Hi everyone, After disappointing news from my insurance provider I have decided to go ahead and do the self pay thing. I have sorted out the finance and am in the process of deciding which doctor to use. Has anyone got any advice in whether Dr. Joya or Dr. Kuri in Mexico would be the better choice. I also need to know if anyone has been asked to lose weight before surgery. I had a call from one of the surgeries, not mentioned above, saying that I needed to lose at least 30lbs before surgery so to go on a crash diet. Is this normal being as I haven't seen this mentioned before? Thank you all for showing your thoguhts and feelings on this forum, its been great reading other peoples stories and I know this is something that I have to do to change my life. Regards

I had surgery with dr kuri and wasnt told to lose weight but from reading on here virtually everyone was-you are told to go on a liquid diet or somehting along those lines.I believe I wasnt told to lose weight simply because mine was done so quickly-spoke to him and 5 days later I was in Tijuana with a fistful of cash and ready for action.lol.Good Luck

I am going to be banded by Dr. Joya in Puerto Vallarta. He doesn't require a pre-op diet either. I think it's mostly the Drs. here in the states that require that.

Good Luck with whatever decision you make.

I have never heard of having to lose 30 lb. prior to surgery. A lot of surgeons put you on a liquid diet for a time before surgery. I think the purpose of this is to shrink the liver a little bit. The liver kind of laps over the top of the stomach. But most people lose 7-10 pounds, not 30. I had my surgery in Houston and Dr. Scarborough does not require a pre-op diet. I was self-pay, too. I paid $10,000 to the hospital and $5,900 to Dr. Scarborough which includes 1 year followup and fills.

Good Luck,

Carrie

222/204/125

7/25/05

I, hope you will meet your weight goals,no problems with surgery.

I am using Dr Kuri in TJ, and due to my high level BMI (53) he required a 2 week pre-op liver-shrinking diet (LSD). This is because the liver when fatty is very fragile and it bleeds a lot. The liver is pulled over to the side during this surgery and if it is fatty it can be damaged. The liver shrinking diet is 0-very low carb which forces your body into ketosis (fat burning!) and reduces the size and fat content of your liver. My LSD consists of Protein, protein and more protein and 0-40 (net) carbs. Mostly Protein Bars and Protein Drinks. I also have had some pure protein solids (i.e. lean meat and cheese). Many Docs in the States require a weight loss in the beginning to satisfy insurance requirements (which is usually a 10% reduction in weight)

Good Luck on your upcoming surgery!

My surgeon asks everyone to lose 10 lbs. I am down between 20-25 and am being banded tomorrow. It more you lose before surgery the smaller, the fatty deposits on liver get making it easier for the surgeon to do his job.

Good luck,

I went to the Lahey Clinic for my eval, In Burlington, MA. They are asking that I lose 20 pounds before surgery. I won't have to do the pre-op liquid diet though.

Best of luck!

I used Dr. Sanchez in Monterrey - he was wonderful total cost was $7900 plus $500 airfare - he's done over 5,000 surgeries w/ minimal complications and no deaths. I like that he owns his own private guesthouse where you stay before and after surgery (u only stay in the hospital one day) and arranges all transportation. It was oddly enough a very relaxing experience - his back patio faces the beautiful mountains. I took a roll of pics to remember it. He did not require any weight loss prior to surgery and I was 293 - bmi 48