Molding Clinic, Dr Huacuz, Andres Betancourt

Hi Folks,

As part of my research I asked for information from people who had experience with the Molding Clinic and/or Dr Huacuz. I have spoken with an individual who recently had the LAP-BAND^® done there and had to have it removed a couple of weeks later - it was installed on the BOTTOM of her stomach. She had a raging, almost lethal infection as a result of the surgery. It cost her $32,000 to have it removed in the US. Andres stopped returning phone calls after the third day when it was clear she was getting worse instead of better. To add insult to injury, they are refusing to refund her the money she had to borrow to get this surgery done in the first place.

Two other people who had their lap bands done at the same time as this person have infections at the site of the incisions but their bands appear to have been installed properly.

Clearly, Dr Huacuz is not a trained laproscopic LAP-BAND^® physician and the surgical suite is contaminated if everyone operated on that day developed an infection. (Someone reported that they had food delivered to the operating room and were eating in there).

They are offering a very tempting price to have your LAP-BAND^® sugery done there but they are not in any way qualified.

For those of us who want this procedure but have to go to Mexico to have it done, let's please keep each other posted on our experiences so we can police these doctors. There have been several doctors associated with Andres Betancourt whose ethics are questionable. We should be wary of any doctor he represents in the future. Something about birds of a feather...

If Inamed has a list of approved Mexican doctors I suggest we get it and post it. Doctors performing the LAP-BAND^® surgeries need to be skilled in surgery and in laproscopic surgery. The only way we can be sure a doctor is qualified is to know if he/she has been trained in the proper placement by Inamed.

Thanks!

Please go to www.inamed.com and click on the list of approved physicians.

Strickuptheband, can you please go to the introduction area, and tell us a little bit about yourself? Thanks!

__________________
marie

229/171/??
0.6 cc

Hi Marie,

I looked at the Inamed site and couldn't find a list of approved physicians. All I could find was the physician locator which won't allow me to look for MD's anywhere but in my home town.

Can you direct me to the list??

Thanks much!

I've been to the Inamed website but do not see a list of approved LAP-BAND^® physicians. Could you be more specific in the link? I have emailed Don Mills asking for a list of approved surgeons but don't expect a reply before Monday.

What is it you'd like to know about me? I'm not one for posting personal information on web sites.

I don't work for or have an interest in any doctor or group nor do I have an axe to grind. I'm just looking for the least expensive way to get this procedure (since I have to pay out of pocket for it) without taking unnecessary risks.

Once you get to the site at top of the page it says surgeon locator, click on that.

We all are a very close knit group here, I'm sure Marie was just asking so we can get to know you is all. Everyone here shares so much with eachother and not just about their band journey but some of the personal stuff too like our families, problems going on in our lives, our jobs etc...we are very skeptical of poeple who
come here and only post negative things and do not share in their experience or offer support for those of us who are in need of support or ask for support afterall this is a support group
Are you looking for approved surgeons in your area or Mexico? In Mexico there is Kuri, Ortiz and Lopez who I know are all approved surgeons by Inamed, in Monterrey Mexico there is Dr. Rumbaut who is also an Inamed approved surgeon.

The surgeon locator only refers physicians who are qualified by Inamed to use their product. That's the whole point. I've never tried it but if there's a way to look for doctors in Mexico any that you find would be Inamed-approved by definition.

This thread amounts to hearsay, strikeuptheband, and I'm going to lock it. It's a rumor that you've posted and we have no way of corroborating it. We'll leave it here so people searching can find it, but I don't want it to get continually bumped up to the top again.

__________________


~~ Alexandra
banded 8/20/03 -- Dr. Abkin, Morristown NJ
band removed 4/9/07 due to slippage REbanded 8/13/07

340 highest / 210-ish lowest / 255-ish now / 200? maybe?
5'10" -- size 28/30 then, 16/18 now, heading downward once again