I would like to take this opportunity to plug my rockin doctor,
Dr. Franco Favretti, who is located in Italy. He is fantastic, very accomodating, straight forward, a really lovely person. It doesn't hurt that he was the one (with his partner) who designed the laproscopic proceedure for installing the Band. It seems that most Doctors know him which is helpful in dealing with Doctors for Fills. I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area and most of the Drs I called to get a fill had someone mention to me on the phone that since they didn't do the surgery they would want to send me in for XRays during the first fill..."but Dr. Favretti did my surgery" I would say...and ....(pause). "Did you have an Xray before you left? Yes? Well, OK, bring your Xray and come on in"
Find him through the following website:
http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/index.html
Why, you ask. I figured that if I wasn't going to have it in the US then I might as well get the BEST KNOWN surgeon...someone whose work wouldn't be questioned here in the US or anywhere else for that matter.
Secondly, I'm moving overseas soon (surgery in May...moving in October) so having surgery in Europe seemed logical.
Thirdly, I have no insurance and paid out of pocket for this...cost was a huge issue. I could afford the price tag in Italy (travel expenses + surgery costs + hospital fees = around 12k). Looked into it domestically and it was upwards of 30k!
For those who would like to know about my experience...the staff in Italy was just fabulous. Always someone around who spoke English...very attentive. Accomodated me very well. Really lovely group.
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