ask yourself if it's worth it to you or not.

Good luck in your decision.

I am going to the OCC for my surgery on May 8. I'm self pay, I guess once I made up my mind, I didn't want to take the time to fight it out with HR and IF they would add it to the insurance, wait until '09 before having it done.

From what I have experienced so far, the OCC is a great place. They have a forum much like this one, but almost everyone is a past or future patient at the OCC.

Lap Band Forum - Lap Band Surgery Discussion, Lap Band Fills, Plastic Surgery after Weight Loss