Need help finding a doctor

Hello. I am concidering a lap-band®. I live in Gainesville Ga. (just out-side of Atlanta) I am wondering if anyone can suggest a doctor in my area who will do after care. I need to go to Mexico to get the procedure done ($) I am self-paying. Any help would be great. Any other suggestions about the whole process would also be great.

Check out Hamilton Weight Management in Dalton GA 1-866-552-7546, or google their website. Dr. Ponce is there and you will find others who have seen him, both for aftercare after going to Mexico and for their surgery.
Also, go to Main Forums and scroll down to Georgia or Tennessee and find some info there.
Also, do a search here for Dr. Ponce, that might turn up some info.
You could also find someone with Dr. Ponce on their signature, pull their profile and see all posts by them. You can dig up info that way. Happy searching! Just spend some time reading, reading, reading these old posts. LOTS of info.
I am from Charlotte, NC. Howdy neighbor! Good luck

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Kathy-Dr Kuri~April 8,2005~Inamed 9.75mm/4cc
Fills 7/11/05~10/19/05~11/16/06 .75cc total
242high/223.4surgeryday/173.6current/145goal
BMI~40.1/37/28.9/24
~5'5" 68% of excess weight gone!~
36.5 total inches lost so far! (updated 9-12-06)

If you're in GA, you really need to check out Ponce. Last I heard, his price is under $14,000. It's worth the time it takes to get the few thousand extra to see a local doctor with that kind of experience. Once you add in the cost of travel, and adjustments and emergencies...there is no difference in the cost.

I've heard nothing but really great things about Dr Ponce.

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LAP-BAND® -5-27-2003 Albert Wetter, San Francisco
Rebanded due to slippage - July, 2004 Frank Veninga - Dallas, Texas
Gallbladder removed - August, 2004
Revised to RNY - Dec, 27, 2007 Wade Barker - Dallas, Texas

Beginning - 250
Current - 103
Goal - 120

Thread Starter

Thank you this is great help. I really had no idea where to start. Again much thanks!!! Delia1

let us know how it goes.

Okay, I just called Hamilton Weight and got the prices for Ponce. The whole surgery, nutritionist, psychologist, pre-lab work, anesthesia, all of it is $19,192 and includes follow up and fills for one year. He also offers a $2000 one year follow along- great for Mexican Banded folks. This pays for 4 visits, whether office, fills, whatever, so you could have 1 office visit and 3 fills, or 2 & 2, whatever combination. Within the year, if you need more than 4 visits, they are an additional $560 (baby boy was fussing when she said that price so I'm not certain 560 is exact, she might have said 561 or 568, whatever) So I hope that helps you in your search!

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Kathy-Dr Kuri~April 8,2005~Inamed 9.75mm/4cc
Fills 7/11/05~10/19/05~11/16/06 .75cc total
242high/223.4surgeryday/173.6current/145goal
BMI~40.1/37/28.9/24
~5'5" 68% of excess weight gone!~
36.5 total inches lost so far! (updated 9-12-06)

Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana is $9,500 cash pay. You fly to San Diego and just take the bus down. www.obesitycontrolcenter.com Southwest airlines is the best fares I have seen for booking flights under 60 days.

My suggestion is to do your research on all of the doctors in Mexico first though. And choose the one that is best for you. Do you know that there is surgery financing available? Anyone have that site link handy?

Hope this helps

Welcome, You can find that link on litenfree.com for a medical credit they offer, and they have prices, Dr.'s, and alot of info you will need before banding... Good luck in your surching.

Tara

When I went to Dr. Ortiz I financed 2000 of mine through www.cosmeticfeeplan.com, it is a Capital One lender.

The doctor I used only charged me $6500, and my plane ticket to Mcallen Texas was only about $250, I stayed with my mom so didn't have too many other expenses, so it wasn't bad, I hadn't lined up any after care here which was a big mistake, but I have found someone to do my fills now. As I've said in other treads I was supposed to have my surgery with Dr. del la Garza who was going to travel to Reynosa Mx to do my surgery (my mom lives in McAllen, so it was more convenient for me) and he too was going to charge me only $6500 which included the hospital and anesthisia. I would have only had to pay for lab fees which runs about $100. He originally wanted to charge me $7500 but I told him all I had was $6500 and wouldn't be able to get the extra money for the surgery, and he went for it. (This was last year around Sept. 2004) I wasn't able to use him because of scheduling conflicts.

Good luck in getting your surgery, but make sure you do have someone lined up for aftercare. That was my worst mistake..

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Check out Dr. Alberto Aceves at www.mexicolapband.com. He did my surgery a month ago and I was really pleased with the whole process -- his professionalism and care, his patient coordinator Nina, the hospital and staff. All was great and I have absolutely no regrets. He charges $8200 all inclusive, including transportation from San Diego airport. He is in Mexicali, a 2-hr drive from San Diego.

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Jackie S
Fairview, Oregon
Banded 1/19/05 - Dr. Aceves, Mexicali
As of 12/8/05: 80# lost!
320/240/160

LBT is getting really interesting lately with all these new Mexican doctors. Fun to see all the new people here. Good luck with your surgery.