nillee

No clue why they separated it - but that was the way I was given the quote...

If you get what you pay for then you get a rich hospital!! When I inquired at the hospital near me in Indiana the surgeon wanted 6000 but the hospital 20 000 dollars!!! Truth is, you really just get ripped off by the hospitals and not by the surgeons...so not sure what you pay for, but the surgeon isn't really expensive.

I am going to Dr. Alvarez for Oct. 26 sleeve. So nervous...

I am a nervous wreck too! I just upped the date and I am going Oct. 26th... I can't believe it actually!

Hi all, I will be sleeved Oct 26 - not in Indiana - although I live in Indianapolis. Can someone outline the various support group meetings near Indianapolis (IU, St.V, Community, Speedway etc.) Do you have to have had your surgery there to attend? Obviously I am looking for one where I can come even though I had surgery elsewhere. Thanks for any info you have.

Thanks for the updates. So glad everyone had a good impression of safety. I am pretty sure I am going here! My husband thinks it will be fine as well, so going with it!!

This is what the warning says: "Coahuila: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Coahuila. The State of Coahuila continues to experience high rates of violent crimes and narcotics-related murders. TCOs continue to compete for territory and coveted border crossings to the United States. The cities of Torreón, Saltillo, Piedras Negras, and Ciudad Acuña have seen an increase of violent crimes within the last six months, including murder, kidnapping, and armed carjacking." The link is here if you would like to look at the whole warning: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_6033.html

So many helpful replies - Thank you all!!

Hi Sase, Someone else from Indy!! I wanted to go to St Vincents but I could not believe the price for self pay - outrageous - and they were mean... really mean when I asked about self pay. (IU was not much better!) Glad you have found a good surgeon in Mexico. I think it sounds great. Let me know how it all goes and best of luck with surgery and trip!

Hi Bob, I don't know the answer to your question for sure, but I feel like my research has come up with the same answers as you. The Mexican doctors have more experience with the sleeve... and experience matters. Good luck with your trip!

Hathery - your list is super helpful. Thanks for that! Thanks to the others for the info as well. I am researching frantically and this all helps. Any other info is welcome!!

Oh I haven't heard of Dr. Babineau! I'll look him up. Thanks so much!

I haven't had surgery yet but I told my skinny mother I am going to- she was fine with it. The funny thing is I will never tell my mother-in-law (nor will my husband)...isn't that a cliche!! Ha! Ha!! I'd say just tell the MIL after it is all over if you think she can't handle it. But my philosophy in life is that it is up to my husband to deal with his own mother's craziness (I deal with my mothers craziness)... so I guess make your husband and FIL decide what they think is best? Good luck with your surgery

Thanks GluenFree! Phantom, do you know the price for self pay? I am a little more open to Mexico than you perhaps. Several drs I have researched have excellent education and training. In addition they have done more sleeves than most US drs which research shows really does matter in terms of success and complication rates. I will look up Dr. Herron. Sounds like you haved a great experience! I would love to go to New York (Just have to be able to afford it!!) Thanks for your help!

Research does show that experience matters and that Drs who have done more sleeves usually have fewer complications. So that is one difference. Some surgeons in Mexico are "Bariatric Surgeons of excellence." They can charge more. Also, some keep you in a full service hospital for 2 or 3 days while others only 1 day. Some operate out of clinics etc. In the US it is the same. Some do outpatient sleeves while others do a few days in hospital. Some work in clinics and some in hospitals. As it was pointed out, location matters too. As does the age and overall look of the hospital. I don't think the price difference in Mexico is greater than in the US. In fact, the US is crazy - some self pay prices are 30 000 and some are as low as 8-10 000... where as in mexico it is around 4300 to 8750 so far less of a price difference (and in both the US and Mexico price does not always equal quality - just in case my message seemed to indicate otherwise!!)

Any good self pay places in MD that are not too expensive?? Thanks