[CJsPrincess816]

Hi ya'll!

I'm new but have been lurking for quite a while. I've learned so much from this site! Thanks to all of you!

I have decided to have lap band surgery and learned from my insurance company yesterday (when I called myself) that any treatment for weight loss is excluded. I was upset - obviously. My partner and I have decided to go forward with the surgery as a self pay.

I was wondering if any of you have had the surgery done in Mexico or what your experiences were with self pay.

Have a great day!

[kfs151]

I know there are groups out there (yahoo?) devoted specifically to lapbanding in Mexico but I don't know the url's. I have heard both good and bad about Mexico but if you do your research you should be fine.

The HUGE caveat I've heard from lots of people about being banded in Mexico (or other far away locations) is after-care. You need to see a follow-up doctor roughly once a month for the first six months (YMMV) to get fills and check on your progress. Often local doctors won't take on someone who's had the surgery done elsewhere. I've heard lots of horror stories about people who thought they had aftercare lined up only to find out it fell through. Apparently some Mexican surgeons will give you a list of doctors in your area to do aftercare but when you actually call them they won't/don't take Mexican patients.

Also, the cost of a fill can vary widely so shop around when you are lining things up. I've heard of some self-pay patients getting 6 months or a year's worth of fills as part of the total package. I've heard as low as $150/fill and as much as $600

Good Luck,

[VeggyMom]

There are some very qualified doctors in Mexico. There are also, some less qualified doctors in Mexico. Just like here in the States. Be sure to do your homework on the doctor and his experience.

And like Kim said, be sure to make sure that you have solid, reputable after care lined up before you have the surgery. It can be difficult to find a surgeon here in the US who is able or willing to accept patients who have been banded by another surgeon.

Proper after care is essential to Lap-Band success so be absolutely sure that you have a surgeon who will accept you as a patient for after care before you have the surgery.

[marbleflys]

I'm sorry to jump in on your thread, I do not have much knowledge on lap-band.....however, my area of expertise lies in physician credentialing with an emph. on surgeons.

Most surgeons who are approved in a foreign country such as Mexico would have to re-train in a full sub-specialty fellowship to be boarded (board certified) in the US. Our regulations and examinations are much more strict.

Foreign Grads must pass additional board exams just to be able to TRAIN at an American program.

I would never consider this type of higher risk procedure in a country such as Mexico, I would bet that their procedures and equipment would not be as updated as the US. (outside the US I would only consider Israel or England).

I hope you reconsider.

[LAnneCarrington]

Originally Posted by marbleflys

I'm sorry to jump in on your thread, I do not have much knowledge on lap-band.....however, my area of expertise lies in physician credentialing with an emph. on surgeons.

Most surgeons who are approved in a foreign country such as Mexico would have to re-train in a full sub-specialty fellowship to be boarded (board certified) in the US. Our regulations and examinations are much more strict.

Foreign Grads must pass additional board exams just to be able to TRAIN at an American program.

I would never consider this type of higher risk procedure in a country such as Mexico, I would bet that their procedures and equipment would not be as updated as the US. (outside the US I would only consider Israel or England).

I hope you reconsider.

Good points; though my own surgeon that will be doing the lap banding on me trained with the top experts in both Europe and Australia, he had additional training here in the US to be "board certified." And lap banding wasn't even approved in the US by the FDA until about 2001 or 2003, I believe.