Someone had posted information about the fill center. I couldn't find the post again so I am starting a new one. I checked it out a bit and this is the response I got, thought I would share it with you.......

Hi Jenna,

Glad you wrote it's always good to hear from patients and get there feelings and feedback.

Anyway we are not open to the public yet. We will be opening in late September with 90-100 Centers through out the US. We're not sure where these locations will be yet (I do believe that we will have one in the Phoenix area). But keep checking back to our website www.fillcentersusa.com as it will be updated closer to time. We will be offering a web based database so that any of our providers that you go to after visiting our center will have access to your information. For example if your on vacation in Florida and have an emergency you can visit our nearest center and receive care and they will have all your records, history, allergies etc..! You will also be able to track your weight loss, exercise, food nutrient intake and many other things via our database and communicate this with your aftercare provider via a message center within the database. And we will be offering monthly payment plans ex. 1 year programs including fills and monthly consultations that has been proven successful for excess weight loss after lap band surgery in actual practices. And for those that just want a fill, those will be starting at just $100.

Again thank you for your inquiry, if you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to email or give me a call! Out of country patients are welcome to join.

Hope to help you in the near future,

JR Stratton

CFO/Business Manager

Fill Centers USA

866-345-5872 ext. 11

www.fillcentersusa.com

jr@fillcentersusa.com

Very interesting...one of the frustrating things I"ve found is different doctors and nurses with different understanding of the band and aftercare. And huge difference in prices -- from $150 to $900 just in my area (Atlanta). Consistency is what's needed. I don't see anything about them being sanctioned by Inamed or the other band maker... think that would be pretty important for credibility.

Elizabeth

8-28-03

Has anyone used this fillcenter? I just moved here from Texas and I have no idea where to go for a fill - prices are different

Ok, so I signed up for the Fill Centers USA. I live in the Tampa Bay area and there are a few docs in the network around here...can't beat the price. Anyway, I went to one last week and the Dr. couldn't find my port (no fluoro). She ended up referring me to another Dr. to have fluoro done this coming week insteasd. As far as the Dr. goes, she was really nice but it was very frustrating. Your first consultation/fill is $299 and then $155 each thereafter. I paid the $299 and walked away with no fill - just pain for a few hours. Even though she couldn't find my port, she decided to numb me and poke the saline needle in there anyway and hope to "run into it"...I swear she poked my pancreas or something because it hurt badly inside. I told her to stop trying and that's when she set up the referral. Not only did I pay the $299 for nothing, I have to pay an additional $200 for my fill next week. Pretty expensive, but I guess it's not really anyone's fault. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's port wasn't able to be found the first time...I guess I just needed to vent. My band needs some nourishmen and my bank account at this point does too!

My final comment - great concept overall though. The guy JR (CFO in letter to Jenna) is actually really nice and helpful. When he found out what happened to me at my first fill, he called me on my cell to make sure I was able to quickly schedule the referral to the 2nd doctor...he seemed to actually care. Heck, I'll take that...while Fill Centers USA is still small...

I'll post again after my fill on Wed. to let you know how it went.

Mithow

Hmm.. seems like if they want to call themselves FILL Centers, they should be equipped to handle easily accessible ports AND not so easily accessible ones. I'd complain about being charged full price and not getting a fill. The least they could do is have ultrasound to locate the port.

I agree with Leatha, I mean come on...charging customer's that price and you can't even spring for an ultrasound machine to ensure that the port is hit everytime??? I do hope that things work out Mithow and you get your fill.

I am a member of fillcenterusa. My first fill was done in Clermont, FLA (because the GA ones still have not opened), the port was not found. I also signed up ($299) with the understanding that the first fill was included. I was referred to a doctor that did the fills with fluro in Tampa. So I had to drive back (another week or so) 6 1/2 hours to get this done. He filled me at 2.5cc. I am very restricted with lots of acid reflux problems. My surgeon (Mexico) thinks I am too restricted and recommends taking some of the fill out, however, the fillcenterusa does not agree. I am taking medication at this time and am doing better, however I still have to wonder what the long-term complications will be and that is the scary part. By the price for the fill done under fluro is $200 without $155.00.

Bette

Bette - I'm guessing you went to the same place I did for your fluoro fill...I'm sorry that you had a similar experience...but I'm glad you're doing better!

So, yeah, I went yesterday, paid my $200 for my fluoro (making the total of my "first fill" a whopping $499)! Anyway, I had worked myself up so much, having been "scarred" from the last attempt of the needle being poked around, that I almost passed out - twice! The first time, the Dr. found my port right away (sign of experience!) and put the needle in...it wasn't bad. But then I had to hold it in and walk to the fluoro machine and I started to get light-headed and faint and my needle popped out. So, back to lay down I went to calm down and for us to try again. This time, the needle hurt going in (since I was already inflammed at this point from the first attempt) and I made sure not to let it pop out this time! So I walk back over to the machine and the feeling came back! I went and sat down this time and really had to talk myself through it, telling myself how much I needed this fill and how much this was costing me (haha)...I managed to get the nerve up again and told the Dr. to just do it and get it over with, because I wasn't sure how long I would last! He put in 1.7cc's to start and noticed I could use more, so I now have 2 cc's. I feel pretty good - I'm on liquids until Saturday.

Overall, I had a good experience at the Tampa place yesterday. I'm not sure how much it will be if I want to go back there, another $200 or $200 + the regular $155 fill fee. I plan on trying one more Dr. in my area to see if he can find my port, if it ends up costing $355 as opposed to just $200 for fluoro. I'll have to ask about that.

Thanks for listening...looking forward to dropping some weight now, since I've been banded 7 weeks and I'm only down 7 lbs right now. I'm working out 3x a week too, so I'm hoping it's time!

:clap2:

Ok, so I signed up for the Fill Centers USA. I live in the Tampa Bay area and there are a few docs in the network around here...can't beat the price. Anyway, I went to one last week and the Dr. couldn't find my port (no fluoro). She ended up referring me to another Dr. to have fluoro done this coming week insteasd. As far as the Dr. goes, she was really nice but it was very frustrating. Your first consultation/fill is $299 and then $155 each thereafter. I paid the $299 and walked away with no fill - just pain for a few hours. Even though she couldn't find my port, she decided to numb me and poke the saline needle in there anyway and hope to "run into it"...I swear she poked my pancreas or something because it hurt badly inside. I told her to stop trying and that's when she set up the referral. Not only did I pay the $299 for nothing, I have to pay an additional $200 for my fill next week. Pretty expensive, but I guess it's not really anyone's fault. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's port wasn't able to be found the first time...I guess I just needed to vent. My band needs some nourishmen and my bank account at this point does too!

My final comment - great concept overall though. The guy JR (CFO in letter to Jenna) is actually really nice and helpful. When he found out what happened to me at my first fill, he called me on my cell to make sure I was able to quickly schedule the referral to the 2nd doctor...he seemed to actually care. Heck, I'll take that...while Fill Centers USA is still small...

I'll post again after my fill on Wed. to let you know how it went.

Mithow

WE ARE NEW TO THIS - MY DAUGHTER HAD THE LAP BAND SURGERY ON FEB. 9 AND IN MONTERREY, MX. SHE IS IN NEED FOR A FILL AND I SAW THIS FILL CENTERS USA -- WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? HOPEFULLY A LIST OF DOCTOR'S THAT DO THE FILLS FOR YOU. PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

I went to the one in Delray Beach FL .... had my first fill, to 2cc in a 4cc band. No problem. No fluro.

They gave me this big loose-leaf book with tips and receipes too.

My fill is working fine....I'm tighter, but not too tight.