Hi Tony I live in Palmetto just north of you. I submitted all my paper work on October 28 in the am. That afternoon the same day I was approved. I will be lap band on December 6 2010 with Dr. Scott Stevens in Sarasota. He is excellent, I was referred to him by one of his patients who was 278 and in 8 months was down to 166lb. So what ever you do- make the best decision.