California low cost lapband with references

Hi all,
I would like to find a Dr. within Southern California whom has good references and has an affordable price with anesthsia included.
I see a few posts for San Dimas but the whole yawning thing kind off turns me off.
I have seen some advertised in Oregon and Colorado as well but I dont like to fly.
I know the easiest thing would be to go to Mexico but unfortunetly I currently cant.
Any sugestions? Thank you :)
Justine11dod
38
5'4
240lb

I used Dr. Francis out of Dr. LaPort's Office (SmartDimensions in Fountain Valley). It was a flat rate for everything including the hospital stay. Somewhere around $15,000 but includes a year of follow up and fills. It's a good group - remember you get what you pay for too. I looked all over before I picked them.

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Goosie







Surgery 8/22/08 - self-pay 340H/326P/308S/170G

Thread Starter

Thank you, you are right you do get what you pay for :)

What is the "yawning" thing?? (San Dimas?)
I'm in Southern Calif and LapBandForLife.com says they do it in LA for $9900. but I have no idea if it includes everything..I just saw and ad.
I paid $15k for my band in Las Vegas in 2005 and it included everything and fills for a year but I had to have my band replaced this year and I'm still making payments on my last band and my plastic surgery so I simply couldn't pay that again. I couldn't find anyone in So. Calif either so I reluctantly went to Mexico but I can't tell you how impressed I was. I was cared for so much better than here in the US and it was less than half the price.

Thread Starter

Hi,

Has anybody heard of either of these Dr's in Andrew Hajduczek, M.D & Dr. H. Joseph Naim Cerritos, Los Angeles County, CA?
They are charging $11,900.

Thanks,
Justine11dod

I have only the best things to say about my doctor Milton Owens who is in Inland Empire and Orange County. I was a cash patient and went to the hospital in Rancho Cucamonga. I paid around $15,000 including the band, anasthesa, fills for a year, support groups. There were cheaper places but i went there because if you have a problem after surgery, you don't pay extra. Dr. Owens has alot of experience and the Lap Band site Home lists him with alot of credentials. If you live nearby, you should go to a support group there to hear what other patients say. I highly recommend him.

Dr. Owens, who did me, has a center in Huntington Beach for $12,500 and at Rancho Specialty in Rancho Cucamonga for $15,500 (where I had mine). This covers everything from when you lie down to when you get up plus fills for one year (which should get you to where you want to be in terms of food intake restriction).

If I recall correctly, having it done at Rancho includes some other "insurance" against a complication. He has an on-line pre-op form that you can fill out and they'll give you call and answer all of your questions.

Dr. Owens was great and I completely recommend him and his staff (plus he won't yawn in your face).

Here's a link to their pre-op page. Fill it out or just give them a call. You'll like Dr. Owens! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't.

wow..insurance against a complication? If that's true it should really be something of value to consider. I, like most everyone else who self-pays, pulled from every imaginable source to make my band a reality and it seemed like such a huge investment at the time...what I didn't know was that I would spend multiple times that dealing with complications that I didn't have any control over. Do you have any more info about that??

Sorry, I don't. I never had any complications whatsoever and I'm certain a good part of that is due to Dr. Owens' skill and experience. I recommend that you give them a call.

It wasn't a "complication" but Dr Owens did note that my pancreas looked a bit abnormal. I went for a scan (the one where they quickly inject that stuff in your arm that makes you feel warms in . . . certain places ) but it turned out to be nothing.

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9.5cc's in a 14cc Inamed VG band

You guys can read about the Post Op complication insurance on Obesity Help (Obesity Help - Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity Support Groups, Obesity Forums, Surgical Procedures) They have some PDF articles that I read before my surgery. It's one one the reasons i chose the surgeon and hospital that i did because i didnt have any kind of health insurance so if i had a problem i couldnt get insurance to cover it which they sometimes do even if they dont pay for your surgery. I didnt have any complications but I was worried about the "what ifs". It was hard enough to pay cash for surgery so I knew I couldnt take any chances. I took this off of Obesity Help:
BLIS is a comprehensive financial solution designed to protect bariatric surgeons, their hospital, and their cash-pay patients from the financial consequences of known medical complications that are associated with weight loss surgery. BLIS reduces financial uncertainty for everyone involved, thereby paving the way for a significant increase in the number of surgeries that can be performed.

Thanks Raye...I really wish I would have known about that a few months ago. To anyone that is self-paying and hasn't has surgery yet...I would highly suggest checking into this info that Raye has provided because the complications can be so costly. To remove my lap band, repair my stomach, and replace my lapband the total cost was $117,000.00.

I'm going thru LePort's office and was wondering how you liked them? Not like I have much of a option, they are the provider thru my HMO, but other's opinions would be nice. Did you like Dr. Francis?

Thanks, Jennifer.

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Jen
Orange County, Ca.
Dr. LePort's Program
BMI 41

Orientation- 10/23/08
Dietary Class- 10/25/08
Psych- 11/19/08
Dr. Talk (Mandatory info session) 11/24
Final Insurance Approval 11/25

So far I'm pretty happy with Dr. Leport's office and Dr. Francis. I'm still getting bills from lab work and others that were paid through SmartDimensions but the office is trying to take care of it. The office staff is amazing and always happy to see you - answering all your questions. Dr. Francis is also very patient in answering your questions. My first fill was amazing - felt nothing and she hit the port first time. I go back in a few weeks for my 2nd fill - but I've been losing 2lbs per week at 3cc so I'm not sure they will want to do one yet.

I think they have a very solid program and support groups - good luck.

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Goosie







Surgery 8/22/08 - self-pay 340H/326P/308S/170G