Questions in Kobe, Japan

Neauzart · August 5, 2008

This is my first night to read the forum and I'm so glad I was linked to it -- I've learned a ton in just a few hours already.

My situation is ordinary in some ways, unusual in others. My BMI is 43 right now and after looking around I'm pretty convinced the band is the right choice for me.

The problem is I live in Japan, have for the last three years, and will for at least six months more. My job is low-stress, I have some vacation time in a few months and if I can get everything together, it seems like a good time to get banded and start settling in with the change. (I'll start law school in the US next fall, so I'd have student-type insurance and MUCH more stress than I do now.)

However, there's not much of an obesity problem in Japan (yet) and as far as I've been able to determine there's one main clinic in the country that does bariatric surgery, plus maybe a small handful of hospitals that are experimenting with various techniques. None of this is covered by the national insurance plan, and surgery at this main clinic is about 20 grand, in US dollars.

For my part, I would far prefer to travel somewhere to get the op, India, Mexico, or Singapore, and pay much less. The problem is on the fill side -- this main clinic will not provide fills, etc, if they don't do the surgery. I can see that this is a very common issue in the US, too.

I'll be in the States at Christmas, three months after the surgery date I'm trying to set up (early October.) I'll be back for good next spring. Assuming I can't find a fill doctor in Japan, would three months post-surgery for the first fill be too long? Would six months be too long for the second follow up? Other than fills, does the fill doctor do anything that a general doctor couldn't do?

I'm also posting this question to the doctors thread -- thanks so much for any advice.

brown bear · August 5, 2008

3 months wait for a fill is not too bad. Some doctors here (very few) require their patients to wait that long for the first fill. The main concern I would think is if you have any problems where do you go? As long as there are no complications, you should be fine. Waiting a while for fills is not a problem and if there is one nearby you can use Fill Centers USA.

Neauzart · August 7, 2008

D'oh! I totally missed the no-crossposting rule -- feel like an idiot.

Anyway, yeah, complications are the big worry for sure. I guess what I need to do is ask the folks who've traveled for the surgery how they handled the possibility.

P-Body · October 3, 2008

Hi there,

I am Canadian living in Shanghai. I just had my band done 09,21 in Thailand. So far so good. :eek: I am looking for another expat in Asia who can share similar experiences. I am fortunate that I have a fill Doctor here although it is at an old style communist hospital and my Doctor doesn't really speak English.:tongue: I chose not do the surgery here as the hygiene is not really up to the standards that I am used to and the general level of care is just a bit rougher than what I am used to. They seem to be under the impression that they are treating me like a princess ha ha he he. NOT. Most of the people here can just call up their Dietitian or Doctor or Counselor for reliable guidance. I on the other hand am on my own. I would like to talk to some other people living abroad who are also advocating for themselves. So for example, my big adventure today will be to go hunting all the foreign food supermarkets for crystal light and cottage cheese. low fat would be even better but lets not be too picky.:tongue:

lisw55 · November 2, 2008

This is my first night to read the forum and I'm so glad I was linked to it -- I've learned a ton in just a few hours already.
My situation is ordinary in some ways, unusual in others. My BMI is 43 right now and after looking around I'm pretty convinced the band is the right choice for me.

The problem is I live in Japan, have for the last three years, and will for at least six months more. My job is low-stress, I have some vacation time in a few months and if I can get everything together, it seems like a good time to get banded and start settling in with the change. (I'll start law school in the US next fall, so I'd have student-type insurance and MUCH more stress than I do now.)

However, there's not much of an obesity problem in Japan (yet) and as far as I've been able to determine there's one main clinic in the country that does bariatric surgery, plus maybe a small handful of hospitals that are experimenting with various techniques. None of this is covered by the national insurance plan, and surgery at this main clinic is about 20 grand, in US dollars.

For my part, I would far prefer to travel somewhere to get the op, India, Mexico, or Singapore, and pay much less. The problem is on the fill side -- this main clinic will not provide fills, etc, if they don't do the surgery. I can see that this is a very common issue in the US, too.

I'll be in the States at Christmas, three months after the surgery date I'm trying to set up (early October.) I'll be back for good next spring. Assuming I can't find a fill doctor in Japan, would three months post-surgery for the first fill be too long? Would six months be too long for the second follow up? Other than fills, does the fill doctor do anything that a general doctor couldn't do?

I'm also posting this question to the doctors thread -- thanks so much for any advice.

I am considering a position in Japan, but must locate a Dr. for fills before I will even consider making the move. Do you know of any Dr's that might provide fills? Any information is greatly appreciated! Arrigato!

P-Body · November 3, 2008

You could fly to Bangkok every so often. It would make a nice long weekend. I have heard that the fill there is excellent. I can't remember the name of the hospital but starts with a B if you google it. I am having my first fill in Shanghai tomorrow. Shanghai is pretty close to Japan. It's not top notch here though.