For Self-Pays: Spring Special On Lap Bands $9900

Great Lakes Weight Loss in Detroit, Michigan is having a special price on Lap Band procedures for self-pays. Through the end of May, their self-price is $9900.

Announcing Our $9,900 Self Pay Lap Band Spring Special!!!

The cost is $9,900 for a pre-operative evaluation, the surgery and all post-operative visits (including band adjustments) for 90 days.
For your pre-operative visit, if you have insurance, we will accept it (if you need a referral from your primary care doctor, you must get one beforehand). If your insurance will not cover the cost of the office visit, the self-pay price is $250, which can be applied to the cost of the surgery if you proceed. So, the average cost would be:
1. $250 for the pre-operative visit
2. $9,650 for the surgery ($9,900 minus the $250 from the pre-op visit)
3. $150 x 3 not-covered band adjustments

Average Total Cost: $10,350, including all the necessary adjustments. There are no additional hidden costs in this price!

Harper University Hospital, where Great Lakes Weight Loss performs its surgery, is the first in Michigan to receive a JCAHO certificate for their bariatric surgery division.

“The bariatric surgery program at Harper has clearly demonstrated a commitment to excellence that differentiates it from similar programs across the country,” states Brooks Bock, M.D., president of Harper University Hospital. “The Gold Seal of Approval is a coveted healthcare indicator that our bariatric surgery program effectively employs established clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care for the clinically severe obese. This program complies with a national set of standards, utilizing an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.”

The bariatric program at Harper has helped thousands of patients successfully lose both weight and body fat. This program takes a comprehensive approach to managing weight loss before and after surgery through education, support, proper nutrition and exercise. Harper clinicians also provide effective pain assessment and management during recovery, resulting in early mobilization and a short length of stay.

It certainly looks like a good deal. If you’re interested, call Jackie at 313-966-7491.

Lap Band Surgery in Texas For $9500!

I can see from my searches that a lot of you are looking for Lap Band surgery in the US for under $10k. Finally, Lap Band For Life has stepped up to the plate! I don’t have a lot of details on the program, but I do know that they are using hospitals rather than surgery centers for the procedure.

If you’re interested, fill out the application and someone will get back to you. I’ll be eager to hear about your experience.

Lap Band in Mexico For Under $10,000. Way Under.

I know that there are a lot of people who are looking for less expensive ways to have a Lap Band procedure. I haven’t found anyone in the US who is doing the procedure for under $13.5k. But in Mexico, it’s considerably less expensive and the physicians there also have considerably MORE experience doing the procedure than American physicians do. Indeed, when the FDA finally approved the Lap Band here in the US, Inamed brought in teams of experienced surgeons from Mexico to train the doctors here in the US.

A lot of you who are self-paying have families who love you very much and who are very skeptical of the idea of you having surgery in Mexico. But there are numerous medical facilities in Mexico which are built to encourage Americans to spend their health care dollars south of the border. The facilities are brand new, brilliantly clean and incredibly well run. The doctors usually speak impeccable English as well.

Now, to facilitate the trip south, particularly for those of us who don’t live in Southern California, we have World Med Assist - a company that assists Americans seeking to go abroad for medical care they cannot afford here at home.

WMA has ties to just five hospitals around the world. Before they include a hospital in their company, they do extensive research as to their reputation in the medical community, who their physicians are and the level of esteem with which they are regarded. After they are satisfied that the hospital and the physicians comfortably meet American standards for medical care, they fly to inspect the hospital first hand and meet the principals. That way they can be confident that when you arrive at the hospital for medical treatment, you’ll be treated with the same exemplary care you would expect to receive here. In fact, if you have your Lap Band procedure in Mexico through WMA, you’ll actually spend three nights in the hospital rather than the out patient experience we have here in the US. For those of you who feel that you are extremely high risk, this is something to keep in mind.

Part of what WMA does is handle all the logistics. They’ll make sure that you have all the paperwork needed from your physician here in the US and that it’s in the hands of the surgeon in Mexico. WMA will arrange your flight to San Diego where you will be met by a driver who will drive you to the Hospital Angeles in Tijuana. You’ll have a mobile phone with you that will provide you with local numbers should you need to contact someone. At the hospital, you’ll meet Dr. Lopez Corvala who speaks perfect English and has performed over 3000 Lap Band surgeries - something that not many physicians in the US can say. If there are any problems or questions, WMA is there to act as a patient advocate. They have several physicians on their staff who can quickly cut through anything you would have concerns about. After you’ve returned home, WMA will help you arrange for fills locally and if there are any questions on your bill, they’ll help resolve those as well.

World Med Assist client Angela Jones had a Lap Band procedure in Mexico:

WorldMed Assist proposed Dr. Lopez Corvala at Hospital Angeles. “I had friends who’d gone to Mexico for Lap Band surgery – two who each lost 150 pounds – so I was very comfortable with what WorldMed Assist proposed,” said Jones. “I checked Dr. Lopez Corvala’s background and was very impressed with his volume of lap band surgeries—over 3,000—and his track record. Then I checked out the hospital, and saw that it was very new, very modern. I was completely confident in my decision to go there.”

Located just a hop across the U.S. border, Hospital Angeles draws 95% of its patients from the U.S. and Canada. Among all hospitals in Mexico, it performs the highest number of lap band surgeries.

The 95% number is important. When I talk about Mexican medical facilities gearing themselves up for American health care dollars, this is what I’m talking about. I know people think it sounds scary to have health care procedures done in Mexico, but this is why you can feel confident - the business itself demands that the facility rise to the standards that Americans expect for their healthcare dollar. These people want you to refer your friends to them for their care as well - that’s why you can be confident they’re going to take very good care of you.

Back to Angela:

Jones was away from her home in Dalton, Georgia for just two days. “I’m so glad I found WorldMed Assist. They made everything so easy, and stayed closely involved from my very first contact. Not only did they make all the arrangements for me in Mexico, they also helped me find a center to have my lap band filled that’s only an hour away from my home.”

Would she recommend a trip to Hospital Angeles for others seeking a permanent weight loss solution? “Definitely. Everyone at the hospital was super nice and my doctor was terrific. The hospital was even more impressive in person than on the internet. Even if I could have afforded the $20,000 for Lap Band surgery at home, doctors here wouldn’t do it because my Body Mass Index was just below the minimum requirement. My surgery in Mexico cost me less than $8000, everything included.”

Jones plans to shed 80 pounds by fall. “The hospital urged me not to take it too fast, and recommended I plan on 10 months so I can maintain good nutrition,” she said.

World Med Assist has a page that explains what the process is for determining if they can help you with your Lap Band procedure, what you need to provide them with and how you make your decisions. I want to highlight a couple excerpts from this page.

Step three: Initial Information. Next, we need to get to know one another better so we can tailor a medical solution to your unique situation. We’ll contact you to:

Find out more about your medical history and current medical needs
Determine whether you’re a good candidate for medical travel
Explain in more detail exactly what to expect and when
Answer all your questions
Describe how we evaluate medical providers to ensure the highest quality care for our patients
Discuss destination options for your medical condition and learn your travel preferences. Describe the “behind-the-scenes” services we provide to ensure a smooth, simple and seamless trip abroad for your treatment

These people are very good at providing succinct information over the phone - certainly their website suggests that they understand very well what people want to know. Your conversation with them will provide you with a lot of information that’s going to make you feel much more comfortable about proceding abroad.

The next part comes under the KISS paradigm. Stop fretting and let them handle logistics:

Step seven: We Arrange Logistics. Once you’ve made your decision, we take it from there, and even help you get your travel documents, such as passports and visas, in order and arrange for payment, including financing if needed. Once we’ve tied down the date for your procedure, WorldMed Assist then makes all arrangements with the doctor and hospital, and coordinates your travel itinerary. All you have to do is pack a suitcase and board the airplane.

And this is the process once you arrive:

Step eight: You Arrive. Once you arrive at your destination, you’ll be greeted at the airport and driven to the hospital. You’ll be introduced to your liaison, who on our behalf, will coordinate your admission and all details during your stay. During admission, you’ll make payment to the hospital, usually by credit card, and then you’re ready to meet your medical team. Your lead doctor will explain every aspect of your procedure in detail and the in depth pre-op tests. The tests ensure there are no changes in your medical condition since the transfer of records. Most patients are impressed with the thoroughness of these tests, and unlike in the U.S., are all at no additional charge. No matter which of the WorldMed Assist hospitals you’ve chosen, you’ll be able to communicate clearly in English, the facilities are pristine and technologically advanced, and the staff is dedicated to your medical care and your personal comfort.

If you or someone you love can’t afford to have weight loss surgery here in the US, this is an excellent way to go about saving money and receiving excellent care all at the same time. Eight thousand dollars is something that most families can come up with if necessary and extending the life and physical comfort of someone you love seems like an excellent thing to do. Maybe this surgery could be a Mother’s Day gift, or a Father’s Day gift or even a birthday gift. What do you think - would others in your family pitch in? I bet they would.

Anyway, check out World Med Assist’s website and then call them and ask your questions. 1-866-999-3848

Cash Price Drops On Lap Band Surgery

Here’s good news for those of us who live in Southern California - Journey Lite of Thousand Oaks has dropped their self-pay price from $15,500 to $13,499.

“We recognize that many people are forced to choose between having surgery or paying their bills. This choice is even harder in today’s economy, and one we wish no one should have to make,” stated Cynthia Winker, a Board member of Journey Lite of Thousand Oaks. “By reducing the charge for the Lap-Band(R) procedure, we are making this more affordable for patients. For those with good credit who choose to finance the procedure, the cost can now be under $300 per month for five years, much like a car payment. But unlike owning a car, the possible benefits of weight loss surgery have the potential to last a lifetime.”

They have four different Southern California locations:

Journey Lite patients can be seen at Dr. Helmuth Billy’s offices in Ventura (805-648-2227) or Santa Maria (805-648-2227), at Dr. Jeremy Korman’s office in Marina Del Rey (800-491-1977), or at the Journey Lite facility in Thousand Oaks (877-452-BAND).
About Journey Lite Of Thousand Oaks

And here is their website:
http://www.journeylite.com

Let us know if you take advantage of this. I’d love to tape an interview before you go in, and the day after the process as well.

How much do Lap Band surgeries cost in the US? Part 2.

I was going to do one big blog post and includes lots of numbers from lots of different doctors. That doesn’t seem to be happening. But I am talking to the offices one at a time, and thought I’d update you.

I spoke with Meghan, in the office of Dr. Steve Webb in Jacksonville, Florida. If you’re self-paying, the entire cost is $14,500 and that includes the hospital, the anesthesiologist, pre- and post-op testing, and psychological support (meaning those support groups that help you lose more weight after surgery). They also have a Clothes Closet, and their weight loss surgery patients can come in and exchange clothes - what a great idea! Their phone number is 904-367-4443. Meghan was smart, cheerful and a real delight to talk to.

For the men - Robert Morgan’s 250 lb. Weight Loss

Happily for men, they lose weight a lot faster than we ladies do. However, even with that advantage, this is quite the story.

Robert Morgan was the 31 year old, 502 pound sports editor for the WC Messenger of Wise County, Texas. He knew he needed to lose weight and remembers feeling proud of himself when…

…there was a time when we ate out more than we did at home. And I remember thinking at one point that I was getting healthier because I switched to Taco Bell. At that point I was getting burritos with lettuce and cheese rather than quarter-pounders. And boy, I thought that was a huge improvement.

Life was tough at that size, even for a former football player. He’s married to a sweet woman, they have great kids and it’s the good life even if they don’t have lots of money.

But deep inside I knew better. I could not stand the pain shooting up the heel of my foot or that I was out of breath walking back to the car after a football game. Better yet, I knew I was in trouble last April when I was at Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium for the regional track meet. This massive, college-size stadium has no elevator and hauling a wide load up 50 flights of stairs several times a day about gave me heart failure.

I felt doomed to die of a heart attack by the age of 32, but I didn’t know what to do. I don’t overeat so I figured eventually it would all go away. I was certain that putting on a few extra pounds was something that happens to everyone when they hit their 30s.

Then one day, a rude kid mouthed off and Robert was sent on a new journey:

It hit me like a ton of bricks this year, and I have one immature, rude, disrespectful Decatur High School student to thank for it. I was at my first volleyball game of the season in late August when I walked by the student body section. I noticed in my peripheral vision as I approached the group that one boy in particular kept staring at me. Just as my family and I passed, he quickly turned to two of his buddies and said, “Did you see how fat that dude was? What a freak!”

He talks about the self-revulsion we all feel:

I thought about it all night, the next day, and for the next week. I wanted to change overnight before the next person made fun of me. I see it almost every day now that my eyes were opened by this one person. People look at me differently every day, it’s just I can’t read thought bubbles as they stare when I slowly pass by.

I realize now I have been hiding from my problem that just won’t go away. My negative feelings about my appearance prevented me from enjoying everyday life, like going to movies, going for walks at the park, visiting with family and friends and playing with my two small boys. I hide from cameras and I run from mirrors. I hated the way I looked, and worst of all, I hated myself.

Robert talked to his wife, his boss, even his photographer who had wrestled with weight:

After laying everything on the line, I decided it was time for drastic measures. I just could not take another minute of being this way. I wanted to change my life, not only for me but for my children. They need their father back.

I decided to have weight-loss surgery before the weight killed me.

He talks about the humiliation obese people endure:

Flying? That could have been the worst experience ever. I had to board the plane early so no one would see me squeeze into my seat-and-a-half while connecting a seatbelt extension. Thankfully, my wife traveled to California with me and I didn’t have to pay for two seats.

He talks about the fact that he didn’t eat that badly. If you’ve read through my blog, you know there are lots of reasons you put on weight other than sheer gluttony. This is what he says:

I didn’t ask to be this heavy, nor did I get this way because I wanted to be seen. I never went home at the end of the day and ate a large pizza with a side of ranch dressing while drinking a two-liter bottle of Pepsi, only later to chase it with a tub of ice cream. It’s disheartening that people actually believe those walking in my shoes live their life with food in their mouths 24 hours a day.

So, Robert decided to fight back and he lists his raison d’etre for doing so:

My weight problem came along because I ate wrong. I was eating the wrong foods at the wrong times. Too much eating on the run and not enough eating a home-cooked meal at the dinner table.

Now I’m fighting back. I’m going to succeed for five main reasons:

1. To be an example for those who think it’s not possible to lose 200 pounds that it can be done;

2. To show the heartless, disrespectful folks who have looked down at me these past few years that I am human;

3. To be the man my wife used to know;

4. To give my children the father they need;

5. Because I want my life back.

Robert did his research:

I spent many long nights and early mornings researching doctors in North Texas that specialize in Lap-Band surgery. I did my homework online and offline. I talked to people who had the surgery and discussed their doctors and I looked into past problems and how many of these operations they have performed.

I finally, found the man who would help me change my life – Dr. Curtis Mosier. After talking with former patients, his Lap-Band coordinator and Mosier himself, I was ready to take the leap.

If you’re in North Texas, here’s Dr. Mosier’s page.

For Robert, as for many of us, insurance didn’t cover his surgery. He came up with the $15,000 on his own, and he is glad he did. The series starts at the beginning of his journey and goes on for two years. I’d encourage to read the whole series. It’s quite a story.

How much do Lap Band surgeries cost in the US? Part 1.

Today, I’m calling various cities around the US and finding out what the basic fees are. Here in Los Angeles, the going rate seems to be about $18,000. Next week, I’m going to tackle getting costs out of country. I know that a lot of people go to Mexico and India.

I started off with St. Louis because that’s my home town. I spoke with Karen at Dr. Van Wagner’s office. Their basic fee for out-patient surgery comes to $14,555 - that covers everything. If you need to stay overnight at the facility, that would put another $1000 onto your price tag. In addition, they have a program fee of $375 but they will refund part of that if you are a cash patient. if your primary care physician requires any other tests from you, that would be additional. That’s something you need to ask about.

Update Congrats to Dr. Wagner for running an office where smart people answer the phones and answer questions. I’ve been calling other cities and have been put on hold, shuffled into voice mail cul de sacs and haven’t actually spoken with another person yet. I have to run so I’m going to continue this post tomorrow. Or maybe I’ll write about something else entirely tonight.