any one in utah want to talk

Hi everyone, were stationed at Hill up in Layton. Just wondering if anyone can recommend a good primary physician that will approve the surgery, or if anyone has Tricare, who did they go through to get approval. Also, I'm looking for a good surgeon/surgical center. I am attending the seminar in Ogden for Salt Lake Regional hospital, is that a good one? Any info on docs and referrals would be great!!

Welcome to Utah, aculberg! I can't answer any of your questions about a primary physician of Tricare but I can recommend South Valley Surgical (Drs. Alldredge and Hansen) as a great place to go for surgery. They are wonderful--almost all of their staff has the LAP-BAND^®, they have monthly support groups, do the surgery at an outpatient facility (I went in at 7:00 am and left for home by noon), and are great to answer questions, etc. Good luck!

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Surgery: 03/19/07; Dr. Darren Hansen in Sandy, UT
15 Fills for a total of 4.2 in a 4.0 band

Hi, I think Highland Family Practice does the surgeries...in SLC. Dr. Muse has been given rave reviews and many writeups about him were found when I did the research, local papers and TV stations.

Good luck and welcome to Utah!

just got back from my 1 year follow up with Dr. McKeen - I just can't say enough good about him or about my experience with the LAP-BAND^® - everyone keep up the good work!

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I'm getting banded Tuedsay 5/6/08 at Salt Lake Regional. Dr. Christine Richards and Daniel Cottom (new guy from Vegas) will be my surgeons. I have had a positive experience with the Weight Loss Center and am very excited.

Does anybody here have any feedback from this center/surgeons?

Thanks,

Matt

Good luck on your surgery, Matt. You'll be a bandster before you know it. Congrats on such a big decision--good for you!

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Surgery: 03/19/07; Dr. Darren Hansen in Sandy, UT
15 Fills for a total of 4.2 in a 4.0 band

Hi Matt. I just wondered how your surgery went. Are you doing okay?

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surgery date: 07/02, Dr. K., Denver.

Highest/Preop/Current/Goal
219/216/184/132

Dr. Rachel Hobbs at the Tanner Clinic in Layton is very pro-LAP-BAND^® and super to work with on approvals.

Dr. Richards at SL Regional is my doc and I LOVE her, she's great.
Good program, good support.....I'm very happy so far!

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harleygirl, thank you so much for the info on the docs, did SL regional make you go through any kind of special diets, etc before you had the surgery? I have heard of some of them making you wait 6 months...I hope not!

Hi. I need a 2nd fill, and I was wondering which of the SLC-area docs uses fluoroscopy during the fill process.

My Chicago surgeon uses a fluoroscope for fills, and I'm much more comfortable that way than "flying blind".

Thanks a lot.

-Dan

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295 / 250 / 1)good health 2)feel good 3)look good, in that order.
Banded 10/1/07
VG Band
Dr. Constantine Frantzides
Evanston Hospital

The 6 month diet is usually an insurance requirement, not something the doctors make you do. I had went on a liquid diet for one week before my surgery....that was doctor required.

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Sorry to quote myself, but on second thought, let me rephrase my question:

Regardless of whether or not they use fluoroscopy, who do you guys recommend for fills in the SLC area?

S. Valley Surgical?
Rocky Mtn. Assoc. Physicicans?

Thanks a lot.

-Dan

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295 / 250 / 1)good health 2)feel good 3)look good, in that order.
Banded 10/1/07
VG Band
Dr. Constantine Frantzides
Evanston Hospital