Any one use Dr Nicholson in Dallas (self pay)

[SuperFab 689]

I just wanted to say that I'm not anti-Dr. Nick. I know someone who had his sleeve performed by him and would recommend him in a heartbeat. He's a few pounds from goal and is doing great. What rankled me is saying he didn't have ANY complications, which is a bold-faced lie.

April

[shelly70 48]

I agree all doctors have patients with complications some that could be Dr caused, some self inflicted by the patient and some that just happen and no matter what could not be avoided, that's why we all have to be willing to take risks, do research and go with your heart!

[newat52 1,613]

I haven't had the procedure yet, but he is one of the ones I am looking at. I am self pay also.

They sound like they really take care of their traveling patients and that everything is included in the cost, no surprises. He is a top rated Dr, and I am sure does a top notch job.

However, I just got off the phone asking them some questions and the positive sale pitch and not really answering questions is getting annoying.

One question was; does the surgeon cover complications from surgery? I was told they don't happen so no need to worry. I mention that they can happen, how will that be handled and was told the Dr would probably take care it but since it never happens she doesn't know. I end up in the ICU for a week who covers that bill, leaving a 6 figure invoice up in the air doesnt give me the warm and fuzzies???

Since a complication (for a self pay, whose insurance excludes WLS) could potentially bankrupt me, its important to know. A yes its covered providing this that, etc.......or a no sorry, would at least be an answer.

He is not the only office to not really answer tough questions, just the most recent. Seems like when you call they are helpful and nice, but they are just salespeople (or at least act like it). I don't need that; I want to buy, I just want to know the details first.

Ok, I am done venting.

I will say that I never hear anything negative about Dr. Nick, that is reassuring. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

I got all my questions answered from Dr. Nicholson He answered every question at his seminar that was asked. There were probably 40 people there. He conducts them himself. I recall in his seminar, those questions did come up. He was straight forward in his answers. He said all surgeries have a risk of complication. That is true. He also gave the complication rate associated with this surgery. He also gave HIS complication stats.

I also re- asked some of the same questions in my one on one consultation and he was very straight forward there too. Even gave me a couple of examples. When I had my surgery in March, the self pay price included everything and up to two nights in the hospital. I would seriously doubt that whatever surgeon would cover complications if it were not caused by the surgeon. Too much can happen that is not in the surgeon or medical staff's control especially on an obese person.

I would recommend you ask those questions to whichever surgeon(s) you decide to have one on one consultation with directly. I want to have confidence in who was cutting out my perfectly functioning stomach, not nearly as concerned with who was talking to me on the phone.

I thought I read somewhere that the insurance for covering complications is quite pricy for the surgeons and that they would be required to have it for all their patients therefore, raising the price of surgery a great deal. That is the reason that most surgeons do not offer it. I can't exactly recall where I saw that so it may be something to look into to see if that is fact or not.

I know some people don't like the fact that Dr. Nicholson can do a lot of surgeries in one day. I believe the reason is that he operates one day a week at a certain hospital. I had my choice of hospitals to have the surgery done because I was self pay. Lots of his patients that are insurance pay are told where they had to have it by their insurance companies. The hospital I chose I was the only one that day. The nurse told that.

I love that fact that he has thousands of surgeries under his belt and his complication rate is as minuscule as it is. Funny how one person's comfort is another person's fear.

This is a very serious surgery and I took it very seriously as most people do. Researched it to death. It also weighed on me that my insurance company would not cover any complication as a result of this surgery. In the end, with my husband's support, I did it anyway. The risk was so low and the payoff was and is so great! Sometimes, we can over think and worry too much about what happens if…..I was guilty of it with the surgery (and other things in life).

In the end, I did what was right for me. I knew that I was taking a much, much larger risk to not have this surgery than I was having it.

Best of luck to you in your decision making. Whichever or whoever you use, it will be right for you.

[Chase30 114]

I live in Dallas but I did Self-Pay Surgery in Tijuana, MX. $4700 for the surgery, how much is Dr. Nick self pay?

I have no regrets, everything is going great.

[newat52 1,613]

I live in Dallas but I did Self-Pay Surgery in Tijuana, MX. $4700 for the surgery, how much is Dr. Nick self pay?

I have no regrets, everything is going great.

Dr. Nicholson is $12,200. Or that's how much it was in March.

[Better than dead 19]

I live in Dallas but I did Self-Pay Surgery in Tijuana, MX. $4700 for the surgery, how much is Dr. Nick self pay?

I have no regrets, everything is going great.

Dr. Nicholson is $12,200. Or that's how much it was in March.

newat52 is correct, that is still the going rate.

[Better than dead 19]

I got all my questions answered from Dr. Nicholson He answered every question at his seminar that was asked. There were probably 40 people there. He conducts them himself. I recall in his seminar, those questions did come up. He was straight forward in his answers. He said all surgeries have a risk of complication. That is true. He also gave the complication rate associated with this surgery. He also gave HIS complication stats.

I haven't had the procedure yet, but he is one of the ones I am looking at. I am self pay also.

They sound like they really take care of their traveling patients and that everything is included in the cost, no surprises. He is a top rated Dr, and I am sure does a top notch job.

However, I just got off the phone asking them some questions and the positive sale pitch and not really answering questions is getting annoying.

One question was; does the surgeon cover complications from surgery? I was told they don't happen so no need to worry. I mention that they can happen, how will that be handled and was told the Dr would probably take care it but since it never happens she doesn't know. I end up in the ICU for a week who covers that bill, leaving a 6 figure invoice up in the air doesnt give me the warm and fuzzies???

Since a complication (for a self pay, whose insurance excludes WLS) could potentially bankrupt me, its important to know. A yes its covered providing this that, etc.......or a no sorry, would at least be an answer.

He is not the only office to not really answer tough questions, just the most recent. Seems like when you call they are helpful and nice, but they are just salespeople (or at least act like it). I don't need that; I want to buy, I just want to know the details first.

Ok, I am done venting.

I will say that I never hear anything negative about Dr. Nick, that is reassuring. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

I also re- asked some of the same questions in my one on one consultation and he was very straight forward there too. Even gave me a couple of examples. When I had my surgery in March, the self pay price included everything and up to two nights in the hospital. I would seriously doubt that whatever surgeon would cover complications if it were not caused by the surgeon. Too much can happen that is not in the surgeon or medical staff's control especially on an obese person.

I would recommend you ask those questions to whichever surgeon(s) you decide to have one on one consultation with directly. I want to have confidence in who was cutting out my perfectly functioning stomach, not nearly as concerned with who was talking to me on the phone.

I thought I read somewhere that the insurance for covering complications is quite pricy for the surgeons and that they would be required to have it for all their patients therefore, raising the price of surgery a great deal. That is the reason that most surgeons do not offer it. I can't exactly recall where I saw that so it may be something to look into to see if that is fact or not.

I know some people don't like the fact that Dr. Nicholson can do a lot of surgeries in one day. I believe the reason is that he operates one day a week at a certain hospital. I had my choice of hospitals to have the surgery done because I was self pay. Lots of his patients that are insurance pay are told where they had to have it by their insurance companies. The hospital I chose I was the only one that day. The nurse told that.

I love that fact that he has thousands of surgeries under his belt and his complication rate is as minuscule as it is. Funny how one person's comfort is another person's fear.

This is a very serious surgery and I took it very seriously as most people do. Researched it to death. It also weighed on me that my insurance company would not cover any complication as a result of this surgery. In the end, with my husband's support, I did it anyway. The risk was so low and the payoff was and is so great! Sometimes, we can over think and worry too much about what happens if…..I was guilty of it with the surgery (and other things in life).

In the end, I did what was right for me. I knew that I was taking a much, much larger risk to not have this surgery than I was having it.

Best of luck to you in your decision making. Whichever or whoever you use, it will be right for you.

Great post, I am sure the OP got some good information out of it.

I am glad to hear that Dr. Nick does discuss complications honestly. I was really disappointed and surprised in how the office handles the question. Like I mention, they seem to me more of sales pitch than helpful. They seemed to be trying to get you to do a consult mainly; being out of state, getting information to narrow down the choices is important. I have to mention again, this is not isolated to Dr. Nick, Dr. Kim's office was the same way.

[Mel1071 149]

I was disappointed with Dr. Nick's office when I asked if there was a way to talk to him beforehand or at least get done sense of him. I asked if they do their info seminars online - they said no. I asked if it would be possible to maybe be set up on Skype for the next time he did an info session, I was told no. (I am in a different state) They seemed really irritated I wanted to get a sense of who was going to be working on me. After that I pretty much realized it was best to keep my search close to home so I could have that initial consult - even if it did wind up costing me thousands of dollars more (and it did).

[Kiap82 239]

I live in Denver and chose Dr. Nick for my surgery after 2 years of research and waiting. I looked into Mexico and Vegas, the other two less expensive options for self pay patients. I ended up going with Dr. Nick because I the staff at the hospital said he was the best. He doesn't pay them and they see tons of surgeons and their patients every week. I trusted their advice and am 9 days post op and very happy with my recovery. The only thing I wish I would have known was that there would be the "divot" in my side from the big incision. That thing hurt like crazy and they said 3-6 weeks before it "pops" free. The thought of it popping free scares the crap out of me. Anyone else have this experience?

[shelly70 48]

Kiap82 I used Dr Nic too, I'm also 9 days post op! Yes the big dent in my left side hurt and still does

[VSG AJH 499]

I was disappointed with Dr. Nick's office when I asked if there was a way to talk to him beforehand or at least get done sense of him. I asked if they do their info seminars online - they said no. I asked if it would be possible to maybe be set up on Skype for the next time he did an info session, I was told no. (I am in a different state) They seemed really irritated I wanted to get a sense of who was going to be working on me. After that I pretty much realized it was best to keep my search close to home so I could have that initial consult - even if it did wind up costing me thousands of dollars more (and it did).

I'm in DFW, and was sleeved at Baylor Grapevine by Dr. Julio Rivera with the Baylor Weight Loss Surgery Center. For what it's worth, I think my surgeon is great. He's very patient with all of my questions, and is so kind and supportive. I'm fairly new at this, but I've had zero complications and feel absolutely wonderful. I'm three weeks out from surgery, and I'm down 37.7 pounds (21 since surgery). My surgeon's information session is online, and the folks in the office have been so great about everything, I imagine they would do their best to accommodate distance patients.

[HeatherL 40]

I realize this is an old thread but thought I would throw my two cents in for future patients. I did partial self pay with Dr. Nick. He repaired a hiatal hernia along with the sleeve and only billed my insurance for the hernia and I just had to pay the hospital a portion of the self pay part. It only cost me $4k instead of $12k. I have always been super impressed with him and like someone mentioned he is very honest about his complications and will tell you exactly what happened with each patient. I felt very comfortable and confident with him. I am now 6 months out and couldn't be happier.