franp

My insurance has approved me to have a breast reduction. I have 50 more pounds to loose until I am at my goal of 150 lbs. My LB surgeon has advised me to wait until I reach goal. I'm afraid that if I don't do it now I won't meet the requirements for the insurance to pay for it. I go to the chiropractor every other week because of pain in my back and shoulders. My question is, how much sagging occurred for those who had the reduction and then lost weight? Mine hang to my waist now, so it seems that any sagging would be better than what I have now.

I had the eyeliner and full lips done 3 years ago. The color never did show on the lips although she did 2 sessions three weeks apart. I had horrible fever blisters for 2 weeks. The pain was awful. The technician offered to redo my lips for free, but no way would I go through that again! I love the eyeliner though, but had to go in this year and get it retouched because of the fading.

I have a butterfly on the left breast that I got when I got divorced. My husband had always told me that "only sluts have tattoos", but for me the butterfly meant freedom. I have a Harley-Davidson emblem on my left butt cheek. When I was smaller, it looked like it could be on a Sporster--------now it is definitely a Wide Glide! I was at my Dr.s office a couple of weeks after I got the tatt and the nurse was about to give me shot. She looked at the tattoo and said Fran, I didn't know you were into Harleys. I told her I wasn't, I had been into the tequilla.

Personally, I don't find Dr. G cocky at all. As a matter of fact, when I have expressed my gratitude to him for everything he has done for me, he acts a little bashful. He and his staff are exceptional. I received exellent care at Dade City Hospital. Lisa-the Mexican surgeon that I had was Daniel Huacuz. I have heard really good things about Dr. Ortiz. Had I had the extra money, I would have chosen Ortiz over Huacuz, but there was about a $2000 difference in their price. I ended up paying alot more that the difference when the first band had to be removed. Good Luck with your choice, but from everything that I've been through, I wouldn't let ANY doctor touch me but Grossbard.

Banded January 27 by Dr. Grosssbard in Dade City, FL. I have lost 26 lbs and still don't have a fill. I have only lost 8 lbs in the past 2 months. It's kind of frustrating to loose so slow, but Im in this for the long run. I have 60-70 more to go. Next summer I am going to be one hot beach babe!

Hi Jukebox! I live in Brooksville, just a few miles north of you. Dr. Grossbard did my son's surgery in 12/ 04 and he is down 135lbs. He did mine 1/27/06. I'm down 26 lbs, but I am 52 yrs old, so it's coming off slower. I still don't have a fill yet, Dr. G is happy at the rate that I am losing. You will really like him. If you have any questions, PM me. Fran Banded 1/27/06 Dr. Grossbard

Is $24,00 the price that Grossbard's office quoted? He banded my son in 12/04 and it was quite a bit less. I did not have that kind of money either and opted for Mexico. I paid $7,500 for my surgery. The doctor malplaced the band during surgery and had it so tight that I could not swallow my own spit. The doctor even sent me for x-rays that showed a total restriction and I was still told that I was just swollen, this was normal in some patients and sent back to Florida. Two days later, I went to the ER. Dr. Grossbard had to remove my band. A couple of more days and I would have been DONE. To make a long story short, Grossbard helped me to get a refund from Mexico and a new band from Inamed and did my surgery on 1/27/06. I have never had anyone to do for me what he did. He is awesome!!!!

I have an amazing story to share. Last July I went to TJ and had LAPBAND surgery.Like most who go to Mexico, I went there because of the cost. My son had LB surgery in December 2004by Dr. Grossbard and was doing great. I thought, "This seems to be a simple operation..........., and so off I went. I had surgery July 4 and when I woke from the anesthesia and tried to drink some water, it came back up. I could not hold anything down. Three days post-op, I was taken for a barium swallow. I was told everything was fine, but my esophagus was inflamed. Seven days post-op I flew back to Florida still unable to hold down even water, but sure I would be OK in a couple of weeks like I was told.On July 12, my son had a regular scheduled appt. with Dr. Grossbard and told him what was happening with me. He immediately started making calls to Mexico on my behalf. He told my son to bing me to the ER the next morning. I came in to the ER extremely dehydrated and vomiting blood. I was sent to x-ray for a barium swallow, I had complete blockage and was told I had to have the band removed. The last thing I remember before surgery was asking Dr. Grossbard to please try to save my band. He did try, but my stomach was too compromised and I left the hospital bandless. I went to see Dr. Grossbard for a checkup about a week later. He told me He was going to make this right. Dr. Grossbard has a band himself. I don't know what transpired behind the scenes, but between Dr. Grossbard and Don Mills at Inamed,I received the FULL amount back from Mexico. Don Mills and Inamed supplied me with a free band. Dr. Grossbard then arranged for my surgery to be done for the amount of my refund. On January 27, I had my second LAPBAND surgery. I am doing awesome!! I could never express how much this means to me. I have NEVER had anyone to go to bat for me like Dr. Grossbard. Not only did he save my life with the first surgery, he has added years of quality to my life with the second.

Thank you for sharing your story. Now I know there are at least 3 of us who have had horrible experiences with this doctor. I know that doctors are human and can make mistakes, but it seems this doctor makes them on a regular basis.It was bad enough that he screwed up the first time, but to charge you an extra $5500 to fix his mistake is awful. Just pure greed.All of your hard earned (or borrowed) money is just gone and nothing to show for it. And it isn't just the money, I have been depressed since this happened to me in July.Being obese is depressing enough, but to have the surgery and then have to have the band removed is devasting. My thoughts and prayers are with you.Hopefully someone who may be considering using this doctor will read your post and another casualty be avoided.

Yep, me too. Misplaced band. Dr. Huacuz, Molding Clinic on 7/4/05. I have x-rays and can't scan them.

Lou, There are so many of us who have been in your shoes. I have learned that you are what you speak. If you speak negative all the time, then that is what you receive. Try to look upon the positive things in your life. Look for the good in people and situations. I had a boss once who was very demeaning at times. When I had a confrontation with him, it was hard for me to try to find something "good" about him... but he had the most beautiful salt and pepper hair. I just concentrated on his hair and not his disposition. I know this soundsx stupid, but it would get me past the anger that I wanted to feel towards him. I have had counseling in the past, but no one knows me but me. We all have the ability to look deep inside ourselves and really know what the problem is. The hardest thing we have to do is to admit the problem, bring it to the surface and then deal with it. I'm not a church person, but every Sunday morning I watch Joel O'Steen on TV. He is the most positive person that I have ever heard. Look for something good to happen to you today.......and it will. Hang in there and don't loose hope. Fran

Even though I have my differences with Andres Betancourt, Huacuz was the surgeon who misplaced the band during my surgery. It appears that this happened to Shannon also and she too had to have her band removed. As far as Missy having the barium swallow AFTER surgery, I think this is a new thing he is doing. I had the barium swallow 3 days post-op, but apparently Huacuz misinterpreted the x-rays or he would have seen that I had a total obstruction. I was very happy with my descision to use Huacuz also, before the surgery. Maybe Huacuz needs a refresher course in the proper placement of the band. If the band was misplaced on me and on Shannon, you can bet there are more.

Cindyh and Missy4gordon, I wish you both the very best on your surgeries. I would like to set the record straight on some of the statements that was posted by Gina. #1-I did not say that the band was "discontinued" but that the band that is used in Mexico is not the same band and it is not used in the USA (according to Dr. Grossbard and Inamed).. There is almost a $2,000. price difference. #2-Dr. Grossbard is a very fine doctor, a band patient himself, and we are not in collusion to destroy any doctors reputation. #3-Yes Dr. Grossbard felt bad that he had to remove the band (he tried to save it, but could not). He did say that he would like to do something for me, but no one has promised to do any surgery for FREE. Dr. Grossbard and Don Mills said that they would try to have Inamed REPLACE my old band (that Grossbard still has). I guess you could consider that a "free" band, but I did pay for the first one. #4-I believe that Dr. Grossbard is taking some patients to MX in September, but I am not now or have been scheduled to go to Mexico with him. If by chance, Inamed will replace the band, yes I would like to do it again. I have no idea what it will cost to replace it but I expect that it would not cost as much as the first surgery. I don't know any doctor or hospital who would operate totally FREE. I hope this clears up some of this confusion. I am truly sorry for all of these posts, accusations and mistaken facts. Dr. Grossbard is a wonderful person and I have heard good things about Dr. Ortiz. If my experience with Dr. Huacuz has offended anyone, I am sorry. I only wish everyone well. I'm glad all of you are doing so well with your bands. They are a wonderfull tool and I hope that one day I will be able to join the rest of you "bandsters".

Gina- I'm glad that you know about the arrangement with Dr. Ortiz. I sure don't. I have never spoken with the man. I have spoken with Dr. Grossbard about getting a new band and Dr. Ortiz was one of the options. NO ONE has promised me a FREE anything.I don't remember you from Tijuana. I had surgery the night of July 4. A lady by the name of Michelle Groves had surgery the same night as me and Cheryl the next day. I have spoken with Cheryl since the surgeries. I had a voice mail from someone named Gina, who said that I didn't know her, but she had heard about what happened to me. I never called back because I didn't want to discuss it.I spoke out on this board because this was my experience. I decided to use Dr. Huacuz because of all the wonderfull experiences people like you had with him. I was hoping for the same experience.For whatever reason my band was malpositioned by Huacuz and had to come out. I'm not saying that Huacuz is bad or any other surgeon is better. This is just what happened to me. People rely on this board for the descisions that they make for the doctor's that they choose. If the only postings on the board are positive, how does one make the desicion? Please don't make assumptions about me or what my band plans are for the future. The 2 surgeries that I had have emptied by bank account. There is no way that I can afford to get another band. Oh by the way, Dr. Huacuz did offer to redo the surgery for me, but I declined.

Just an observation.......the Molding Clinic does not show Andres Betancourt as patient coordinator any more. Also I haven't been able to access anything for Betancourt Medical either. So what happened to Andres?

Thank you Shirley and Barb for your concern. I am fine now. I would like to have another band, but money is a problem. That's why I went to Mexico to start with. (like most) Dr. Grossbard said it would be at least 3 months before I was healed enough to consider another band. I will say this for Dr. Huacuz, he did refund $1500 to me. I don't know that he will refund any more later, but at least it helps some for the new hospital bills.

I am the patient that all the fuss is about with Dr. Huacuz and the Molding Clinic. I got the band on 7/4/05 late in the evening. The next morning when the Dr. gave me juice and water, it would not stay down. I was taken to the hotel that same day but waent back to the clinic that night. I was taken for x-rays the next day and told that I was fine. but that my stomach and esophagus was swollen and it may take a few days for the swelling to go down. I went back to the hotel on Friday and flew home on Sunday. The following Wednesday morning, I had to go to the ER. I was dehydrated and vomiting blood. I had to have the band removed. Dr. Grossbard did the removal. I asked him to try to save the band but my stomach was too inflamed for that. I got a copy of my operative report (which I will be glad to furnish) which stated that the band had been misplaced on my stomach. It had caused my stomach to be totally constricted where nothing could pass. There was only one stitch holding the band in place and one stitch for the port, which could cause the port to flip. I've spoken with Don Mills at Inamed and yes they are investigating. I'm sure there are those who have had "wonderful experiences" with this doctor but Mr. Mills told me that mine was not the first complaint. My experience with the whole deal was anything but wonderful and I have the hospital bills to prove it.

I had the band done by Huacuz at the Molding Clinic on 7/4. The surgery was done late that evening. The next morning I could not keep anything down. Betancourt sent me to the hotel that afternoon, but was back at the clinic that same night for more IV's. I was at the clinic until Friday then back to the hotel. I finally flew home on Sunday still unable to keep even water down. I was told that my stomach and esophagus was enlarged and it may take a few days for the swelling to go down. By Tuesday I was vomiting blood. I was in the emergency room on Wed morning and had to have emergency surgery to remove the band. When the fluro and x-rays were done, my band had been placed in the wrong position. It was in the mid section of my stomach. When fluid had gone into the stomach, it caused the stomach to twist and was totally constricted. Huacuz had used only one stitch to hold the band. The stitch slipped causing a hole in my stomach. I almost died.Huacuz advertises he is Inamed certified. I found out he is not. The bands that are being used are bands that are not used in America any longer because of a problem with the port leaking. I spoke with Betancourt and asked for a refund. Not a chance! He told me that Huacuz would not refund any money because Inamed would not send him any more bands. There is a lot going on in TJ because of all of this. PLEASE find a reputable doctor and clinic. There are doctors in MX who are certified with Inamed. You may spend a couple of grand more, but believe me, it is worth it! I wish that I had.

Hi, my name is Fran and I will be getting my band on July 4 at the Molding Clinic.My son had surgery last Dec. 21 and is down 70 lbs. Dr. Grossbard did his. I decided to go to Mexico because it is $10,000 less that what he paid. I will be traveling alone and am a bit concerned about the trip home. I will be flying back to Tampa and changing planes in Phoenix. My flight is about 7 hrs. Has anyone had any problems with flying that soon after surgery? Thanks for the help!

Hi Cheryl! My surgery is scheduled for July 4 at the molding clinic. I will see you in Tijuana!