local vs. traveling...

[vjsmiles 0]

I am signed up for a lap band seminar in 2 weeks where I live. The procedure is new to where I live and I haven't been able to find much info on the surgeons. I will have to pay out of pocket and it costs $20,300 here!!!! Plus over $500 for fills. They said if I pay up front, I will get a 25% discount, but that's still over $15,000.

By looking at this site, I see Dr. Kirshenbaum is considerably less and I have read really good things about him. Denver is about 4.5-5 hours away from me.

I'm just curious what others would do? Pay more for the convenience of being local, or drive for less money and a more reputable surgeon?

I will still go to the seminar here no matter what because the more info the better, but I'm really condering going to Denver!

[HolliJ 24]

I would drive for less money and a better surgeon, for sure.

[Laptastic 0]

Kirshenbaum rocks!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I would want the best surgeon possible. The only thing...I know the weather gets bad sometimes. What will you do if you have an emergency? They are RARE but they happen...too tight a fill, GERD, various issues. (not that GERD is an emergency but if left untreated it becomes one). Will you be ok with that? Just playing devil's advocate; I would always opt for experience (esp since it's cheaper) but aftercare is an issue.

[vjsmiles 0]

That's exactly what the drawback is for me, Monkey! All the what-ifs! Then I think that at least he has had more experience from what I've been able to find anyway. I will have to finance the surgery and the less money a month, the better! I will just have to keep researching!!! Thanks for all your input everybody!

[blklab70 1]

I would find the best doctor I could, then travel to him/her. You could maybe find someone closer for fills, but the surgery I would want the best experenced doctor. Good luck, keep us posted. We are all here for you. Restless is awesome, gives great advise, you can ask them anything and you can take the advise as good.

[HolliJ 24]

I would find the best doctor I could, then travel to him/her. You could maybe find someone closer for fills, but the surgery I would want the best experenced doctor. Good luck, keep us posted. We are all here for you. Restless is awesome, gives great advise, you can ask them anything and you can take the advise as good.

That's what I was thinking. I know my surgeon will do fills for other surgeons (even Mexico), so maybe there is someone close that will do the same?

[HolliJ 24]

Also, $500 for fills? Are you serious? That's disgustingly greedy. I probably would even smile and say "Hi" to a surgeon that wants to charge that. That just pisses me off.