Hey, I am looking for a surgeon in Montgomery County Maryland area. Please advise. I will have either Aetna or BC/BS in a few months. Thanks!

Hi Jennfer, I am just posting to say hello...you are not too far away from me; I am about 45 minutes south of you here in Loudoun County Virginia. Good Luck!!!

Hi and welcome. I live in Harford County, Maryland. I don't know who the bariatric people are in Montgomery County, but I had my band done at St. Agnes in Baltimore, a little farther away, but is a Bariatric Center of Excellence. Drs. Singh (my surgeon), Averbach, and Von Reuden(was the head of Bariatrics at GBMC but left to join Singh and Averbach).

When I decided to do this I started going to the group support meetings (as of 7/07). I learned a lot there(even had a post-op bandster tell me I didn't look heavy enough to need surgery--but I am 5'7" so it has farther to go). My insurance (Blue Choice) required a 6 month documented diet attempt, so while I was doing that I joined this site and Obesityhelp.com to learn all I could about the procedure.

Their current office is in Catonsville at Route 40 and Rolling Road, but they are opening another office farther out into Howard County which might be closer to you if you are interested in using them.

While you are waiting for your insurance, you might want to attend the initial seminar that all bariatric centers offer. There is no obligation after the seminar and it is free. If you use that group the seminar is a required first step. I would go to seminars at several locations, to see which is the best fit for you. If you want to check out St. Agnes, call the hospital and they will tell you when the next seminar is and give you a reservation for it.

Good luck on your journey. Keep us posted.

I live in Frederick and I'm going to Dr Currie in Hagerstown. He comes highly recommended and I have been very pleased.

Hi Jennifer,

Dr.Greene is in Rockville and is very very very good.Check out his website www.advancedwls.com. They walk you through the process to make sure your insurance approves the procedure

Hi! I am from Hagerstown, MD and I got my band 12/28/07 in Reston, Va by Dr. Eric Pinnar. I would recommend him to anyone. He is wonderful, his staff is top notch too. I did a lot of research before my surgery and he had great credentials and came very highly recommended.

I totally agree about how great Dr. Eric Pinnar and his team, are. Here is a recent amazing experience I had with them, as well as why I love the practice and the fantastic ongoing care I have received.

I had some severe belly button area pain a couple weeks ago and thought it might be my Port. Went to the emergency room. The staff there contacted Eric. He and his AMAZING PA Phil dropped everything they were doing (it was a Saturday and they were involved in family events) and came to the hospital.

Eric realized it was my appendix and removed the offending organ (unfortunately the damn thing didn't weight 40 pounds!)

Then he dropped everything Sunday Night to help me out with getting an early discharge. He is amazing. And I don't have insurance and he has been remarkable in putting my mind at ease about that, and that we will work it out.

Here is what I also love about their practice... They spare NO expense in offering the best technology in the practice. They have an exray machine there to do barium swallows immediately when indicated which is so important and they CHARGE ME NOTHING FOR IT. Nor is there ever a charge for a fill. Also, I had a band slip, the early barium swallow caught it, and they were able to correct it by unfilling, very successfully contrary to what often happens where it is caught long after.

Also, they have two FANTASTIC PA's, Phil and Kellie, so I can get an appointment almost any day I need to come in.

They also have this cool body picture scanner (looks like a tanning booth), that scans your body silhouette periodically and actually see the progress you are making - this is GREAT especially when we get discouraged.

This equipment cost a fortune. Eric is also organizing a bicycling group for us, has a clothing exchange program and all kinds of other stuff. I get that he cares deeply, feeling incredibly supported and never like a pest.

I highly recommend them - Advanced Weight Loss Solutions :: Home

I am with Dr. Pinnar too...I second what everyone else has said about him and his staff.