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Inamed/Allergan Lap-Band


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Hi everyone!

I have a question about the actual band, where it's made/distributed. One of the questions I forgot to ask when my husband and I met Dr. Ortiz for his pre-surgery consult is: I know that the band that Dr. Ortiz uses is the Inamed Allergan Lap-Band. But, I've seen in different posts (on other forums) that this company has distribution in both the U.S. and in Mexico. If so, is it the same product that is distributed in both countries? Is there a difference in the "Mexican Inamed-Allergan" Lap-Band and the U.S. one? I think that this might be a question I may have to pose to the office itself to get clarification, but I thought I'd try the boards first.

Thanks for reading, and if you can clarify, it's appreciated.

-Lili

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Hi everyone!

I have a question about the actual band, where it's made/distributed. One of the questions I forgot to ask when my husband and I met Dr. Ortiz for his pre-surgery consult is: I know that the band that Dr. Ortiz uses is the Inamed Allergan Lap-Band. But, I've seen in different posts (on other forums) that this company has distribution in both the U.S. and in Mexico. If so, is it the same product that is distributed in both countries? Is there a difference in the "Mexican Inamed-Allergan" Lap-Band and the U.S. one? I think that this might be a question I may have to pose to the office itself to get clarification, but I thought I'd try the boards first.

Thanks for reading, and if you can clarify, it's appreciated.

-Lili

EMAIL DON MILLS AT INAMED, NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, ALREADY ASKED MYSELF :)

WHEN YOU'RE EMAILING, ASK ALSO ABOUT DR ORTIZ :) YOU'LL HEAR NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE U.S. SURGEONS. GRRRRRRRRR

REMEMBER MY FRIEND A FEW WEEKS AGO LOST HER BAND, ONE DR CAME IN AND WAS JUST GIVING HER A HARD TIME WHEN I WAS THERE. HE SAID I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'D GO OUTSIDE THE STATES. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL BARIATRIC PROGRAM RIGHT HERE FOR ONLY $12,000 WITH AFTERCARE. ONLY 12K? "WHEN I CALLED AND TALKED WITH YOU JUST A YEAR AGO, IT WAS ALMOST 18K, A HELL OF A SALE YOU'VE GOT GOING ON THERE. MAYBE JUST A LITTLE TO MUCH COMPETITION?" I WAS SO MAD, STILL AM!!!

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Thanks for the info, Pammie. I'll look into the gentleman you mentioned and will e-mail him.

My friend Mikey and I were just talking about in the latter part of your post: how much the price has gone down here in the States...and how much more it's sure to go down. There's a surgeon that we would like to use here in O.C., but it would just be too difficult to come up with the approx. $14K surgery would run. You're right...there's so much competition that's out there, that "Bariatric Care Centers" and physicians, will ultimately lower there prices to compete in the market. It's very frustrating--to say the least. I, for one, am thankful for Dr. Ortiz's rates and his experience in bariatric surgery. It makes me feel really good that while we can't afford to self pay in the States, that there's still a place for us to turn to.

Hope you're doing well. Take care.

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When I went down to the TJ office to get my first fill there was a United states surgeon shadowing and learning from them down there. The questions she was asking, I even knew the answers to!!! At that point I was thanking my lucky stars that I went to see doctor Ortiz.... People are always so scared of going to Mexico to do any surgeries- but this is one Doctor that I would recomend to everyone and I trust him more than our own doctors here!! I guess it helps that he was one of the originals to begin teaching surgeons all over the world to do it! Just had to get that out!

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ok, here's what a local US doc told me

You have to perform at least 150 bandings to get insurance approval in the U.S. so when you see cheap U.S. prices... remember, you may be a guinea pig for a new band surgeon!!! Dr. Ortiz has done over 4000 band placements!!!

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Hey LoriBecky...

Thanks for chiming in with that. Can you take a look at my original question on this post? Maybe you can corroborate what Pammie was saying...that the Inamed Allergan Lap Band is the same band both here in the U.S. and the one that Dr. Ortiz uses (meaning we don't get a lesser product because it's in "Mexico" or because it's Inamed using a "Mexican Distributor".

Wow. That was a mouthful.

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Hey LoriBecky...

Thanks for chiming in with that. Can you take a look at my original question on this post? Maybe you can corroborate what Pammie was saying...that the Inamed Allergan Lap Band is the same band both here in the U.S. and the one that Dr. Ortiz uses (meaning we don't get a lesser product because it's in "Mexico" or because it's Inamed using a "Mexican Distributor".

Wow. That was a mouthful.

WHEN MY FRIEND SANDY'S BAND SLIPPED AND THEY REMOVED IT, I GUESS I NEVER ASKED TO KEEP IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD EVEN LET ME KEEP IT, INTERESTING THOUGHT ANYWAY

BUT AGAIN, I'M SURE IF THOSE LOCAL DRs COULD GET IN JUST ONE MORE DIG, THE BAND NOT BEING INAMED, THEY WOULD HAVE

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