Hey Self-Payers:

I am from Dallas, TX and I am willing to travel to another state to get my band, but I am too big of a chicken to go to Mexico. I will have to self-pay, so I was wondering if anyone who got thier band in the US for under 15k can tell me where you are and the name of your doctor.

The best deal I have found so far in Dallas is 15k - includes all surgery stuff, and one year of follow up and fills.

Thanks everyone!

PS - I got the idea of traveling to another state since my mom has a group of freinds that all went and got facelifts in Oklahoma for 1/2 the price of Dallas doctors.

PSS - also, can anyone tell me why the band is twice the price of say a boob job or a nose job?!?!?!

I went self-pay with Dr. Spivak in Houston. He was wonderful and I love his staff. It came out to about 15K too.

We went self-pay also, 15k, Dr. Spivak, and I agree, him and his staff were great.

OK, now I feel cheated! The office manager told me that because I was self pay that she was giving me a really good deal. I paid $17,000 for mine, but now, I'm getting billed for all the pre-op tests, along with $200 for the psyche evaluation and $250 for the nutritionist (who didn't help at all), so I've probably paid close to $19 or $20,000!! Sad thing, I'd do it all over again!

Tricia

mom of 4, check back with the Dr's office, many times it is included-all the pre-ops etc, but if at the hospital they dont key it in right, then you will get billed, this just happened to my friend, she called the Dr's office they called the Hospital, and now no bill or balance......

Well, I kind of cheated and said all the pre-op stuff was due to other complications. So far, the insurance company has paid for that stuff. Thank goodness. She got banded on June 15th and I haven't received any other bills.

Check out this other thread...

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8331

HotLikeHer-

Thanks for the info. I cheated and said that my upper GI was to check for ulcers, my ekg was because of shortness of breath, and so on. My insurance paid their part, but was left with $100+ for each test ordered.

thebestme - That was very helpful information! It was my understanding that mine was a packaged deal, like Dr. Pleatman's, so I'll definitely be calling my doctor's office!

Thanks ladies!!!!

My surgeon was $6500, my hospital was $6500 and anesthesia was $1000. All total, $14K including one year of fills. FABULOUS hospital as well!!

Have you called the people at Inamed? I spoke with Don Mills at Inamed about a month ago and he said there's a doctor in Dallas who charges, I believe he said, under $12,000. Sadly, my brain is kinda dead today and I can't remember the doctor's name. Maybe it's the same one you've found and the price has gone up.

I live in Oklahoma City and eventually decided to go to Mexico. I had a good experience there but it took me awhile to work up my nerve!!

Good luck!

Hi...I am having surgery with Dr. Pleatman in Michigan and so is my friend. We are leaving tomorrow morning and our surgery is scheduled for this Friday! Both my friend and I had lengthy conversations with him and he was very nice. He asked us both lots of questions and we did the same. We have been dealing mainly with Jo who I believe is the schedule coordinator and she has been wonderful. We were told to bring a check for the doctor, the hospital fee and the anesthesiologist. Everything totals $12,500. I will let you know how we make out.

HI...I am planning on having surgery with Dr. Bernsten and/or Dr. Steward in the next couple of months. They are located in Topeka, KS. They are with the Tallgrass Surgical Center. Cost is 10,750 which includes one year of follow up and fills. I have heard really good things about them. They are having a seminar Aug. 13th (I hate having to wait that long but I've waited this long...what's a few more weeks). I can pass along the number if you are interested. [i also looked into Mexico for a while and decided at the last minute not to go through with it.]

Dee

Just a few comments about a few of the Mexico drs.. I am undecided yet where I will be going for mine.. I checked a local dr and have since checked into others in the dallas area and its seems like its going around 15k.. I have also checked with a few out of state.. I am starting to lean towards Dr Ortiz in Mexico.. He has done over 1500 bands.. he is actually a mentor for Inamed.. They have actually been doing the band before it was being done in the us.. Inamed is the band that is fda approved in the us.. he actually has trained many us drs on the inamed band and travels with inamed for seminars from time to time.. Not only is he cheaper than drs here in the US but he comes very highly recommended.. I think I have only read one comment about him thusfar that is not favorable.. His name is also mentioned on another site and same goes there.. There is another dr name in Mexico that I have seen mentioned and he also has a good record.. Just wanted to mention this.. Many people go to Mexico because it is cheaper but many people also go there because the drs have the experience they do.. This may be an option for me.. the main reason I even looked into it was because it is cheaper, but the more I read, the more I like the drs.. When you check around in the US that might be something else you ask to the question is how many of the band surgeries has the dr done.. Thats what I have since done once I discovered this..

Mine was $11,800 in Washington State. You can send me a private message if you want more information. I did get a 1,000 discount because the assistant was on vacation. I have insurance for all the pre op tests - just not the surgery. The office was really good about getting insurance to cover PFT, CXR, labs, Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Psych Consult and Internist.

I didn't say, but I wanted to that I also had a nutrition consult for that amount. The hospital I stayed in was almost new - everything was beautiful - the care was excellent. I chose this doctor because he has done more bands than anyone in Washington State. He has a great reputation. The money covers my follow up and pre op, plus one fill.

If you want to get the discount - you just have to make sure to schedule your surgery on a day that the assistant is on vacation.

I went to an out of network Dr. Just because I loved him the first time I met him, hes very kind and gentle and a great surgen. I had surgery on June 15th I haven't gotten any bills yet but the insurance told me they were only paying around 800 and my total to pay out of pocket would be around 6200.

Sara