Hi this is my first post on here and I still have not had the band yet but will be in March or April. I have to pay for it out of pocket so Im going to Mexico to have it done. Do any of you have any suggestions for low cost Good care Doctors? My sister used Dr. Kuri and was very satisfied with him. Thanks for any advice.

I went to Dr.Martinez ( dr.ortiz) at the occ in tijuana, mexico. If you look up dr.ortiz and go to his website they even have their own forum I frequent and learned a lot!!

So you went to Mexico too? I have been studying this for almost a year now and I have not seen any reaso not to go there. I looked at his website and he is a little more expensive than Dr Kuri is. My sister was very pleased with him.

It looks like you just had yours done, what do you think so far?? Is it worth it to you? Im really getting excited to have it done. I have done so many diets in my life that I just want something permanent.

Thanks for your reply. Bernadette

I was also banded in Mexico by Dr. Martinez and Dr Ortiz on the 17th of December. It was a great experience and the only regret I have is that I never had it done sooner. I was also a self pay which is why I went down there.

I considered Mexico, ... even bought the plane tickets.

How far are you from Detroit, MI? "Great Lakes Weight Loss" has a special program for self-pay lap band patients.

If you look at the possible complications, and the fact that having a U.S. doctor would be a bonus rather than going to Mexico. .... if you are closer to the East Coast than the West Coast.

I cant say anything about Dr.Kuri or how much he costs. I know the OCC was something like $7950 - I think they are still offering that price. It cost me more because of the exchange rate - damn shoulda went a few months prior lol

The OCC was sooooooo clean! Even if u choose to go to a different doctor still check out the OCC forum - youll learn a lot. :huh2:

It is totally worth it to me - I am almost (not quite though) half way to goal. I go for my first fill Feb 7. I definatelly feel restriction....I can eat about 1/4 of what I did before...I am just starting to notice I am getting hungry just a bit sooner - usually about three hours after I eat.

Feel free to ask any other questions :glare: But Im sure youll bombard your sister with questions lol - wish I had a sister who went through this before me!!

:glare: My opinion - what the heck r u waiting for lol....I wish I would have had this done ten years ago!

I just checked out the great lakes weight loss center and they are $10700 that is out of my price range by $3000. That is the main reason Im going to Mexico I can't afford it in the US. I live in the Seattle area and it is $15000 here.

Mansaw...you said it cost you more because of the exchange rate?? I did not consider that. I don't want to go over $7500. I was just going to wire the money to them, when I decide who.

So you just had it done too? It sounds like you are pleased so far. I just want to get it done and get to loosing the weight. Thanks for your reply.

I would suggest Dr.Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. I was banded by him this past Friday Jan. 9th. the OCC (Obesity Control Center) was clean of course, and the experience was pretty good and seamless. They put you up in a nice hotel for 3 days which is included in the $7950. Or you can pay $7700 for a semi private hospital room for the one night you stay there. I actually went back to my hotel room that same night so didn't need the private hospital room. :-)

yah - being that they take US funds...I it cost me - I think it was $8975ish - I cant remember the exact number...u can go to an online currancy calculator to see what it would cost u today.

But - yes it did include three days at the hotel and the clinics bus picks you up from the airport, takes u to the hotel, takes u to the clinic and back to the hotel/airport when needed and that is all incuded in that cost.

Make sure u have aftercare arranged as well. I have a fill doctor lined up here who will do Mexican patients free (at a hospital here and I have to have an order from my family doctor). BUT - I loved the OCC so much, and had such a great time and met some great people so I have decided to go back their for my fills.

:huh2:

Mansaw, You said your final cost was $8975 I need to rethink how much I can spend. I did not take into account the currency exchange rate.

Slimcola, thanks for the input too I have heard nothing but good from OCC. You were banded on my birthday...Good luck on your journey.

yah - I wasnt thinking about the exchange rate either - but its stilllllllll wayyyyyyyyy less expensive than getting it here...over $10000 cheaper ..I lucked out and ended up getting it paid for by my hubbys insurance - I wasnt planning that at all and thought I would be paying for it all myself. But his insurance company said if I got a letter from my doctor they would pay.

dont forget to include ur plane costs - food costs (for companion) and depending what your pre-op diet is etc. Id do it before the exchange rate gets any worse.

ALSO - I know its a lot of money - but seriously, it is so worth it!

Tips on finding a lap band doctor in Mexico

How to Find the Best Bariatric Lap Band Surgeons in Mexico | Medical Tourism

I checked the prices a little more and talked to a couple of the patient coordinators and they said the price is US $ and that there was no extra for the exchange rate. Iam to make a deposit and then bring the rest in a cashiers check. Im a little confused as to why you had to pay more??

You must have read my post wrong. I am in Canada - so for me I have to pay with canadian $ - so I have to write a cheq in US funds - but that costs me a lot more in Canadian funds. I didnt know where you were located - so I was saying if you are in Canada it is more than $7950 to us.