MikeC

I just noticed that there is not much discussion on body wraps here. I lost 100lbs and as you can imagine have a lot of loose skin. It doesn't bother me enough to go in for surgey so I started going for body wraps and they really help a lot! After two wraps, I lost several inches and my skin is noticably tighter. It's clearly not the same a a tummy tuck or anything surgical, but I think its a great option us bandsters can consider. The wrap I ended up going for was a suddenly slender body wrap. You can google them and get a lot of info about how they work. I have no conneciton to the company, but just wanted to let others know that in my case at least it really worked. I've received a lot a great info from this board, pre and post surgey and just wanted to pass this info along. Cost at the place I went to here in NY was $135, not including tips Good luck to all MikeC

forreste, It's amazing how our body can fight the weight loss. It is so true how we can learn to trick the band and eat around it. It's so important to recognize this so you don't develop a complication and loose your band altogether. I have to always keep this in the front of my mind. I've had two semi slips requiring unfills. Each time I swear I'll behave if I can keep my band, but you get comfortable. My advice is to listen to the dietician(as hard as that can be sometimes). Eat a lot of small, high protien meals. Be mindful when eating. When ever I go back to basics I loose weight period. It is only a matter of how long I can stick with it. Best of luck to you. MikeC

The salon was in Forest Hills, Queens. There is a store locator at the website Suddenly Slender The Body Wrap - Victoria Morton's mineral bodywrap Good luck. Mike

I was banded in Mexico two years ago. My research narrowed it down to Dr. Rumbaut or Dr. Ortiz. I ended up deciding on Ortiz only becasue he would be easier for me to travel to for after care. New York to San Diego, 15 minute drive to the Mexican border, 3 minute cab ride to his office. I think I paid $8,500- hotel, tests and transportation included. I traveled by myself so I really didn't spend much money. Only for tips and the hotel restaurant. I highly reccomend Dr. Ortiz and his team. Good luck.

I would stay away if you can. Try unsweetened or diet iced tea instead. I've had a cup of soda on occasion when nothing else was available and if its not flat you will feel it. When ordering a mixed drink with some carbonation, I ask it be shaken to get rid of some of the carbonation and I'm fine. When I was unfilled I was drinking beer with no problem.

You may be able to have it corrected without surgery. I've remember reading a post about a year and a half ago about one surgeon, I think it was Dr. Ortiz in Mexico, flip a port back into the correct position using two fill needles without surgery. I guess it all depends on the position of the port. Best of luck.

Okay, hoping one of you guys can help me by sharing your expeirecnces with restriction and fills. I had my first fill three months ago and have lost about 5 pounds since (all in the first month after the fill). I do feel some restriction. Sometimes I PB, sometimes I'm very tight, and sometimes I'm very loose (like today when I ate a large order of chicken with cashew nuts and 10 fried wontons in a single sitting). But I rarely if ever have that "full" feeling 10 minutes past my meal. I'm thinking that I need a slight fill to keep the food in my pouch longer but I'm nervous because I know how tight I can get at times. What do you guys think?

I had my surgery in Tijuana Mexico by Dr. Ortiz. I paid $9,500 for everything except air fare. Fills cost $100. Overall I'm very satisfied and would do it again. My only caution to you is that depending on your location, your local aftercare options may be limited and costly. With the price of band surgery dropping in the US, Mexico isn't exactly the value it used to be. I go back to Ortiz for fills, partly because I like his care, but mostly because its an excuse to get away to the west coast for the weekend.

Dallasdoll, I know how you feel. i was banded about 5 weeks ago and started eating solids at 3 weeks. I healed very quickly and probably could have handled solids a day after surgery. I haven't had my first fill yet and I can eat anything I want. I find myself taking large bites and everything goes down with no problems. Reading some of the posts on this board that say to cut your food into pencil eraser size pieces and to chew 30 times I wondered if my doctor forgot to buckle my band! But then once in a while when I eat too fast or take too many large bites in a row I'm reminded that my band is still down there.

Jenna- I was banded 3/22, just a day before you (we must have passed each other in the hospital). I made my fill appointment on May 7th as well (10:30). I'm recovering nicely. I feel a little guilty today because I ate some solid food- its only four days early. I hope you are doing well too.

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I went on a blind date with a girl I later found out was banded. I had no idea and it actually started me on the path to research the band. The only thing I remember thinking to myself is "why won't she drink anything," but I figured she was just being a little shy which I though was cute. Just watch what you eat (nothing new)so you don't PB!

Before being banded (like with the IV already in my arm)by Ortiz, I asked Dr. Martinez about their prior complications. He told be they had None (and knocked wood)! Given the number of procedures they do I couldn't help but think this couldn't be true. To be fair, the context in which I asked was more in the spirit of major complications, but he did say they never have had to convert to an open procedure, never have had any vital organ damaged during the surgey, or any deaths. Delarla, I'm curious to hear about the two Ortiz complications you've heard about.

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz on March 22nd and was VERY nervous about going to TJ for surgery. But after seeing how everything went I have no regrets or complaints at all. He and his associate Dr. Martinez are very skilled and very experienced. You are getting two top notch doctors for the price of one. The only drawback is that the surgery center is not the same as being in a fully equiped US hospital, but it is well equiped and kept cleaner than any hospital I have seen in the US. It is very comfortable (including a million dollar view of a golf course and rolling hills from your room). My recovery so far has been very rapid-- no gas at all after day 3 (Dr. Martinez said they are able to do surgery with less gas than other surgons). My incisions have just about fully healed(yes, even the largest). I plan to go back to TJ for fills initially, but did make arrangements for a local doc to see me in case of emergencies and if it turns out I need a lot of fill visits to find my sweet spot. If you are only 2 hours from TJ I don't think you need to worry about finding a closer doc. Best of luck to you and take comfort in knowing you will be in good hands. Michael

Okay, this is my situation.... I went to see a US bariatric surgeon for a consultation a few months ago to see about getting banded. Her insurance lady told me that my carrier (Cigna POS) specifically excluded the lap band. This made sense to me because I have read that Cigna does not cover the band on this site as well as other boards. I didn’t bother calling the company or my PCP figuring I’d only get annoyed. I threw my energy into researching the lap band and Mexican surgeons and decided on Dr. Ortiz in TJ. I filled out my health questionnaire, scheduled the surgery and paid the surgical fee. I’m scheduled to be banded in less than two weeks. Today I called Cigna to make sure that if God forbid something serious goes wrong after the surgery while I’m back in NY, that they will cover emergency medical expenses- even if caused by non covered surgery. Well the lady told me that not only would I be covered, but that weight loss surgery (including the band) is covered under my policy as long as it is medically necessary and approved in advance. Now what do I do? Should I cancel my Mexican surgery and jump through the hoops to have my surgery paid for in the US or just say the heck with it and get it done in Mexico and be done with it all in two weeks. Going by other people’s experiences, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire process takes 9 months for surgery and insurance approvals in the US. I don’t want to wait that long, especially after getting my self all mentally prepared for surgery in two weeks (not to mention losing the 20lbs the doctor requested). Other than being MO, I have no other medical problems so I feel it will be a long process for the insurance to go through. Then again, $9,500 is a lot of money and it would be comforting having the surgery done close to home. I'm leaning towards going through with the surgery in Mexico as planned; but I hate feeling that I’m not exercising self restraint-- especially when I feel lack of self restrain is the reason I’ve stayed fat all these years.

Well it turns out my Cigna plan (or any cigna plan for that matter) DOES NOT cover the lap band. The idiot woman I spoke with on the phone originally was wrong. I checked and doubled checked to make sure. I even asked the VP of HR at my company to check as well. I also read it in Cigna's coverage position paper for bariatric surgery which was pretty interesting and informative. So phew, I'm so glad that descion has been made for me. I've lined up my aftercare here in NY so that won't be a problem- I just need a letter from my surgon and a copy of his post op notes to fax over after the surgery, although I think I'll just go back to MX for the fills (an excuse for a mini vacation). After the surgery I'll gamble a stamp and file for reimbursement- you never know they may give in especially if pressure my employer (we are self funded). Thanks to all of you for you advise and support. Oh, and Marie the consensus was that both my port and I would survive the punch! Thanks for asking

Hi, I’m new to the group. Before I introduce myself, I want to really thank all of the members that post and share your experiences and emotional feelings on the board. Reading all of the posts over the past several weeks really helped me finally decide on moving forward with the surgery and to set realistic expectations. My name is Michael. I’m 32 and live in NYC. Being 6’2” and weighing 330lbs, I've finally decided to pull the trigger and schedule band surgery with Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico. I was (and still am I have to admit) a little weary of going to Mexico to have the surgery, but because my insurance company will not cover lap-band surgery in any circumstance (cigna Pos), I figured the risk of me staying fat another year or two saving the additional money is worse than the off chance something will happen to me in Mexico that could be avoided in NYC. Dr. Rumbaut seems to have an excellent reputation and track record. I have one question that I haven’t seen discussed in any detail that is bugging me…. as a guy, my friends and I engage in horseplay from time to time (wrestling, punching, etc). I know that the band, tubing and port are very durable and will not limit your activity in the least (Dr. Rumbault’s website says he performed surgery on a professional wrestler and NCAA defensive tackle), but I’ve also read about a whole bunch of port problems and guys bending the wrong way and the port snapping off. Can any of you guys shed some more light on this form me? I mean what if you get punched or poked by the port or band? Also do any of you know about the new band that Inamed band that is in clinical trials? Is it worth waiting for?

Congrats. You should feel very proud and are inspiration to others

Welcome and good luck!

Thanks for the welcome and advice. I booked my surgery for March 22nd, but made a last minute change and decided on Dr. Ortiz from TJ. I figured that in the long run flying to San Diego for aftercare would be easier than Monterrey and it seemed to be a toss up as far as surgical skill. Now I have to get going and lose 20lbs before the surgery per their surgical instructions!