HEY ALL:) . I AM NEW TO THIS SITE. IF I WANT TO DO THE LAPBAND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO SELF-PAY. SO NOW I AM DOING MY RESEARCH ON IT. IF YOU HAVE HAD LAPBAND AND WAS SELF-PAY PLEASE TELL ME WHERE, WITH WHO, HOW MUCH, WHERE YOU HAVE FOLLOWUPS/FILLS, HOW MUCH THOSE ARE, AND ANY INFO YOU THINK WILL HELP ME. I GO TO SOUTHWEST BARIATRICS AND WAS QUOTED 18,000:speechles , IN MEXICO IT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT 8,000 NOT INCLUDING FLIGHT. ANYHOW, ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANKS~

CHRISTINA :banana

Hi there!

I was banded March17, 06. I am a self payer from Colorado and went to Tijuana where Dr. Ortiz (Obesity Control Center) performed my surgery. It was the most awesome experience I ever had with hospitals, clinics, etc. etc. etc. I am a Registered Nurse and the quality of care blows the US out of the water! (I will swear to that!). I spent $250.00 airfare to San Diego airport where the OCC picked me up directly from the airport and brought me to the clinic for my pre-op visit. After they escorted me to a fancy hotel and pretty much hand feed me any/all the information I needed. They then took me from the hotel to the hospital where surgery was performed. Stayed one night (felt absolutely NO pain,sore tummy muscles like doing sit ups, but no pain!). And they brought me back to the hotel. Stayed for few days 'recovering' (yep, went shopping, sight seeing and to the beach! etc, etc. etc) and then OCC met me in the hotel lobby on the 4th morning and drove me directly back to the airport in San Diego! The cost for the surgery was $8500.00 (a special running if you had surgery in Feb or March) but normally is $9500.00. No surprise charges (and this includes the hotel stay also!!!!) So with airfare and the surgery it was about $8750.00. I tipped my drivers, and bought tons of good stuff like a new leather purse, vanilla, blah blah blah - which was about another $200.00. Sure beats what it would have cost me in Colorado - $23000.00!! and that was several places around the Denver area. Tijuana, Mexico gave me a very pleasant experience!

I had forgot to mention, Dr. Ortiz will do free fills for life at his center. You might have to pay extra for the flouro equipment if you need it. I figure it will cost me anywhere from $200 - $400 bucks in airfare back to Tijuana, which is about what any fill center or Dr. will charge in the US. It will come out even for me one way or another - I plan on staying with Dr. Ortiz, so it provides both me and the Dr. with continuity of care with my Band.

I think Dr. Sanchez and Oritz have the same plans/prices. I have heard a lot of good things about him as well as Rumbaut and Kuri.

Dr. Benevides seems to be one of the best in the Texas area.

I had mine in Monterrey, Mx w/ Dr. Sanchez $8500 w/out airfare. He has done over 5000 band procedures. Great Experience, PM me if you would like more info.

I am going to use the Bajanor Obesity Center in TJ Mexico, the cost is $7950.00 including air fare and 5 star hotel cost. They pick you up and take you where ever you need to go. They also do a program where you can put down $4000.00 and make 6 monthly payments with an automatic draft of $466.00. I have heard nothing but good things about this clinic.

I also used Dr. Sanchez in Monterray. I paid $9100..that included airfare and everything. I was there for 4 days and I spent a total of $9.00 while I was there. I dont have a single complaint

thanks everyone

Another Dr. Sanchez patient here. I paid $8000 last October. He is an excellent surgeon and I am a very satisfied patient, lol.