Hi.. i also paid $15,600 in dec. 2006. now i hear that university general hospital is offering a cash price of $11,900.. even better than the surgery center. also, free consultation.. they apparently opened this bariatric program called sos (my friend is a nurse there)superior obesity solutions after they got thier center of excellence hospital for bariatirics and are offering this rate for 3 months. Dr. Spiegel did my band, he's the best, and he is part of that sos program.