VegasBones

Without permission, I won't plug in the whole names, but these are are (or were) all members that were Banded in Mexico who lost their Bands due to erosion, some were self pay, others insured; I'm sure there are others, but these are off the top of my head: K was banded by Lopez. D was banded by Lopez. Another D was banded by Lopez. M was banded by Ortiz. P was banded by Lopez. T was banded by Lopez. K was banded by Lopez. F was banded by Ortiz (coincidentally on the same day I was banded by Lopez in the same facility.) That's 9 Band removals (OF POPULAR LBT MEMBERS) in something like 18 months, .

Save your money! I've been cutting the legs off regular panty hose for years, and they fit like Heaven. They don't roll up, crease or ride up, and they really do leave you smooth and tight. Regular or Super Support work great in any color and are especially nice in the summer so even with chubby thighs you can wear shorter dresses with no rub.

"You have been slamming all Mexican docs by saying they don't meet strict FDA standards." Please stop putting words in my mouth. I said Mexico, as a country, is not governed by strict FDA guidelines. I also said my US surgeon believes these Mexican surgeons would be at the top of their game if they had to abide by the FDA. You also accused me of using "yellow journalism" to frighten people. It's bad enough they want answers, but for you to distort words, call me a liar and defend something you know nothing about is uncalled for.

This post specifically asks about Mexico. Can someone point out where it was open for debate? Warning someone about potential dangers should be welcomed, not attacked or defended. Referring to my factual experience as lies, after I personally underwent band-related procedures in 3 Mexican facilities and surgeries and/or consultations with Lopez, Ortiz, Kuri, Billy, Fisher, Atkinson, Sanchez and Rumbault, is horribly mean, dishonest and misleading to the innocent people who come here seeking information. Encouraging people to gather data in order to make wise and educated decisions is apparently offensive to some. I didn't tell anyone to run for the hills or avoid Mexico at all costs; I advised them make wise decisions. Why not allow people to educate themselves by digging deeper, gathering more data and making their own conclusions? If you say this type of thing only happened to patients banded by a certain surgeon, then you need to explain that Inamed, at the time, considered that person their top surgeon. A second Mexican surgeon (completely unrelated to the 1st Mexican surgeon) knowingly and negligently removed my port when he knew he should have removed my entire Band, and then just chuckled it off as a poor judgement call at the time because he was super busy. I used to come here to slam individual surgeons, but that’s because I had an open infected wound with tubing sticking out of my body that no American doctor would touch. I was horrified, ugly, mean and detestable. I’m a different person than scared DeLarla. I have learned that although my experience was worse than anyone should ever go through, there are still those who are having enormous successes with their bands, whether US or Mexican. As far as the two surgeons named, I've been told by American surgeons that if they practiced in the US, they'd be the best of the best. Does anyone know if Diane ever pulled through? Last I heard she was wearing a colostomy bag while a wound that expanded the entire length of her belly remained open for a year. Or what about the life Dr. Billy saved (I can’t remember her name, maybe PM will update us?) Oops, I forgot... the poster didn't want to hear this. Why can't anyone say anything negative without being called a liar? These are adults asking for truth. If the truth hurts, maybe people will stop asking. Sorry for the messed up text but editing apparently does that.

When properly banded, restriction can vary from day to day. Many are tight in the mornings, before their period, in higher elevations, after too much salt, etc. Even things like constipation & tight clothing might affect the way your restriction feels. Calling your surgeon is indeed in order since you have an implant that needs professional supervision but whatever you do, don't test your Band by trying to shove stuff down! Your restriction might creep right back up on you when you least expect it.

My surgeons are Dr. Kuri and his partner, Dr. Lopez and his partner, Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Billy. I've stayed in 3 separate Mexican facilies, two California hospitals, several US Urgent Care facilites and have personally consulted face to face with Ariel Ortiz, Dr. Fisher and his partner. I've had the further privilege of a telephonic conference with Dr. Rumbault in Monterey.

I had 3 band-related procedures in 3 different Mexican facilities PLUS 2 hospitalizations in California PLUS 2 Urgent Care procedures in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Nevada</st1:State></st1:place> and ONE horrifying wound cleaning procedure by a bariatric surgeon (may as well throw in 2 uncomfy & expensive endoscopies & various Upper GIs.) My band related surgeries were performed by Lopez, Sanchez, Billy, Kuri and his partner. I’ve further consulted one-on-one with Ortiz & his partner, Fisher & his partner, and had the pleasure of a lengthy telephonic conference with Dr. Rumbault. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The second question isn't related to this topic. If you want to follow me around attacking my posts, please take it to the appropriate Rants & Raves forum.

Sorry for the edit, but the text comes out all jacked up. I'll have to repost my reply.

Jenna, nice to see this thread is still going, but I need to update my numbers. I'm a self-pay: Band/travel to Mexico; 1st port removal/travel to Mexico; Urgent Care; primary physician; Vegas belly specialist; port replacement/travel to Mexico; wound cleaning ceremony; port removal/travel to Ventura; Band removal/travel; pharmacies, specialists, therapists, interest on the loans, lost work, Lortab, Vicodin, White Zinfandel... SELF PAY GRAND TOTAL? About $85,000. Lucky for me, it only took 2 short YEARS of appeals for insurance to kick in $32,000. Gotta love those affordable Mexican surgeons!

"You mean to tell me that this doctor is going to give you information about one of his patients?!" Once again, in Mexico, anything goes.

Getting the question back on track of whether Mexico is a good choice, you can't just interview the surgeon; you also have to be aware of the country and their standards that sadly fall far below strict FDA guidelines. I'm not sure if this new format deleted all the old debates about Mexican Bands, but keep reading and you'll find countless horror stories about patients banded in Mexico. Like myself, going in sounded fine, but I'll personally confirm the above "assembly line" post and can refer you to over 22 women in the past 2 years from this board alone that would beg you to continue your research before making a decision to be banded there (high volume erosions, unnecessary port replacements, misdiagnoses, near-deaths, drug overdose, gaping open wounds, incorrect charts, re-used surgical stockings & supplies, no aftercare, unanswered phone calls, misplaced hypodermic needles, overnight staff that can’t speak a lick of your language, contaminated surgical suite, inability to find American doctors to treat Band-related emergencies for starters.) Yes, there are many happy Mexican customers, but you asked for information - now you know it's out there to find if you have the stomach to hear it. Be informed. Good luck - I mean that.

"Debate however is fun, even when you roll in the mud. Guess that makes me a pig" Mind if I borrow that?

You didn't bore me at all. Sucks, but nobody said life is fair when it comes to the family we're born into. I had it really rough myself, and growing up without love is confusing and lonely for sure. Many people keep their Band secret, and then tell family after they've lost weight or simply when they're ready to come clean. If you decide to take a poll, I don't think you should ever tell them based on what you've said. Family can sadly be toxic. Luckily this is a real safe place for you to build a new family.

It's a nice dream that one day we really will "All get along" but when such a painful, awful word has been "cuted up" as a slang term of endearment, there will always be bigotry and hatred against races. Will the world change if everyone stops saying it? Probably not, but baby steps towards a more respectful, peaceful Earth can't hurt. Regardless of its origin, it was what slaves were called as they were owned, whipped and murdered by white folks. The fact anyone thinks it's to let it slip past their lips with millions of other words to chose from radiates pure ignorance. I guess I'll jump in by justifying my reply by indicating I'm a white woman with a 1/2 black step child on the honor roll and headed towards a career in professional basketball. Does that give me license to call her Niggah? I could puke just writing it. I received this e-mail last week and was dumbfounded with sadness and unable to forward it to anyone: "They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk: Niggah Why you ain't, Niggah Where you is, Niggah What he drive, Niggah Where he stay, Niggah Where he work, Nigga Who you be... She axed me........... And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth. In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living. People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around. The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids. $500 sneakers for what ? ? And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics. I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? Where were you when he was 18 and why didn't you know that he had a pistol? And where is the father? Or who is his father? People putting their clothes on backward: Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong? People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something? Or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up? Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of piercing going through her body? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa . With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap, and all of them are in jail. Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back. People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now. We have millionaire football players who cannot read. We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks, have to do a better job. Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us. We have to start holding each other to a higher standard. We cannot blame the white people any longer." Nown, adjective, verb Niggah'd it up [pimp mobile] Niggah Rich Niggah Ho Dr. William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr., Ed.D.

"I think this poll is really flawed. There are a lot of people who have eroded in the past on this board that won't see this poll to respond. Some stick around, but most people who've lost their bands spend much less time here--if any." Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. That being said, can I vote for the 12 "Unbanded Due To Erosion" friends who no longer come here?