Ragdolz

Disappointing... I had heard they did, I stand corrected! I apologize for the misinformation. Best, Dotty

I have NOT been banded, but my thoughts are RNY fails too... that's why some docs are doing bands on POST RNY patients! Dotty

Another option to insurance is organ donation. Here in Florida we have the University of Florida (Go Gators!), for those people who have significant amounts of skin to be removed after weight loss the university has a board cerified plastic surgeon do the skin removal process and all of the skin is sent to Shands Hospital for their burn unit. All expences are covered as it is organ donation. You could check your area's medical colleges and see if they offer such programs too. Good luck! Dotty

Hi! I am looking for Aetna info for my sister, we both want the band, I'm self-pay and she is with Aetna. What I have found is the company Aetna does cover the surgery but it sounds like there is an exclusion on it for your particular plan. What you could do is go the search at the top, put in Aetna or Blue Cross, then if you want to narrow it down to posts (as opposed to whole threads) that only show when that company is mentioned, punch the box for show posts... that's how I found you! Good luck on your search! Dotty

Hi Julie, I have not been banded yet, hoping to be able to finance it before the year is out, but I have been following your progress on the reconstructive surgery portion of the forum and you are phenominal! You are just beautiful and an inspiration to us all. Best wishes and I can't wait til you post your date pics! Dotty

Hi Becca, I'm in Middleburg. I contacted the college recently and was told that in three months they would have a surgeon teaching it there, they are currently working out what the cost is going to be. Dr. Cendan says he should be able to tell me what it is going to cost in about two weeks. I do know that St. Vincents Hospital in Jacksonville chares $16,500 for the surgery. Good luck on finding your surgeon! Best, Dotty

Hi Everybody, I'm a newbie to this board, although I've lurked here on and off for years. I am hoping to be banded this year. I am going to be self pay and had narrowed down my choices to Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Aceves (my research shows they both have loyal patients who swear by them), but out of curiosity I recently contacted the University of Florida (go Gators!), in Gainesville, to inquire if they do the surgery as well. I was told by Dr. Juan Cedan (the head of the college's bariatric department) that they were bringing in a surgeon (in three months) to teach the procedure; he told me I would have to contact him again in about two weeks for the cost as they were currently in the progress of trying to establish what it will be. I look forward to meeting you all, I know this is THE place for bandster support! Here's to hoping all goes as planned and I will be one of the banded ones before 2007 ends! Best wishes, Dotty