Hello from someone who is starting the journey...

Hi everyone.  I was pleased to see that we have a Kansas forum.  I have been lurking on the obesity help site since beginning my quest for knowledge about the lap band.  Well, it's official, I'm scheduled for surgery at Tallgrass on October 15.  I'm watching and reading all your stories and can't tell you how much it helps to calm the nerves at this point.  Thanks for sharing your information to this point and I'll thank you in advance for the support after surgery! Crystal in Emporia

Hi Crystal: I too am scheduled for lap-band at Tallgrass on October 15 with Dr. Hamilton so it looks like we will be band buddies.    Laura

Laura,    Thanks for the reply - I'll watch for you in recovery!!  I have Dr. Berntsen so maybe we'll be banding at the same time.  Good luck. Crystal

Congratulations to both of you!  I am a self-pay shooting for January and if you don't mind my asking, how much does Tallgrass charge?  I have attended a couple of seminars in the KC area and still plan to visit Tallgrass before making my final decision.  What convinced you to have your surgery there? Jim

i would like to know what everyone is finding out about tallgrass.  I just heard about them.  I only knew about livlite in Junction city and overland park one.  any info would be much appreciated.

I heard about Tallgrass through my niece.  I attended the seminars at both Tallgrass and the center in Shawnee Mission.  After attending both, I went with Tallgrass because they seem to have had more experience (sheer numbers-wise),  they were rated as a center in excellence (something the Shawnee Mission people are trying to do but haven't achieved just yet), they are in Topeka which is closer to my home, and they were about $4000 cheaper.  Being self pay, that was a big factor to me.  I have nothing negative to say about the Shawnee Mission group - they seemed professional and very good.  Both of these centers were recommended to me by my endocinologist, so honestly, I didn't look into Liv-Lite in Junction City.  Tallgrass does seminars every 2nd Saturday morning in Topeka at St. Francis Hospital.  Crystal

I was also very impressed with iabs in Lenexa.  http://www.iabsobesitysurgery.com/index.html.  Dr. "K" seems outstanding and they too are a center of excellence.  Decisions, decisions. Jim 

Jim,    One other thing I remembered about my search and compare of centers - Tallgrass total cost includes 2 years of follow-up care.  The Shawnee Mission group's price included only 1 year of follow-up care.  I'm not sure what to expect for after care, but I would suppose if you still needed to have adjustments those appointments would start to add up if not included in the total price.  I have heard that fill appointments cost between $150 and $200.  You can bet that I plan to get all those taken care of within the first 2 years!!  C

Sounds like a good deal.  I am going to try to attend their seminar in October or November.

Sorry, I was just reading and decided I would respond since I too went to Tallgrass.  Tallgrass is $12,000 for everything.   I was banded on Aug. 27th and I chose them because I've had friends go there and they were happy, plus I looked at all of the centers in Kansas and it's the best!!    Very professional and organized.  A great experience!  Sorry for the intrusion!