I went to the seminar offered by lap band solutions and Dr Richard Benavides last week...

I was wondering if anyone here has been banded by him?

I see lots of Dr Carter patients and am starting to wonder whether or not I need to check him out too...

Dr Benavides also works with AIGB, and the surgery center of Richardson.

i went thru lap band solutions (Dr. Marsden - loved him), great experience!!

you may want to really watch it with Dr. Carter, super duper wonderfully nice guy (came and chatted with me the day of my surgery), i heard he is very conservative with fills.

best of luck to you.

thanks!!!!

I was banded by Dr Benavides, but I've never seen him after surgery day - over 3 years ago. I used to drive to the surgery center in Richardson - for the first year and 1/2, but the doctor was never at any of my follow-ups. Now I have a doctor in Austin who does every fill for me and even answers by emails personally.

austin~ He did mention that the pre & post care would be handled by his support staff....nurse practitioners mostly.

Do you feel like your care was compromised because of his absense?

I can tell you personally, that I checked into all the docs at LBS, and chose Dr. B...and have NEVER had any regrets. His experience, and bedside manner is impeccable, his staff amazing. No, he does not handle the aftercare, True Results does that. But they are so closely monitored by all the LBS docs...and the nurse practicioners are wonderful. Their aftercare program is very, very thorough and caring. Much support, many after care seminars, always willing to be pro-active, always supportive.
Realistically, go with the doc with the most experience (Dr. B), but choose LBS as a group for the aftercare...because in reality, over time, this is what matters most...the day to day living with a band that was expertly placed.

At that time, they were AIGB, and they swore to me monthly that they were opening a surgery center/fill station in Austin. To my knowledge this has never happened. At the time I met him, he said he would spend one day in Austin when that happened, and I never got the feeling that he would never be part of my aftercare. He did not specifically mention that all care was provided by his support staff during my one pre-op mtg.

My care was compromised when I had complications and needed an unfill, but I don't blame that on Dr. B. I spent a week calling AIGB trying to get an unfill at any AIGB location, and they finally told me to go to Houston.

Keep in mind, I've had a band slip and two complete unfills due to complications. I finally gave up on AIGB because they could not provide me the aftercare I needed especially at long-distance.

I absolutely love Dr. B....I ditto everything cindi said. his staff and true results were wonderful. I researced quite a bit and found him to be the best for me. He came highly recommended. there is anther thread about him. You might want to do a search.

I completely liked Dr. B. He and his staff set the expectation that he would do the first fill if I wanted but the rest of the fills thereafter would be handled by the After Care center. I never felt like my care was compromised at all by my not having interaction with him after my first fill, primarily because he and his staff let me know that I can always come to his office with questions or concerns.

My friend had her surgery performed by Dr. Benavides a year prior to my having mine.

I echo everything Cindi and Bigbaby said.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with me!

I feel confident that I've chosen the right doc!

...can't wait until my consult....two weeks away....

I used Dr B's partner Dr Felts and have no issues at all - Agree with What Cindi /Bigbaby have mentioned...LBS aftercare has been easy / convinient / and the Dr's do follow up with them, & you should you need them.

He did my surgery and he was great. However you deal with only during pre and post opt surgery. After the surgery you deal with the gals at True Results After Care Center.

Dr B did my surgery. I feel that he is one of the best in the business and completely trusted him in doing my surgery. I feel that he is a highly qualified and competent lap band surgeon.

I used Dr. B and loved him. The surgery went well, the fills went well, and I have lost 80 lbs. I have one little scar that I think will go away like the others. I was told that unless you are having problems that I would only see his staff, and they are great.

It is good to hear this about the Dr I have chosen to do my surgury. Because of insurance requirments it will be another 4 months till it happends. Maybe I will see you there sometime.
Wayne