Question:
Can anyone help me find a Bariatric Surgeon in Canada?

I am still appealing with my insurance company but steadily losing hope. I understand that Surgeons in Canada are comparable to ones in Mexico price-wise. I'd like to start researching but have had no luck with search engines...Thank you in advance!    — SweetDragonfly (posted on July 20, 2003)

July 20, 2003
Hi, I had mine done in Ontario as I am a Canadian resident. I had an extremely easy time getting into a surgeon and a date and it is totally unheard of up here. There are so few bariatric surgeons and the waiting list is very long. I was very blessed to be given such a short wait for sure. If you would like some names of people and locations feel free to email me I will tell you whatever I know :).
   — UMMADUMMASS

July 21, 2003
You can't "buy" wls in Canada unless you want Lap-band. Our healthcare system is government run, paid for by our income taxes. As a non-Canadian, and no matter how much money you have, you would have to wait in line for consults, tests and surgery just like Canadian citizens do. It is a very long wait for wls here, you will likely win your insurance appeal before you even get to the first step here which is a referral from your family doctor to a surgeon who does wls. There are about a dozen surgeons in all of Canada who do the various wls, rny, ds, lap-band. Hey if we could "buy" wls ourselves, many of us would not have to endure 2-3 year wait for gastric bypass procedures. If you are interested in the Lap-band, that is self-pay for us too so there is no waiting for anybody, you just need 15,ooo Canadian dollars and an appointment with a qualified surgeon. There are 2 in Toronto and 1 in Sarnia(across the border from Port Huron Michigan) that I know of. There are also 1 or 2 in Quebec who do the Lap-band. If you want rny or ds you might as well just find a surgeon who is near you and pay them. If you want to know more about wls in Canada, you can email me and I can fill you in with more details.
   — mary ann T.