Hello everyone. I recently moved to So Cali (Northridge area) from Chicago and I'm looking to get lap band. I have no insurance so I will be paying out of pocket, which sucks, but I'm sick of being fat and dieting constantly with no results, so I'm ready to take the plunge.

While price is somewhat a concern I'm more interested in finding a good surgeon and good post-op care.

Any recommendations are very welcome. Thank you

Northridge hospital has an EXCELLENT WLS program. My Doctor Recommended Dr. Mark Paya. If I remember correctly they charge $15,700 which is the best cash rate around. That includes all before and after care and up to six fills. It also includes the consults with the nutritionist on staff. Go to their seminars, you can find the next one on the lap band web site. Home It was the first seminar I went to on this journey. I would have gone there if they were a blue cross center of excellence. (I wanted to do mine through insurance) He does his surgerys out of Northridge and West Hills surgical center.

There are quite a few choices in the $7,00 range, include a night or two aftercare. You might read thru the thread on Mexican doctors. There is one that had a couple of bad comments, but has lots of followers, whom I wouldnt choose, but lots of others.

Im in Texas so I went thru via El Paso which was closer for me.

TCLEdge in Dallas and that surgeon in Colarado so many love to death are right under $10,000, I wouldnt pay extra just to be near my house if there was a wonderfull doctor.

I choose the Mexican route, I had tons of nursing personnel and two doctors checking up on me. I did skip the extra night in a hotel, decided to change my flight and went on home, I got bored. I had a very good surgery experience in Mexico.

Edited July 19, 200818 yr by flowers

I had my lapband surgery at West Hills Hospital by Dr. Mark Paya. It's a bariatric center of excellence, and Dr. Paya is a very skilled surgeon and is easy to talk to. Here is his website www.surgithin.com Good Luck.

Neptune just came across your post I would highly suggest you visit my surgeons web-site www.journeylite.com. I loved Dr Billy and he has an amazing support staff if you wish to use them. I paid $13,500 for the surgery and for an extra $1000.00 I get after care and fills for life. It should more than pay off the 1st year since most doctors charge about $150-250 per fill. And they really encourage you to come in all the time for weigh ins, support groups once a month, or to meet with the nutritionist. He has a free seminar once a month for those considering the procedure and he really lays it on the line. After listening you are either in or you are out! If you have any questions feel free to PM me and welcome to LA moved here 15 years ago from NY it was like moving to another planet......lol

I already posted and told you about Dr. Paya, but I also want you to know that I too went to Dr Billy. He is awesome. He was part of my insurance and I did my procedure with him at St Johns in Oxnard. They were a center of excellence. If you want a no nonsence kind of Dr then he is your guy.