approximate cost of lapband?

[arianna]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can give me an estimate of how much your lapband surgery cost? and how much the fills are? My friend's interested in getting the band, but she's debating whether to do it here in Kuwait like I did or do it in the States this summer when she's there on vacation. It cost me about $6000 for the surgery with an overnight stay at the hospital, and my fills are about $60 plus $50 doctor's fee so around $110. I told my friend it'd be best to do the surgery closest to where she'll be in case she has any problems with anything. But she's convinced the quality of everything will be better back home (USA). I don't have any complaints except that my doctor didn't give me as many instructions as some of you have gotten. But thank God I discovered and joined this forum because it's really closed the gaps and I've learned so so much from everyone...in such a short time.

Arianna

[AshleyMarie]

I had surgery 2 months ago and it was $7300 with 3 nights hotel stay (I believe). I only stayed one night and went home the same day as surgery. The fills cost $100.

[nothereanymore]

Hey Arianna,

Good for you for helping your friend out. One thing I’d like to point out is that we didn’t have our bands done in the States; we had them placed in Tijuana Mexico by Dr. Ortiz at the Obesity Center, http://www.obesitycontrolcenter.com/. The cost in the States average is about $17,000 (per my last looking). You can see the cost savings noted by AshleyMarie.

I was going to have mine done in the States, however I found that Dr. Ortiz had proctored most of the Doctors that I was looking to have do my band – my thoughts were why not go to the guy who’s teaching the other doctors how to do this? And many of the nurses (you’ll notice on the forum that many are in the medical field) had gone to Dr. Ortiz.

Yes, his cost is lower, and he has a great facility, but he also has more experience than most. In addition, if you have any issues he’s not too far from the States, and has great follow-up – (you have to let them know and get to them). For fills the cost is about the same as yours, unless you decide to do it in the States, then it varies per fill doctor.

Also part of what he provides his patients is this forum, this forum is Dr. Ortiz’s forum for his patients, for follow-up and after care – it’s a support system for his patients before and after surgery.

All the best,

Lisa

[AngelaAnn]

I had mine done in Mexico at the OCC too. I believe it was $7000--I live in San Diego so I didn't need hotel or airline fees. Fills are $100 under flouroscopy. Unfills are $30

[arianna]

Thank you all for the quick response. It seems like Dr. Ortiz's fees are similar to what I paid here. but WOW $17,000. what a huge difference. I'll let my friend know but I'm pretty sure she won't want to pay $17,000. I'll give her the website to the OCC and she can do the research and then make a decision.

By the way, is it ok that I'm on this forum? I'm not one of Dr. Ortiz's patients, but when I signed on, it didn't ask for any details as to my doctor etc. It's a great forum and I wish my doctor had recommended something like this for me. better late than never.

thanks again guys,

Arianna

[nothereanymore]

Of course - we love having you here! This is Dr. Otiz's forum, many who are like you and don't have resources use it. (Plus we are darn good). And this is just another thing to add to the long list of why it’s good to go to the OCC, Dr. Ortiz does pay for this, and had it built for us – he’s really into making sure we’re successful with our bands and this is one of our tools.

Best,

Lisa

[AshleyMarie]

I had mine done in Mexico at the OCC too. I believe it was $7000--I live in San Diego so I didn't need hotel or airline fees. Fills are $100 under flouroscopy. Unfills are $30

Thanks for that info. I just assumed an unfill was also $100. Good to know.

[LisaLaw]

Thank you all for the quick response. It seems like Dr. Ortiz's fees are similar to what I paid here. but WOW $17,000. what a huge difference. I'll let my friend know but I'm pretty sure she won't want to pay $17,000. I'll give her the website to the OCC and she can do the research and then make a decision.

By the way, is it ok that I'm on this forum? I'm not one of Dr. Ortiz's patients, but when I signed on, it didn't ask for any details as to my doctor etc. It's a great forum and I wish my doctor had recommended something like this for me. better late than never.

thanks again guys,

Arianna

I was quoted $21,000 here in Olympia Washington, so I also flew to OCC and had mine done. The other thing your friend needs to be aware of is that the FDA monitors this procedure like crazy in the states, you have to get approval to do it, even if you do have it done without using insurance (paying out of pocket).

That is why nearly all of us went to the best doctor doing this procedure and that is Dr Ortiz at OCC

[tootsie_lou]

I was set to submit my paperwork to a doctor here in south Florida who was charging $24,500. I hit on post on this forum as I was doing a google search to make sure he didn't have any negatives out there anywhere. The rest is history. My daughter (age 13 at the time) and I traveled to Mexico, where both of us had the surgery, shopped, etc., for slightly more than half of what it would have cost for only me to get the lap-band here. In addition, I had done a bit of research on the lap-band. There was a good amount of pre-op that was required with the local doctor, which included monthly meetings, dietition consultation, psychological consultation, spiritual consultation, etc. It truly was much easier to work with the OCC (and they were so much nicer).