Wish Center

Hi everyone. I am new & considering Lap Band. I went to the info session at the wish center & wondering if any of you Illinoisians have any info about the doctors and the wish center in general??? Also, the only thing that is not making me go gung-ho and get this surgery is I hear people/read messages of people who are not losing weight & i really do not want to make a 12,000.00 mistake, you know? I mean $100 on the new weight loss gimic out there is nothing... but 12K would be a big one! I would appreciate any info anyone might give.... Thanks.

You will find all of the doctors at WISH to be caring individuals that really know what they are doing. Bariatrics is all that they do. I would not consider Lapback to be a gimmick. They are many happy patients out their that have lost weight with the band. It is true that you loose slower but from the statistics that I have read at 5 years out they have lost the same percentage of excess weight that RNY patients have lost, 50-75%. Which doctor did your presentation? I had Jeff Rosen for my surgery. He has a great sense of humor, very knowledgable in his field and from what I understand is the head of trauma at I think Edward's hospital. He travels to other WISH clinics in the US and sees patients and does surgery there also, so he is out of the office a little bit in addition to seeing patients and doing surgery in Aurora.

I also had my surgery done at the WISH center, and have been completely blown away by the entire staff there. Dr. Iwanicki did my surgery (gastric bypass) and he is an amazing and compassionate surgeon. Dr. Rosen assisted with my surgery and did most of my followup (both he and Dr. Iwanicki work in trauma at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, and cover each other's patients at WISH center - makes it possible to ALWAYS see the Dr. if you have a problem). I am just under 4 months out, and I have lost just over 60 lbs so far. (I only have 30 to go to reach my goal.) My sister had the surgery 3.5 years ago and has lost 157 lbs. (She now weighs 109) The support and follow-up at the WISH center is wonderful. Everyone there, from the nutritionist to the exercise specialist, really cares about you, and does everything they can to make your individual journey a success. They will give you the tools you need, but the rest is up to you. Email me privately if you want to talk more....I'm absolutely happy to tell you more. Blessings to you, and good luck! Kate Lawson

Kate, oh yeah trauma at Good Sam, I knew when I said Edward's I thought that I was probably incorrect. Thanks for leaving the encouraging words for our original poster. I wish (sic lol) would speak up and leave good words about WISH. I know there are more out there.

Hi there, I'm a newbie poster too About Wish Center...I wouldn't reccomend them if you're considering Lap-band. They would not even consider doing Lap-band on me due to my y BMI. But in talking with my current surgeon, Wish Center doesn't do very many Lap-bands. They try to encourage (or force) their patients to do gastric bypass. I'm assuming, because it costs more. Anyway, that's just my experience. They were not helpful whatsoever to me. They had me go through the entire hours long appointment (i.e. test after test) only to tell me at the very end, that I "didn't qualify" for Lap-band. So...do your research. Good luck!