Hello! I finally have the date set for my first appointment with Dr. Hormuz Irani at CosmetiCare in Newport Beach, CA on May 16th. I am super excited!

Dr. Irani usually practices in Bakersfield, CA but will be coming to CosmediCare to perform Lap Band procedures. Has anyone ever been treated by him before?

Edited May 3, 200818 yr by TaraBell

Hi Tara Bell. I live in South OC and was just banded (4/28) by Dr. Oliak in Orange. i was very happy with the care I received. If you want a second opinion, try Dr. Oliak. The surgery was a breeze, much easier than I ever imagined. Now, if I could just get off these shakes and have some real foods, I'll be really happy.

Yay! Another OC LapBander! How long do you have top drink shakes for? I am so worried about the liquid diet part. I love my food (and thats prob why I am getting lapband in the first place...lol)

I did not have to eat any kind of a pre-op diet. Just stopped eating after 3:00 the day before my surgery. Now I"m on shakes (slim fast )and clear liquids for 2 weeks. i'm difinately not as hungry as I would have been pre-band just eating shakes, but I'm looking really forward to the next stage. The dr. said I could have mushies on Mother's Day-Woo Hoo.

Is Dr Irani Ok thru your insurance? I have great insurance and his partner did my lap band with Dr Irani assisting and they were out of network for me. They said the surgery would be $5,000 but I am now over $7,000. If I had it to do over again I would find someone in my insurance network. I can't afford $5,000 and was sure unhappy to see that they are billing me more than they said. Are you going thru your insurance???

I did not have to eat any kind of a pre-op diet. Just stopped eating after 3:00 the day before my surgery. Now I"m on shakes (slim fast )and clear liquids for 2 weeks. i'm difinately not as hungry as I would have been pre-band just eating shakes, but I'm looking really forward to the next stage. The dr. said I could have mushies on Mother's Day-Woo Hoo.

OH! I actualy LOVE chocolate slim fast shakes! I wouldn't mind being put on those at all. (of course, I can say that now...lol)

Is Dr Irani Ok thru your insurance? I have great insurance and his partner did my lap band with Dr Irani assisting and they were out of network for me. They said the surgery would be $5,000 but I am now over $7,000. If I had it to do over again I would find someone in my insurance network. I can't afford $5,000 and was sure unhappy to see that they are billing me more than they said. Are you going thru your insurance???

Actually, Dr. Niccole of CosmetiCare in Newport Beach is my father's plastic surgeon. My father is paying for the surgery for me. It was actually his idea. I guess Dr. Irani is going to be working with CosmetiCare as well now. I am very lucky.

Is Dr Irani Ok thru your insurance? I have great insurance and his partner did my lap band with Dr Irani assisting and they were out of network for me. They said the surgery would be $5,000 but I am now over $7,000. If I had it to do over again I would find someone in my insurance network. I can't afford $5,000 and was sure unhappy to see that they are billing me more than they said. Are you going thru your insurance???

Same thing happened to me. I see Dr Naik at the same office as Irani. I went thru all the hoops to get approved for insurance to pay. and tyhen they don't bill in network and my insurance wont pay and WLS for out of network billed. So I have paid all surgeons fee's and all my office visits and fills to them are $350.00 each. I really like my Dr but I am lookng for one that will bill my insurance in network as it gets costly for me.

Wow - I just had my first fill and I did NOT know it was $350!!! I will have to pay for that and I cannot afford it. I am so sorry I had Bakersfield Bariatric do my surgery. I should have found SOMEONE that takes my insurance. If you find someone please let me know. I had my surgery in Februrary so we are real close in time frame. Feel free to PM me and we can talk more. It sounds like we have a lot in common. :confused_smile:

I'm a current patient of Dr. Irani and have 2 friends who use him as well. My experience with him (and his staff) are very good - great at communication, clearly explained everything to me, great at the hospital.

So as I see it, in a Doctor, you have 2 primary criteria being considered - skill/execution and cost. On the first, I'd give him an A+:embaressed_smile:. I highly recommend him!

As to the second, I've been through the process with 2 insurance providers (Great West and BlueCross/Blue Shield; chickened out on doing it the first time). In BOTH cases, they informed me that WLS is not an "in-network" charge regardless of the provider and would be subject to the normal "out-of-network" payment constraints.

I was informed Dr. Irani didn't bill my insurance and I already have plans to do so myself this week. His fees were required up-front and according to the written details the first fill is included.

Soooo, for me, the cost is secondary to the care. All the patients I know with bands, including me, are very pleased with Dr. Irani (and his assistant Dr. Patel) from a care stand point. As to cost, well I'll see how it goes, but I planned up front to self pay if I have to and anything the insurance pays will be a bonus to me.

I don't use Dr. Irani, but Dr. Dr Garcia in his office and I have talked to Dr. Irani when I had problems and he was on call. Both of them are great guys with excellent patient rapport and highly reputed skills. They have a third partner, Dr. Naiak, but I have heard he is more of a "Jillian" when it comes to keeping you on track with your wieght loss...Dr. Garcia is more of a Bob. Just so you know....prices in medicine (especially outside of insurance) are negotiable. Remember, the insurance company pays only a fraction of "charges" and they have to hassle with them. If you go in, say you are paying yourself and will hassle with the insurance yourself, ask them for a discount. I got my cost down from $5k to $4k, no cost if I needed a hernia repair and three free fills. All I did was ask!

Good Luck