went to meeting not for sure who I am going to use has anyone used Dr. French or Dr. Lavin.

Hi,

I'm from LA and was banded in Mexico but I've heard a lot of really good things about Lavin. I have never heard of French. Dr. Lavin's group also does fills - which is very helpful to have your surgeon or someone in his group do your fills since they will know your band, its' location, etc.

If you are ever interested in getting in touch with some of us from Louisiana email me, I'd be happy to talk/email back and forth and share emails with others. 4 of us bandsters from the Ascension parish area met today for lunch. We expected a lot more to show up. There's about 20 of us around the Baton Rouge area. We are going to try to get a LA group together and meet for lunch once a month. One of the ladies I met today had been banded over a year ago and is doing great. She looks great too. She's lost 90lbs and gets her fills done in Baton Rouge by Dr. Bellanger (SP?). He does blind fills but knows her band pretty well and has done a great job giving her fills. We were amazed at how little she ate too. (I got my second fill yesterday and still don't feel the restriction that I had hoped). She says the band should work for us not the other way around. This may all be too much information right now.. if it is sorry. This band talk forum is the best I have found on the web it is loaded with great info and advice, check it often. Good luck with your surgery and congrats!

Dr. Lavin did my Lapband surgery in May of 2002. I have lst almost 150 lbs since. All of the folks in Dr Lavins group are great people and you will like the way the treat you.

He has a website - www.thesurgicalspecialists.com

The website does not get updated often enough but it will give you a good idea of what they are about.

I had lapband in Covington, LA 11/17/04. Dr. Michael Thomas was my surgeon, he is in with Dr. Lavin. I have personal connections with them and can say they are a fine group of dr.s and the patient advocates are great. he does my fill for $40.00 - because he did my surgery. my only gripe is that i have not lost but about 45# and he is NOT aggressive with the fills. i need to lose about 40-50 more... my friend had her surgery 6 weeks after me with Dr. Bellanger in Baton Rouge and she has lost 75# and he is lots more aggressive with how many cc's he injects. all my fills have been 'blind' and i have not felt a thing either time...have had 4 fills total. only 1/2cc each time. he does use the lidocaine but i don't feel that at all. he is a very good dr. i am going back in a month or so and plan on asking him to give me a little more so my weight loss will be better. as for the drinking with meals, i have to sip on a little water as i eat. always have. i have a very small opening in my throat and get choked without a small sip. anesthesia/intubation is very very difficult for me. anyways, just thought i would let anyone know who was looking for a dr. in south LA that this group is awesome, as is Lakeview Regional Hospital - that is where i had the procedure. He kept me over night since i live 4 hours north of them.

thanks and good luck to all... does anyone out there know what Bellanger charges for a fill??

Laurie B

Dr. Lavin performed my surgery almost 1 year ago and, as of today, I've lost 92 pounds. He's a great surgeon and has a terrific bedside manner. I would recommend him to anyone.

As far as fills are concerned, I've been very pleased with their Covington office and staff. I'm very aggressive when it comes to my fills and Chris (the Nurse Practitioner who does them) accommodates me with a smile on her face. Never once have they not scheduled me for a fill when I've called for an appointment. I've had 8 fills and 1 partial unfill.

i am also from la. i was banded on august 4, 2006 in monterrey by dr. sanchez. would love to come to some of the monthly get togethers you all have. my email is ctssharla@aol.com if ya feel like some new guests.