MacMadame

Wow, 60 lb. That's awesome!

Congrats on your pre-op weight loss! You might get more answers to your questions on the General Support forum. More long-timers hang out there.

Hi Betsy. Welcome to LapBandTalk! Yes, the long-term complications rate for the band can be scary. This is why I changed my mind and got a vertical sleeve gastrectomy instead. It's a little riskier in the beginning (you can have a leak or a stricture), but long-term complication rates are pretty much unheard of and easily headed off with some Vitamin supplementation. Have you looked at all four ASMBS approved surgeries? Here's a chart that compares them: Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared

I wouldn't be surprised, actually. I'm pretty sure that's why many insurance companies require a 6 month doctor-supervised diet. Actually that's a myth. :smile2: But I hope you don't get lots of saggy skin either way. It's kind of the pits to lose a lot of weight and then still not feel good about your looks. :thumbup:

She tried to contact him AFTER she went to a US hospital and had her band removed. She was contacting him to get money, not to get treatment. The story never said she called him before her band was removed and I think that's telling. And I say this as someone who wouldn't use Ortiz myself, mainly because I think his operation is run a bit too much like a factory. But as far as I know and have seen, it's a competent factory and people don't take their lives in their hands when they go to him and he is responsive to his patients.

Eggs got me through the soft foods phase.

There isn't a lot. The Realize band is softer and not pre-shaped. The balloon/reservoir is bigger. The buckle is bigger too. The port has claws that attach to the muscle wall instead of being sewn (though it can also be sewn). But they both work on the same principle and have similar results.

I thought you only had your sleeve a few months??

I know some people who have Aetna who were able to get their sleeves approved on appeal. It's worth a try if that's what you want.

So they put some fill in during surgery? Sometimes that works well but sometimes it doesn't because of the swelling.

That's great!

Program fees range from $250 to $7500 to $0. Some of the stuff that is typically included is the sort of thing that a lot of insurances won't pay for, particularly aftercare. A good program will have a LOT Of aftercare including message boards, newsletters, support groups and access to nutritionists and counselors. That stuff cost money and someone has to pay for it. I would shop around. If you can't find a group you like as well as the one you have now that doesn't have a fee, then consider it money well spent to get a good outcome. But don't assume that you have to pay a fee to get a good program. It really varies.

Here you go: Australia Local Lap-Band Support - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Yet many people who grew up in the US who live near the border regularly go into Mexico for treatment. You get a lot more personal care there than here for a cheaper price.

Welcome to LapBandTalk! If you plan to have more kids after your band placement, you might want to hang out in the Pregnancy forum to see what it's like. My niece has a band and just gave birth to a healthy baby girl!

Welcome to LapBandTalk! Did you ask your question about Dr. Kowalski in the Doctors and Hospitals forum?

Welcome to LapBandTalk!

Ah, the dreaded liquid pre-op diet! Luckily I didn't have to do that. You'll get through it. It will be so much easier once you have your band and get proper restriction. Just hang in there!

Welcome to LapBandTalk! Hope the seminar went well.

There are some threads about Aetna in the Insurance forum. I have Aetna but my company has an exclusion so I had to pay myself!

Welcome to LapBandTalk! Be sure to check out the Mens forum.

Welcome to LapBandTalk! You might ask in the Texas forum to see if someone can help you with your fill question.

Welcome to LapbankTalk!

Congratulations on starting the program! If you post this in the CA forum, I bet you'll get more responses. The Doctors and Hospitals forum is another great place to get feedback. I'm from CA, but the SF Bay Area so I'm not familiar with your program.

Be sure to post this in the Australia forum too. There are a number of Aussies on this site who might be interested.