SELF PAYERS...please give me your insight

[SHANA55 11]

What doctor did you go to? Where? How much did it cost you? Can I do a down payment and payments? I'm considering Mexico, trying to find out all my option!

All I know is that I am getting sleeved by any means necessary

[Mrs_O 118]

Hi! i am also starting this process and am self pay. I am in Alabama and mine will cost me apron $12,000 out of pocket but that covers everything and includes complication insurance. My surgeon will be Dr Lee Schmitt at Alabama Weight Loss Surgery in Birmingham AL. I am financing my cost. upon looking into the process there was a link given to me by the doc for Prosper Healthcare Lending and it looks like it will cost me somewhere around $250 a month in payments. small price to pay to get my life back!!!

I did not personally consider Mexico because while my husband is supportive, i am very close with my mother and she is already having a hard time with this idea and i think the idea of Mexico, while safe, would push her over the edge! check out LaurasVSGtube on youtube. i love her videos and she gives the info of her doc in TJ Mexico!

[kris10or 9]

I'm going to Mexico in January. Lauras's YouTube was so helpful, as mentioned above! I'm actually going to the same surgeon as her but didn't decide that solely based on Laura's experience. It just was some seriously awesome icing on the cake to have someone that documented so well that I could reference. You definitely have to do your research before going to ANY doctor. Obviously when going to Mexico you'll do a whole other set of research because of the stigmas associated. I found it to be a very safe, affordable option and found that thousands of people do it every year. The good ol US makes it hard to afford much here, let alone when insurance won't even consider covering it. Feel free to message me or comment here if you have specific questions!

[SHANA55 11]

I'm going to Mexico in January. Lauras's YouTube was so helpful, as mentioned above! I'm actually going to the same surgeon as her but didn't decide that solely based on Laura's experience. It just was some seriously awesome icing on the cake to have someone that documented so well that I could reference. You definitely have to do your research before going to ANY doctor. Obviously when going to Mexico you'll do a whole other set of research because of the stigmas associated. I found it to be a very safe, affordable option and found that thousands of people do it every year. The good ol US makes it hard to afford much here, let alone when insurance won't even consider covering it. Feel free to message me or comment here if you have specific questions!

OK, so you are going to Dr. Ramos Kelly? I have watched all of Laura's videos, I love how much info she gives and how updated she keeps her page. I am thinking about going to Dr. Carlos Altamirano. I have been following him.

[SHANA55 11]

Hi! i am also starting this process and am self pay. I am in Alabama and mine will cost me apron $12,000 out of pocket but that covers everything and includes complication insurance. My surgeon will be Dr Lee Schmitt at Alabama Weight Loss Surgery in Birmingham AL. I am financing my cost. upon looking into the process there was a link given to me by the doc for Prosper Healthcare Lending and it looks like it will cost me somewhere around $250 a month in payments. small price to pay to get my life back!!!

I did not personally consider mexico because while my husband is supportive, i am very close with my mother and she is already having a hard time with this idea and i think the idea of Mexico, while safe, would push her over the edge! check out LaurasVSGtube on youtube. i love her videos and she gives the info of her doc in TJ Mexico!

Do you have to pay a down payment? $250 a month is very do-able

[Mrs_O 118]

I don't believe there is a down payment. They will finance it much like a car payment would be. They pay the doctor and I just pay them monthly. I did have to pay for my initial visit but that was the only other expense so far in the process. I have amazing insurance so I expect it to cover the pre-op items to be approved for surgery like lab work and if I need a sleep study.

[JamieLogical 8,708]

If you are self-pay and open to the possibility of traveling to Mexico, then I HIGHLY recommend you do so. There are excellent surgeons in Mexico and you will receive excellent care for a fraction of the price you'd pay in the US. Although, you shouldn't base your decision solely on price. You should look at the surgeon's accreditations, how many years of experience they have, patient reviews and testimonials, and the facility the surgery would actually be performed at. You might also want to look at the accommodations you will be provided pre and post-op when you are not staying in the hospital/clinic. Do your research. Talk to patients of the surgeons you are considering. Really consider whether your preference is to have your surgery in a hospital or surgical center (there are pros and cons to both).

[Blue1213 122]

My surgeon suggested we check for a hiatal hernia. I had one with no symptoms, which can be pretty common. My insurance picked up part of the cost for the hospital stay and anesthesiologist. It reduced the amount I had to pay from about $15,000 to $9,000. I had surgery in the Houston area.

[BarrySue 602]

I did self pay for around 15k here in Orlando, Florida. However, knowing what I know now about the safety, reliability, and high patient satisfaction of folks heading to Mexico, I'd go there if I could do it all over again (and save the extra money to put toward plastic surgery to remove loose skin).

[kris10or 9]

Yes, I'm using Dr. Ramos Kelly. I found his accreditation, schooling, reviews, and bedside care were exceptional. There are a lot of the coordination services that claim he is affiliated with them but he is not, they just want to associate their name with him. I went directly through his site and his personal coordinator contacted me and within a few days I had Dr. Kelly's cell phone and spent a long time on the phone with him.

I also made sure my primary care physician is willing to do post op physicals and all of my blood work. I was able to find a bariatric surgeon in the area that will also do follow up care if I feel it's needed. I've found that most people that have had this surgery needed little post op care aside from their blood work and maybe a NUT or personal trainer. I feel confident that I have found the after care support I need and I'm just watching vlogs all day long so I truly feel like I can know what to expect.

My family was concerned there was no counseling pre op. But those that I've talked to haven't really said that counseling was very helpful. So I think knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly before surgery is the best I can do to prepare myself.

[JamieLogical 8,708]

I also made sure my primary care physician is willing to do post op physicals and all of my blood work.

This is an important step that I forgot to mention in my earlier post. Definitely talk to your PCP about your plans and ensure they are willing to do follow-up blood work. You will want to monitor your blood work for the first year post-op to make sure you aren't developing any deficiencies.

My surgeon provided a nutritionist who I was able to consult with via phone and email both pre and post-op (and I met with her in person when I had my surgery). She has been amazing in answering all of my questions promptly and thoroughly and she provided exhaustive pre and post-op diet instructions. She also contacts me regularly to check in and make sure I am still on track with my nutrition. You should definitely make sure that your surgeon provides similar resources.

[Proud2BMe 1,016]

I had mine in Tijuana. My sleeve was $4,500 and then $800 to have my gallbladder removed at the same time. Other than that I paid $1400 for 2 first class round trip flights and then brought about $1,000 in spending money just in case.

[SHANA55 11]

I had mine in Tijuana. My sleeve was $4,500 and then $800 to have my gallbladder removed at the same time. Other than that I paid $1400 for 2 first class round trip flights and then brought about $1,000 in spending money just in case.

Why did you need your gallbladder removed?

[BarrySue 602]

Why did you need your gallbladder removed?

Morbid obesity increases the likelihood of gallstones/gallbladder problems. Extreme weight loss increases the likelihood of gallstones/gallbladder problems. Combine the two, and you have a high rate of gallbladder failure or complications within the first year of surgery. Removing the gallbladder pre-emptively is common practice, and can reduce the risk of additional surgeries and other problems.

[kranky813 477]

@@Mrs_O I am a self payer in MN as well. Feel free to message me if you have questions but here is what I can tell you from my experience:

I researched several doctors and hospitals and found that Dr. Jonathan Gipson from Specialists in General Surgery was the best. He works out of Robbinsdale and Maple Grove and does surgery at Unity Hospital. My experience with him was FANTASTIC! He was very knowledgeable and spent time getting to know me and my situation.

My surgery costs were $18,000. How they do it is you have $5,500 down and can finance the rest through medcredit. We actually paid off a lot in the front. You have to pay the surgeon, the hospital, the anesthesiologist and the nurse anesthesiologist so there will be 4 bills that can be financed. The hospital is the one that makes you put $5,500 down because their cost is the most but it covers everything you will need for surgery and your stay at the hospital and the meds that you receive.

To be fair my husband would not let me go to Mexico for surgery but after my surgery we met a few people in person that did go to Mexico and if I did it all over again I would choose to go to Mexico for the cost. If I require plastics in the future I will certainly go to Mexico.

Let me know if you have any question - I am almost 4 months out.

Thanks!