Considering out of country banding

[KarenCI 0]

I looked into lap-band here but because my BMI is under 40 insurance won't cover it, so am seriously considering going to Mexico or Costa Rica. I am concerned about complications and getting follow up care/fills after the surgery. Please share your experiences with follow up back in the US after foreign surgery - or should I do gastric bypass instead?

[Humming Bird 275]

do you have any comorbid conditions ?? What is your BMI.

After reading that post from the thread Denver post....

I would stay away from going outside the US.

I went to Dr. K in Denver ...... it's worth checking out his website www.lapbandrockies.com

[KarenCI 0]

no comorbidity, so insurance won't cover it - when you start looking into Medical Tourism there is so much info available on the internet but hard to get good advice

[Humming Bird 275]

I don't even have insurance, so I would have been self-pay anyway. I personally would not go outside the US.

[KarenCI 0]

It's the lack of comorbidity - I went to your Dr's website and completed the contact form - wondering if he would qualify me based on orthopedics problems - constant low back ache from carrying all this weight around!

[Humming Bird 275]

I did not have comorbidities, but I did have a BMI over 40

[Humming Bird 275]

It's the lack of comorbidity - I went to your Dr's website and completed the contact form - wondering if he would qualify me based on orthopedics problems - constant low back ache from carrying all this weight around!

orthopedic problems are on his list

I also think he considers GERD/acid reflux

also Stress Urinary Incontinence can be caused by obesity and is considered (I am proof weightloss can cure this)

Edited February 19, 2010 by Humming Bird

[Vayron 0]

I had my lap band in Mexico and couldn't be happier. I have to admit it was probably the best care I have ever received. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and I feel great. I will go back to Dr Ortiz at the OCC for my first fill too. I have found a couple of places closer to do fills but I wanted my first one back with OCC. If I need anything they are a phone call away. My insurance wouldn't cover me either no co-problems. It cost less than half of what it would here in the US and I know I got better care. It's up to you but it's not as scary as one would think. I don't know anything about Costa Rica as I only researched Mexico and when I researched the lap band Dr. Ortiz's name name kept coming up. So I researched him further. He was a great choice for me.

[minimeme 1]

There have been an awful lot of people post about issues with follow-up care when they go out of the country. Make sure you understand all the cost of doing your follow-up here in the US. Some doctors want a bunch of tests (which cost an awful lot of money) prior to accepting you as a patient. One lady posted in our Sep 09 thread about her local doctors wanting literally thousands of dollars worth of tests prior to taking her on as an after care patient.

So anyways, just make sure you plan for your after-care. The band has a whole bunch of follow up that comes with it unlike the gastric sleeve.