Anyone been banded in HICKORY NC? I am really considering this procedure and would like some words of wisdom in regards to this choice.

Hey! I live in Hickory, NC and will be banded April 16th! I'd love to answer any questions you may have. I opted not to use a surgeon in Hickory for multiple reasons but would be happy to discuss my experiences, thought process, etc...with my decisions

I haven't heard of anyone getting surgery in Hickory, but many in Charlotte or Concord.

Hey Stephanie I would love to discuss this with you. I am very interested and would love to be the one going on 4-16. Why didn't you choose a local doctor for this.

Actually, now that the time has come, I am very nervous but so excited for a new, much more active lifestyle. I researched doctors all over the country. I was willing to travel to the best doctor in the world and to the best hospital. After looking at what was important for me, I needed a surgeon who had a substantial amount of experience as well as a very specific aftercare program. Many doctors who do thousands of surgeries do just that...thousands of surgeries. After the surgery, there is little to no focus on nutrition, exercise, etc...The surgeon I chose is a Circle of Excellence for Blue Cross Blue Shield...in fact, he "wrote" the stipulations for Blue Cross's Circle of Excellence program. He is EXTREMELY thorough and does not leave a rock unturned. Having said all of that, he doesn't have the most outgoing, gregarious personality out there...I must say that I enjoy his dry sense of humor...but I fully trust that he takes his surgeries very seriously...I did some research on Cook and Cox (Frye Hospital). In fact, my next door neighbor is a doctor and he really likes both of them...they have not performed enough of these surgeries for my comfort level...Have you fully decided on the band?