hello! i live in alaska, and i am looking for a center in the west coast to have lap band surgery. i am self-pay, and it cost $23k to have it doen up here. i do not want an in-experienced surgeon though, just to get a cheaper surgery! :drool:

Look up Dr. Oh at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way Washington (just south of Seattle). I am a self pay also, and it cost me around $14k in 2006. Dr. Oh is very good, and is a Center for Excellence surgeon.

Dr. Kouli at Southcenter Cosmetic just outside of Seattle did my outpatient surgery for a very reasonable price and included 1 year of fills & 8 nutritionist's appointments. Southcenter Cosmetic Surgery - Seattle Plastic Surgery, Breast Implants, LAP-BAND & BOTOX

I am going to Tijuana, Mexico for my surgery next Friday (Dec. 5th). Dr. Pedro Kuri is performing the surgery. He has performed this surgery over 4,000 times and has trained several surgeons in the US on how to perform this surgery. The cost is $7,500 to cover everything. I only have to add another $250 for my flight from West Palm Beach, FL to San Diego, CA. Dr. Kuri's staff will pick me up at the airport and will take me there to perform the surgery. If you want more information please feel free to contact me or do some research on the internet about it. Lap Band Surgery - Dr. Kuri & Associates

Another vote here for Dr. Kirshenbaum. He is terrific!!

My suggestion would be Mexico and a sleeve. I've been banded and I've been sleeved, being sleeved is 1000x easier. Weight loss is better, faster, and far fewer long term risks and complications. No follow up care and no maintenance.

Mexico bands $7K

Mexico sleeves $9500 and you are done, for life.