A local dr who started performing bariatric surgery 1 year ago (has done 50) started lap band surgery in March. The cost is $12,500 cash (my insurance won't pay). I think this is a good price but should I be concerned about the lack of experience. They all have to learn sometime - right? Any opinions are appreciated.

If he has done the rouen -y then you should be ok. The doctor that just did me had performed many of those but I was his first lapband patient. The rouen -y is actually more complicated than placing the lapband. Good luck. I had no complications.

Did you find out what training and by whom he has had with the lap band? Inamed, the manufacturer of the only lap-band that's FDA approved for use in the USA, won't let docs just start banding, they have to attend seminars & be proctored by more experienced docs. I would try & find out all that info. That's an amazing price. I had found an experienced doc who would drop his price to $8,000, but the hospital would have been twice that! So, I was happily banded in Mexico (my insurance wouldn't pay a dime!)

Keep us posted.

My surgeon in SD only was $5,200. The hospital on the other hand was 16,000-and that was just overnight. My doc too , said the new ones have to be proctered the first 2-3 surgeries.

Thanks, this is helping. Just talked to the nurse and his proctor is coming in April 27th. She said the $12,500 is total cost.