gentylwind

I did wind up adding up all they said and it came to over $20K. MUCH more than anyone else around here! I have chosen to go with another group. Intriguing as the single incision is (and no doubt it will be the wave of the future), paying literally twice as much as other places is not in the cards in order to have it. At least, not for me.

There will be a two week Medifast diet prior to surgery. I have done the "last supper" thinking some, but am finding with each passing day that turning away from bad options is getting easier, or just eating a small amount and walking away rather than stuffing as much as I can. Not sure if it is nerves, the psychological knowledge that I have a tool to help me coming up or what. But I am glad for it. I was of normal weight (high end of normal) as a teen and young woman, but its been over 15 years now since I have been at a normal weight. I am almost scared when I try to imagine what that would feel like again.

:thumbup:I have my initial consultation on Monday and plan to be banded just before Thanksgiving. My emotions are all over the freaking place too...scared (I have never had any kind of surgery before), excited, hopeful, terrified, trepidatious, ecstatic.... Looking forward to keeping in touch!

Take the time to purchase a few new things, even if they are second-hand from Craigslist or a thrift store etc. You will feel SO much better when you see yourself smaller from day to day! You have earned the right to look fantastic. Don't wait for goal to do it. Do it now, within moderate reason, and look forward to all that is to come!

K, I have gotten serious about getting this done and its either going to be TLCEdge or Dr. Daniel Scott who does the single incision lap band. I would love to hear from those of you who believe in TLCEdge why, what has gone right, what challenges you had, who your doctor (surgeon) was and how it works after surgery (ie whether you ever see your surgeon again). Thanks! I hope to be banded just before Thanksgiving and am anxious to get this ball rolling.

And then seek a counselor out to address your eating issues.

How many fills are needed in the first year on average? The people I am looking at include the first six fills for free in the first year only.

They are offering a cash option of $9990 all inclusive until February to celebrate the opening of this new surgery center...no word yet though on what docs use it. I am attending the seminar next week. Anyone familiar?

Cynthia O'Kelly (the previous poster) runs the seminars, does the presentation and all that with them. In other words, works for them (not sure why she would not post that info here!) She has personally had a lab band done about nine or so years ago and has maintained a very impressive weight loss and has a wonderful book of photographs of herself before, during and goal. TLCEdge is a brand new facility and will start their first surgeries at the end of December. They have contracted with a number of surgeons here in the Dallas area and you get to choose which one you want. In no particular order: Adam Smith, D.O. Craig Ferrara, D.O. Nirmal Jayaseelan, M.D. Francis D. Veninga, M.D. Richard S. Anderson, M.D. Robert M. Hagood, M.D. Andres U. Katz, M.D. Richard Carter, D.O. Manuel E. Castro, M.D. David D. Kim, M.D. They are pretty excited about the new facility. I am familiar with Medical Edge and am not sure how I feel about them in terms of running a surgical center. I have no personal bad experience, but have had friends work for them who were unhappy as employees..and unhappy employees are not always the most attentive caretakers. But that was many years ago and, as I said, I personally have not had a bad experience with anyone from there, and in fact have a physician friend who is one of their family practice doctors, so in my mind, it mitigates back to neutral. There are no "hidden fees" that I can discern. The cost of preoperative testing is not included in the $9990 price, so you will want to have a physical on your regular insurance (provided you have insurance) to get your blood work and EKG done. It also does not cover the cost of the psyche eval. It covers the cost of fills for six months after the procedure, which surprised me as many places cover fills indefinitely if you pay cash. However, they did say they anticipate the cost of a regular fill to be under $100 and the cost of a fluoro fill to be under $200. But they did not have exact numbers to quote in that department yet. In all the seminar was fun but you could definitely tell it was their first. There are still bugs getting worked out in terms of the preoperative requirements and the pricing on certain things that are not included in the cash pay option. I am investigating further and have not made a decision yet myself. But they are ready to get people in by the end of the year, so if you want it on the fast track, get in touch with them.

meaning signing people up for the information seminar

TLC Edge Surgical Weight Loss I am attending their information seminar on Wednesday night. They are signing people up for it if you wanted to call and and get on the list. The price is good on surgeries scheduled before 02/28/08.

My plan is pretty confusing. It says weight loss is not covered except in cases of morbid obesity...yet in another spot it says that weight control doctor visits are a $25 co-pay and limited to 26 per year. I was wondering if anyone has had the lap band approved with HealthSmart PPO? TIA

Hi all. Just wanted to introduce myself. I am Sheri...looked into the lap band about two years ago and chose not to do it. I had at one time lost 80+ pounds on Atkins and did really well, but my son got very ill with a rare form of leukemia. He passed away this past January at age 13. I am doing pretty good and am looking into going forward with lap band at the beginning of the new year (cash pay). I attend another seminar next week. My BMI is just barely over 40 and I have been watching what I eat and losing some on my own, so I may be lower than that when I have this done. I am nervous...I am in terrific health for the most part and have never had surgery. I truly see this as another support system put into place to help me keep the weight off long term and am assuming I will still have to eat right and exercise to get it all off. I work for The Cooper Clinic so that will help..I am in a great atmosphere of health. I am enjoying reading about your journeys! Nice to meet you.