Seminars in Baton Rouge???

Hi, I am new to this site and am just beginning to research the lap band procedure. Are there any seminars in the Baton Rouge area? I've seen websites for a Dr. Hargroder and Dr. Bellanger, but neither seems to do a lot of the lap band. Does anyone know of a Dr. who has done alot of lap-bands? My sister had lap with Dr. Martin in New Orleans, but she was self pay, I'm not sure my insurance will support me going to him. My insurance will change in December, and I don't know yet which company we will be with. Any info is appreciated. Thanks Fran

Hi - just looked at your profile. Are you in La. or Tx.? With a BMI of 34.9, you're probably not going to find a doctor to do the surgery or ins. to cover it unless you have some serious co-morbidities. If you still have Cigna, you may want to join http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cignassqueakywheels/ Cigna is horrible to deal with, and there's lots of info & support on this group. I called Dr. Hargroder in the spring to ask questions. At that time he had done around 350 lap RNYs without any deaths. That's much better than the national average. BUT he's not on my Cigna plan. Dr. Bellanger had done 200 with 2 deaths. Good luck.

Hi Jean, thanks for the reply. I am living in Beaumont Tx, but moving to BR in November. Our insurance will change when we get to BR. I think they offer Ochsner and Aetna. Do you or anyone know anything about which of these two is best? I have a history of hypertension and diabetes in my family. I think I may be showing some signs of diabetes. I am in the process of finding out if that is so. I have also moved twice this year and am about to move again, so alot of eating on the run has packed a few more pounds on me. I am probably about a BMI of 38 now. Anyway I don't know which Dr's are covered thru which insurance, or even which insurance is better to deal with. I appreciate your help. How long have you been trying to get this done?

Go to ochsner.org (with the www. in front). Click on the Quick Link - Bariatrics - info about their WLS should come up. You can read about the surgeons - one is brand new (I'd want to know if she's done at least a couple hundred). There's lots of info on this site. I've been a visitor there many, many times. I've even stayed at the Brenthouse during a family member's surgery stay (not bariatric). Ochsner is HUGE - but very convenient. It's easy to get to, easy parking in the garage, & the hotel (Brenthouse) is adjacent to the hospital & clinic which will make it easy for whoever goes with you. You can read the Obesity Surgery Clinical Policy Bulletin on Aetna's website. In fact, I need to read it carefully because my husband's company is having open enrollment next month & we could change to Aetna for next year (or Ochsner). I've heard that Aetna is a pain too & something about proving that you've been morbidly obese for 5 years - but I didn't see this when I just skimmed through the Aetna CPB. But I need to go back & read it carefully. We had Aetna PPO for 5 years & then changed to Cigna last year because the premiums were $100 a month cheaper AND they pay 100% on just about everything. I wasn't thinking of WLS when we had Aetna, so I don't know personally how they are. I liked being able to go to whatever doctor I wanted when I wanted & not having to go through my PCP. So - Dr. Hargroder would probably be on your list. I've only heard good things about getting approval with Ochsner, but I haven't heard of anyone using the doctors in New Orleans. I was denied by Cigna in the Spring because they didn't think I had been on a 6 month physician supervised diet. I had - but I didn't do it with the thought of WLS, so I didn't go for regular weigh-ins. I was on Meridia & Xenical for 6 or 7 months, got off, weight started coming back, blood pressure, cholesterol, tryglycerides went way up. In February I started going back every month for weigh-ins, but we moved in June, I had knee surgery a week later, then emergency gallbladder surgery a week after that. So I missed - I think - 3 months of weigh-ins. When you get to BR, you could go to a NeWeigh support group meeting. Of course, NeWeigh would like everyone to use their surgeons, but anyone can go to the meetings. I think they're every Wed. evening - not sure though. Well - I hope I answered your questions - I sure did ramble - sorry about that.

Thanks Jean, you certainly gave me alot of info and I appreciate it. I looked at my profile after reading your post about not having a high enough BMI and realized I accidentally had myself 3 inches taller than I really am, so I'm actually a 39.3. I will go to neweigh when I get to BR and maybe if I have the insurance choices they can tell me who is better to deal with before we have to sign up for a plan. I am somewhat concerned that if I go with Ochsner. I'll have to use one of their Dr's I don't know anything about and possibly hasn't done many surgeries. I have read great things about Dr. Hargroder but I heard he's only done a few of the lap band, and that is what I want. I'll also read the websites for Ochsner and Aetna. Thanks again.

I just finished reading the info I sent you on Aetna - found the "5 year" part. Guess I won't be switching to them.

Jean, Have you heard anything about Cigna buying out Ochsner? My husband told me he thought he heard that. We don't usually use our insurance very much, we're lucky to be basically healthy, but with me having the weight and/or diabetes issues now I'm suddenly very picky about what they offer. If this is true then my choices are Aetna and Cigna. I guess I better try to find out more.

No - ask on the yahoo group site I told you about before - someone there will probably know.

Could you please tell me how much Dr.Martin charged your sister for her self pay. My insurance denied me am I think I might be going the self pay route. Thanks Teesha