New and have question about dif. bands

umbgirl · May 7, 2004

I have been reseaching MX for surgery and need to decide on band type. I had been told Swedish band is best but I thought it would be better to get American appr. band but again I see there are or have been problems with American appr. band. Can anyone help? Also, has anyone been to MX for surgery? I have to pay and have been trying to find the best and affordable.

GeezerSue · May 7, 2004

Depends on your research skills.

Right now, except for the FDA trials going on with the Swedish band, the only "legal" band in the US is the Inamed LapBand. For most of us, finding doctors who know about our bands is a challenge. Finding a doctor who knows about the Swedish band will be a BIG challenge. Then, convincing that doctor to service your band which you had implanted elsewhere, instead of with him, is a problem. They are surgeons. They make a living doing surgery. The follow-up is a necessary evil to many of them and many do not want to follow-up on somebody else's project.

Right now, I would not go for a Swedish band implanted out of the country, unless I had airline travel priviledges and/or big bags of money for the travel.

Just my opinion.

Sue

umbgirl · May 8, 2004

Thank you for the reply. I had asked the same question of the facility about wanting American band in US and they said I would not have a problem getting in filled in US but i really saw it you way about not wanting to fill in US. This makes me not wanting to go thru with the MX Dr's because of this but I can not afford US DR's and I do not have the money for US Doctors. I do appreciate any feedback for I am still researching. :cool: :cool: :cool: Susan

GeezerSue · May 8, 2004

The Mexican doctors almost always underestimate how difficult it is to get band adjustments on this side of the border. That didn't stop me, but I live close to Mexico and adjustments, while a hassle, are doable.

If I want to go to a US facility, and if they don't mind taking me, the cost can run from about $300 to about $1300, per adjustment, in Southern California. And, right now, I'm looking at two adjustments within the next month or two. I want to get unfilled for plastic surgery and then I'll need to get refilled after the surgery.

You might want to find out where the Johnson & Johnson SAGB trials are taking place near you. And then find out if those doctors will do adjustments for people banded with the SAGB before it was approved here. But it still could be costly.

On the west coast there are experienced US LapBand doctors banding for, I think, as little as $12,500. Have you checked out the east coast?

Sue