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Showing results for 'Slimband'.
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Hey everyone! Where do you go these days to get your band adjusted? How much? How easy/difficult?
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Lap Banding in Canada for Canadians *Vote Yes*
susieq321 replied to CanadianChubbling's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I have a slightly different perspective.. when I was banded I had US health insurance and could have had a lap RNY in less time and for free.... I couldn't be banded in the US since it was approved until much later in 02 than I was banded... but I could have self paid and gone to Mexico. There were no clinics when I was banded and only two choices of local Toronto surgeons who worked together and both did my banding. So even though I could have had a lap RNY faster I choose to self pay in Canada and a large part of that was the difference in the medical syste,. I didn't trust Mexico at the time (this was over 7 years ago) and now that has been born out with the number of patients I have talked to who have no one to do their fills locally, who have had complications and their Mexican surgeon while very experienced in placing bands since he doesn't see most of his patients again isn't so skilled in complications... and sent them to find a new Dr in Canada. I have heard great things about the hospitals and the skills but crappy things about the follow up. The US I know a little about the US since I work there much of the time... their medical system is a crap shoot.. so I get banded I pay for everything including fills in most cases. If you are fortunate enough to have Health insurance and have a WLS you better hope you keep your job and your carrier because if you switch jobs you new carrier can refuse you covered services because you had surgery under another carrier... even if you stay with the same carrier... and switch jobs they can refuse you coverage because it is a pre existing condition.... I am glad I made the decision I made 7 years ago, I could not have more confidence in my surgeon Dr Yau and my clinic and their support of me... I have had one issue with Slimband and it was resolved as soon as I complained... I agree with Tracey check out all the clinics and make your decision on who you are comfy with this is a long term relationship so you need to like who you are going to have it with. Heather -
My Band is Awesome and I LOVE it.
Norma1519 replied to Norma1519's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
I am happy to hear others who are doing well. You know losing 100 lbs is a lot so maybe do not put too much pressure on yourself. I still weigh over 200 lbs and every time I see the doctor she bugs me about losing weight. I say to her forget it. I am not interested in getting back on that diet roller coaster of ups and downs. I do not think about food all day and I do not want to count calories or weigh or measure anything. For me I feel this is my SET point if you will. The right weight for my body without trying to adjust it. My slimband is at the tightest I think I can have and it suits me. Just remember to use your self control to avoid really fattening things or have a smaller amount. Scrape leftovers off the plate. Just enjoy your life and for once think of other things besides when the next meal is coming. Hard but becomes easier. -
Yes, I'm also wondering if self-pay patients have to pay for the surgery to repair the slip. I assume that we would have to pay, but can anyone with experience tell us how much it was for them? I'm with Slimband, if that helps.
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If you are thinking about getting the lap-band, it's a big decision and one you need to think about carefully. I wish I had done more research before I got mine and perhaps I would have gone somewhere other than Slimband. There's so much going on at Slimband that it's scary. It's a company that just wants your money. Once your payments clear, they'll drop you. It's happened to lots of us already. They will actually refer to you as a client because that's all you are to them. They are also very secretive which means you can't have any trust in them in terms of the care you will get post-surgery. If you ask questions you will likely go ignored for a long time. There is absolutely NO TRANSPARENCY! If you run into problems, and I mean serious problems, that are dangerous, they are sometimes not taken seriously. There article below mentions a lawsuit that occurred and trust me when I say, I've heard other horrible and terrifying stories/experiences as well. They fire or force their staff to resign. Last May, pretty much all their staff were let go. Now, with very few staff, there is not a lot of support and people have to pay for treatments that they were told they wouldn't have to. They will cut you off from services with no notice and they will say they are not required to give you such notice. Please consider another company. Slimband has gotten too big. It is a company that wants your money and will do whatever they can to get you signed up for surgery. They will use a sales pitch that is hard to ignore and they have even signed up people who don't qualify for the procedure. If you look at any place online, the lap band should only be given to those who are at least 100 pounds overweight. I know of an individual who was 190lbs and who only had to lost 30 pounds to be at their target weight. Dr. Patrick Yau resigned last week for the mistreatment of patients. He was an absolutely horrible person. And I know that he is no longer apart of Slimband but he was the Chief Surgeon for a long time at Slimband. During his time with them, he was a horrible physician and I question any company who would let such a doctor treat their patients for as long as he did. If I had to go through this all again, I would have likely gotten a gastric bypass. Although more involved, it's free and much more successful in terms of results. There are other places that you can get the lap band from. I'd say go anywhere but Slimband. Do your research.
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I called and talked to the people at Slimband. They talk a good sales pitch. They talked of quick weight loss, and were very sympathetic to my weight struggles. There was very little talk about after care. I did some research and found the after care is almost more important than the surgery itself. I decided to call SWLC in Mississauga. The people there answered my initial questions and sent me info via email and requested that I talk to Dr Cobourn before I make my final decision. Dr. Cobourn told it like it is...no instant weight loss, no miracle cure. He told me about the risks, how things can go wrong if the patient doesn't follow instructions etc. He quizzed me on my health condition and why I wanted the surgery. I had my surgery there in January. The clinic offers many webinars on the band, nutrition, support groups, etc. The team answers emails and phone calls quickly. They are eager to get their patients on the right track. If you are confused, they will set you straight. Understandably, they cannot give medical advise over the phone unless it is directly related to the band, found that out this past week. (thank lawyers for that one). Do your research before any surgery. Medical Tourism can be dangerous. Include your family physician before you go ahead with the surgery-you will need their support too.
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I went to TLBC (now Slimband) and I called yest to get a De-fill appt... now I sent a FAX, an EMAIL, and telephoned and left 2 messages... I have YET to hear from them yest or today!!! Wats up wif that???
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From consultation to surgery, time line?
Losing for me replied to noelleWannamaker's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I was banded at Slimband (formerly TLBC) and it took 2 months due to insurance approval. If you are self pay though you should be able to get in as soon as your pre-op diet allows. -
What do you do?
needamulligan replied to mytime2shine's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I went to bed last night after reading your post. I was so sad and worried for you. I don't know you but I tossed and turned all night thinking about your dilemma. I am so glad to see your father is being supportive even though he is going to worry. I am glad he is researching into what exactly your procedure is. I think we all have the same worries that you do, that something will go wrong. It all seems so drastic and it would be so much easier to just continue life without going to the extremes of going under the knife. But if you didn't do anything and just kept living life as you are now, would you be happy, energetic, live life to the fullest, have self confidence and love yourself just the way you are now. Would you be completely at peace with yourself?! Are you now? And if you bring God into it, think of all you can do and be once you have this (in my case 30 min operation that is 100% reversible) done. I think for those that first hear of slimband or lapband operations they think of it as gastric bi-pass. It's not, this has an escape clause, if it doesn't work for you or you hate it, you can change it, have it removed. BUT... if it works think of all you can be!! My operation is a month away on Dec 1st, I have a beautiful husband and 4 children. It is a huge decision, but I choose it because I want to BE more, I can live this life only once. I want to live it happy, I want to feel peace and be content. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I can't wait to be telling my story a year from now telling people in the pre-op stage it's going to be ok, and it's going to be amazing! At first I was feeling exactly as you are, then I found this forum and found such inspiration in people's stories. Hang in there, I wish you peace in your decision and all the best. Teresa -
Former SlimBand patients looking for a fill adjustment nurse in Toronto
RoseIvy replied to RoseIvy's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Exactly! The trick is, when I had a surgery it was called 'LapBand' and now it is called 'SLimBand' plus my surgeon resigned. They don't want to talk to me! -
Hi There, I am one of those TLBC/Slimand patients left in the lurch. Are you? When TLBC became Slimband we were told that Slimband assumed the contracts and that care would continue as per the contract that we signed, specifically care for life. I think that there is a breach in contract and that we can prove that we have been getting care from Slimband under the terms and conditions of our TLBC contracts up until the OMA began it's investigation of Dr. Lau and his medical practices. When I signed the agreement it was with the clinic and not with Dr. Lau, so when the contract was assumed by Slimband, it should have been with the clinic not with a specific doctor. Please reply and let's get this going!
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waste of 16 thousand dollars
mountain replied to Pain and Problems's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I'm sorry you've had a bad experience. I had the same doctor and found him to be very helpful. During my first week after surgery, I couldn't drink anything at all - a sip of Water came back up looking like white foam (soap suds). So I called the clinic and they told me to get a defill and made the arrangements immediately. Still had problems - Dr Kundhai himself called me at home and gave me his cell number, imploring me to get to an ER and get an upper GI etc. Happily, I didn't need to as the swelling went down and (having had the defills) I was able to start drinking again. But I was impressed that he called me and gave me his cell number so that I could have the ER ring him (Note: I live on the other side of Canada from where the surgery and Slimband is, so I couldn't just go in there.) As far as your refund - I would have agreed to you getting a refund if you had exhausted all of their options and still had problems. But you refused the exploratory surgery they offered (which would have just been a laproscopic procedure) and didn't get another medical opinion either, so I personally believe you acted too hasty in having it removed. Best wishes for the future - I hope you are able to find peace. -
So far, slimband clinic has been good to me. I'm preparing myself I guess!
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1st fill now have gas in shoulders
slimmingdown28 replied to Mjck02's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I have the slimband ( Canadian version) I've never had a fill, had my surg in June and always get pain in my left shoulder if I eat too much. But recently in oct. I also started having nutcracker esophageal spasms, not fun at all but the pain in my shoulder didn't seem to show up I would much prefer the shoulder pain any day. -
Slimband Clinic 2008 Tononto, ON- A place to post your experiences
susieq321 posted a topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
So I mentioned started a new thread for Slimband. Last years thread was getting up there to over a dozen pages, lets post our experiences, desires, victories what is working for us and questions that we have! This thread is primarily for Slimband patients formerly TLBC but anyone is welcome but please don't get upset if we talk about our surgeon positively or our clinic in glowing terms. Nothing against any other clinic but we choose our clinic for a reason and that is because it was the best choice for us and we thought it was the best period! I hope this year kicks off a year of losses in weight and gains in so many other areas of people lives! Heather -
Dr Yau and Slimband 2015 lawsuits
pcara68 replied to Bandedbutburnt's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
I also went to see Dr Cyriac on my own in Toronto because my port is protuding out and is very uncomfortable . Hes a very pleasant man no doubt and of course he said at the price of almost the band he could fix it. Doctors are allways pleasant though if you have $$$$ . I think Canada should take all bands off the market and stop the surgeries because it enables companies like this to make millions and take advantage of people. It is said at some point all of these bands will have to be removed most likely in a emergency room. I feel foolish for being fooled by flashy smiles and big stories by the slimband employees. I know some are failing because they are not following the rules but slimband didnt provide the support they promised to all of us . That is what I am most upset about. I may have received half a dozen contacts (if that) by the support team . They said DNA testing was part of the service which when I called about my results was told the service was cancelled and they would be refunding for that. -
Hello, I had my SLIMBAND removed in December 2014. In November of 2014 I was informed by an independent surgeon there has not been even a gastric pouch since November of 2013. How many of SLIMBAND patients are there that think they have a gastric pouch for weight loss and don't, and are still paying??
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Any Canadians out there?
mountain replied to CarmenPookie's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi - I'm in Edmonton, and had my surgery last week at Slimband in Toronto. Hope your surgery went well, and good luck fellow Edmontonian kkf1979! -
Thanks for clarifying Doreen, this is good info for bandsters. When I looked I couldn't find anything about banding on websites that refered to him....altho maybe the TLBC (Slimband) site mentions him. Patricia
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My band is choking me and no one will listen
Living My Dream replied to Living My Dream's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Thanks for the kind inquiries. I now have a surgery date on June 1 for a laparoscopy and possible repair. The slimband surgeon did not have the CD of the Upper GI when I saw him last week but booked the surgery anyway because of my history. I continue to have constant gastritis and obstruction in my throat. I am praying that they can do a simple fix and I can again work with my band. It has been the best thing for me to control my weight finally. Because I can still hardly eat anything, my weight is almost down to my lowest but I was debating whether I need to lose maybe 15 pounds from that. I just hope I don't ricochet up again after surgery depending on what happens. I thought I had finally found the utlmate weight loss tool for me when all this started. I will let you know what happens. I am not on this site very much but I get your messages in an email. Lynda -
the Lap Band and Slim Band here in Toronto? I dont' see anyone talking about the Slimband but are they the same just different name?
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Self-pay costs of different surgeons.....
1shauna1 replied to amlus's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I'm in Canada so probably not relevant to you but you might be interested anyways...I went to the Slimband clinic in Toronto. It was 16K (lap band isn't covered by insurance here at all, I don't think), but that includes everything and unlimited fills. -
Moving to Ontario..research starting over HELP!
momtofourredheads posted a topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hi there, I have been looking into getting the LAP-BAND®. Several of my friends have it and have been very successful. They all got it done in Mexico and have no troubles finding fill doctors here in Vancouver. I was about to go that route, when my husband found out we are suddenly being relocated to Ontario (Waterloo area). I am frustrated to have to restart the research for a new area. I have read that it is hard to find a fill Dr. in Ontario, so I am thinking of forking out the $$ and going to a clinic in the area. So far I have emailed CIBO, SWLC and Slimband. I am interested in hearing opinions and experiences with these clinics from those who have been there. Do any of them have fill centres near or around the waterloo area? I received friendly and prompt replies from CIBO and SWLC but I received annoying, argumentative replies from Slimband...outright refusing to give me info via email...and I am so not a phone person, I have four small children, my life is crazy busy right now with trying to move across the country, I don't have time to have a phone consultation with someone when all I want to know is the cost of the procedure and what was included. Those are admin questions and none of the other clinics had an issue answering them for me. The woman was so rude and argumentative in her emails... if they are this inflexible at the research part of the journey...I can't imagine how inflexible they will be after they have my money. I am ready to strike them off the list already. I am looking for some feedback and help from people who have had this procedure done in the area. Thanks so much and sorry for the huge, long post!!! -
Anyone from Saskatchewan?
Living My Dream replied to CanadaGirl27's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hi I live in Ontario. My husband and I both have lapbands and went to Toronto, Slimband clinic. Our daughter is in northern Saskatchewan and is just looking into lapband surgery and must travel to Regina. Is that where you had surgery? When did you have lapband surgery? Lynda -
Tomorrow marks 10 months since I was banded at SlimBand in Toronto. It was the BEST decision of my life. I am down 93 lbs since my pre-op diet started on August 20. I have no regrets. I have 14 lbs to go to reach my goal, and I plan to reach it by the one year anniversary date which is Sept. 4. I would love to help others to achieve success as well. Please do not hesitate to ask me questions.
