momoffour

Good Morning, first let me say that I am the patient coordinator for Betancourt Medical Center. So, when I first came to lapbandtalk, I was a patient and posted regularly, since I began working for the center, last year, I only read, I never post because of conflict and I dont want it to seem that I am trying to get business. BUT.. I must say today that I am deeply disturbed by the post that claims that the surgeons here at Betancourt are the same surgeons that did the surgery of misfortune, I kno w this for a fact because I happen to have been at the Molding clinic at the time of her procedure. Our surgeon, the only lapband surgeon we use is Dr Lopez Dominquez. Misfortunes surgeon was Dr Huacuz, as she stated a few posts back. So, look at his site Huacuz.com and look at our site Betancourtmedical.com... you will clearly see, that her surgeon is NOT in our picture the man she is referring to is an anesthesiologist not a surgeon at all. So, to clear that up, Dr Huacuz and Dr Lopez are nothing alike and look nothing alike and besides both of them at one point working with Andres Betancourt, have absolutely nothing in common. Now as for Andres Betancourt, he has been in the lapband business for 13 years. Many of the surgeons in Tijuana, got there start with him. He was not just the patient coordinator for them, but rather the person behind most of their success. (Dr Verboonan, Dr Ponce De Leon, Dr Lopez, Dr Huacuz, Dr Covarubias, Dr Ramos Kelly, Dr Betancourt another surgeon in Tj.) Now, Andres is an good person and when someone does something that he feels is not right or puts his name in a bad way, he parts ways, some of his relationships with these surgeons ended that way and some were just due to other reasons. So, what I am getting at is that he has been around, and has had the same phone number thru all of this, so ANY one could contact him at the same phone number. When he left Molding Clinic, he took the number with him, and for Misfortune it's 866-806-4286 I answer that phone 24/7 and have for the past year and I have never received a call from you. That is the number you called to schedule your procedure at the Molding Clinic and that is the same number that has always been linked to Andres Betancourt. Misfortune, I can not comment on your medical situation due to patient privacy issues, but I can say that Andres was NOT in the OR with you and only went by what he was told by YOUR surgeon whom is NOT our surgeon now. He is upset to hear about your situation and DID NOT ask a nurse at the hospital where you were if you were dead yet.. that is NOT true and I think you know that. As for the issue involving another patient who had a complication, by the same surgeon who performed Misfortunes procedure, Andres did refuse to give her a refund and to this day stands by his decision but the refund did ultimately come from the surgeon who performed her surgery. As for other issues that involved Andres Betancourt, I am not going to sit her and defend him all day because it is impossible to please 100% of the people 100% of the time.

Thanks Amy, I am not sure how much was removed. ALOT... let's put it that way. Anyway, I just moved from Tampa... i miss home:cry

Ok... here are my before and after, keep in mind that my after is only like 1 mo after the scars look frightening, but it has been 3 months now and they are much lighter

I have been swaying back and forth from 197 to 195 since I had my port removed last week. I am getting so stressed because Dr gave me a little fill and still nothings coming off. Grrr! I know i know, i'll be patient. Good luck to everyone else!

Rebecca, I was there when you were. Getting a fill. And YES, you are definally NOT on much of a schedule! How are you doing anyway? I'm planning on going back the end of May to have my port put back in. I found a heck of a deal on airfare (i love it when that happens!)

I too had my surgery at the Molding Clinic. I love them! Andres, the patient coordinator, becomes your best friend and the doctor is sooo attentive. They all are. I was in the clinic the first night, with a nurse by my side constantly, and spent the next two nights in a gorgeous hotel recovering with daily visits from the doctor. I have had port issues, but I wouldn't think twice about doing it all over again with the same staff. They have been there for me every step of the way.

I did have to have my port taken out last weekend. It is such a bummer! I will say that for such a bad experience, my Dr and his staff at the Molding Clinic made it very pleasant. They are always so good to me there. I was so down in the dumps about losing my port and Andres, the patient cooridnator really kept me up and cheery the whole time. Dr Huacuz gave me a little fill before he took out the port and assured me that it would be able to be put back in in a couple of months. So for now, i'm gonna keep a posative attitude and just do my best to get this weight off. I'm doing pretty good and feel like my wound is healing up great. Thanks for your concern. Melissa

Well as of Saturday, i'll be without a port. I am so discouraged. My doc says that after it heals it can be put back in. I hope that is the case. I have had these stupid problems since november so I am ready to get this resolved. Anyway, just wanted to let you all know what was up. I'm leaving tomorrow and back on Tues. Take care Melissa

The only cost I am incurring is the anisthesia and airfare (which in itself is a fortune) and yes, the clinic is in TJ. And yes, I am in Florida. I don't have a dr here to do the aftercare since I have the swedish band.

Hope you have a wonderful Birthday!

Thanks for your support everyone. This is my second attempt to get this resolved. 2 mo nths ago, my tubing popped out because it was too long. It just never healed from that. My doc was Dr Huacuz at the Molding clinic. Overall I am happy with them. I just think that it has been unfortunate. In the big scheme of things though, my problems aren't as bad as some so for that I am grateful.

I hope I did these right. Before is in the red, after the pink.

Hey everyone. I just got back from TJ and looks like i'm heading back in a couple of weeks to have my port moved over to my side. My port incision just isn't healing after almost 5 mo. Dr says i've lost a lot of fatty tissue and so the port is just rubbing against the incision wound not allowing it to heal. It leaks 24/7. He is going to move it over to my side because there is alot more fatty tissue there. I have to give myself injections 2 a day for 8 more days...YUCK! To try and dry this up before the surgery. I start it on Monday and I am NOT looking forward to it. On the good note, i just got my second fill and man it is a good one! So on that note, i finally broke the 200 mark this week and i am so so happy! I just wanted to let you know what was going on since I haven't posted in awhile.

Roxanna, good luck with your surgery. I just got back. My port is going to have to be moved in a couple of weeks. It is directly under the wound and just won't heal. Dr says i've lost a lot of fatty tissue and the port is irritating the incision so he wants to move it over to my side where there is more fatty tissue. Oh well....anyway, good luck with yours. Melissa

I just LOVE fritos in a bowl of buttermilk, like cereal! YUmm

Hey everyone! It's been a couple of weeks but i'm down 1.5 in the last 3 weeks. I'm going for a fill on Sunday and this darn port incision needs to be fixed it just won't heal up. I'm just hoping anyway for the fill. Well Congrats to all the loser and everyone keep on keeping on!

Hi Mom Ceo, i'm in the Tampa area. I had my surgery in TJ as well. I don't know any other bandsters in the area and would love to chat with you sometimes. Unfortunately my recovery from the surgery hasn't gone very well. In fact, I am flying back to TJ on sunday because the incision where the port is just won't heal. I've lost 42 lbs so far so that's great but this leaking port incision is getting so so old. Ya know! Anyway, nice meeting you and I wish you lots of luck with your surgery. Melissa

I'm down one this week. I am suprised since it has been a busy and social week with lots of food! One is better than none I guess. Good luck everyone and Happy Monday.

Betty 54 Paula 43 Kelly 65 Becky 77 Carol 102 Alex 110 Nana~49 Rich 20 Larae 22 Maureen 73 Marie 56 Wyld Blu 73 Penni 54 Vera 60 Darcy 59 Kelly 39 michelle 135 mary 65.4 greg 77 Sharon 35 Tricia 60 Darcey 23 cindy 88 Melissa 39 Total 1478.40

well, i've been out of touch for a couple of weeks. I think that last weigh in I did was 3 mondays ago. I was 211, i'm 206 today. So I guess thats 5 in three weeks. I'll take that. I have to see a wound specialist this week though because this lousy thing just isn't closing up. It really stinks! Anyway, congrats to all the losers this Valentines Day.

Hey Kat, I am in the Tampa area. I chose the midband because I didn't mind going over to TJ for aftercare and It is from Johnson and Johnson. I have heard conflicting stories about it getting approved in the US. I also chose it because it was a little less expensive but in my opinion from the explainations I got just as good as the one from Inamed. I am sure others would disagree but that is just my opinion. As far as Andres, he has been there for me every single time I have called or emailed. He even mailed me some meds I needed. I've been back for a fill and had another wonderful experience. I think He used to be involved with some other clinic that had some issues. I personally like him a lot and I really like Dr Huacuz. He is very attentive and very caring.

Hi, I used Molding clinic. I went with the midband and there isn't a dr who will do my fills here in florida or even see me for that matter. I know that though in advance that I would have to go back to Tj for aftercare since I was getting the midband. They do however offer the "Lapband" I was very happy with Andres and Dr Hacuaz. good luck!

Well i'm down another 2 this week. My fill just kicked in after 2 weeks and wow it's really cranky in the morning! Keep up the good work everyone.

I am glad for you Delarla. I got mine fixed alittle over a week ago and it is STILL leaking like someone left the faucet dripping. It's really starting to annoy me I can't even imagine having it go on for months.

Well, one week after a fill down 2 lbs. I was hoping for more but i'll take it! Great job everyone else. Becky you have great hair i've been trying forever to grow mine out but it seems to want to grow thicker instead of longer... grr!