Avoiding Patient Coordinators

[live2canoe 1]

Hi There-

My name is Kim and I'm from Denver. I've decided to have LapBand surgery, and for a variety of reasons, I've decided to go to Mexico for my surgery.

Thanks to all of the information posted here, I am now aware of the 'patient coordinators' (or whatever they call themselves) and the mark-up they have on the surgery.

I tried calling Dr. Kuri's office directly, and they simply transferred me to JoAnne, his 'coordinator'. I've had the same experience with trying to call Rumbaut's office in Monterrey.

So, ladies (and gentlemen) please help this 'newbie' figure out the trick to getting through to the surgeon's office directly.

FYI, the quoted price for my LapBand plus fills, etc, was $8,900 for Kuri and $11,000 for Runbaut.

I don't know - maybe this is simply the going rate.

Any information would be most appreciated.

Kim

Denver

Deciding on Which Dr.

225 Currently 5'4"

[Penni60 45]

Kim: Not sure if this will help or not. I did not go through a coordinator at all. I called the facility directly and set up my surgery through them. I used Sanoviv Medical Institute and Dr. Lopez did my surgery in Rosarito, Mexico which is about an hour from San Diego.

Now that said, Lopez has gotten a bad rap from some of us for this lack of aftercare. But from what I have heard from a new patient of his that seems to be improving. I still like Lopez for the surgery but would consider getting the aftercare from another surgeon closer to my home if I were you regardless of what surgeon you decide to go with.

My surgery cost me $13,550.00 which included the surgeon fees, hosptial fees, and everyone else's fees. I also paid an additional $5,550.00 for a week at Sanoviv. They are pricey on their fees. I stayed for the week but I had other treatments while I was there. You can do the two or three day stay if you want and it would be cheaper.

That was money well spent in my book.

Hope this helps.

The facility is great. Check them out at www.sanoviv.com.

[GinnyWhite 0]

Well your price sounds great to me I paid 17,700 here in the states so if you feel like traveling to mexico that price is good. The best I have heard of.

299/275/130

Dr. Spegiel

[Guest intant]

With prices dropping in the US, I'm not sure what the attraction of going to Mexico for surgery is.

Having paid $15k as an all inclusive price, including a full year of consultations and adjustments, I'm sure the

Mexico 'deal' would cost as much or more when flights, hotels and adjustments are taken into consideration.

That's not even taking into account the 'peace of mind' of having your surgeon nearby or having to seach for fill doctors prepared to adjust other Doctors' patients or, pay for another trip to Mexico for it.

IntAnt

Banded 4/21/04 Dr Horgan (Chicago)

410/352/ ?

[La_madam 20]

Intant

you are correct in a sense...but for those of us in Southern California where the border is just an hour and a half away....Mexico at the price of 8995.00 all inclusive worked out great for me. I checked many surgeons in my area and there was no way I could afford 17,000-25,000 for my surgery(17 being the lowest I found and 25 being the highest I found in my area without driving an hour and a half the other way (north) not to mention the lack of experience these US surgeons had with band placement . I'm very happy with my surgeon, aftercare and my decision..just becasue it is 15,000 in the US doesnt always mean it is best either. Most US surgeons have not done many bands yet where as my surgeon has preformed over 1000 so there are difinately pros & cons to both sides. Through my research most Mexican doctors have preformed many more band surgeries then American doctors. I have peace of mind with my Mexican surgeon being an hour and a half away and having preformed over 1000 of them

P.S. for the record I did not go through a patient coordinator either I just called Ortiz's office and spoke with his receptionist who scheduled my surgery and faxed me all the paperwork, she was the sweetest woman ever!