Lapband Surgery in Manitoba

Does anybody know if there is a surgeon doing lapband surgery in Manitoba at the present time? I was on a waiting list in Saskatoon for the BPD/DS surgery and am now left out in the cold with the program closing down this June. I've waited 3 1/2 years for the surgery and am now among 300+ patients who will now have to look elsewhere for weight loss surgery. How frustrating!!!!! Thanks.

Susan I to live in Manitoba and I had to go to Toronto to Dr. Cobourn for my surgery. But he does have a doctor in Winnipeg that does the fills. He is an excellent surgeon and his staff is amazing. If you get prior approval from Manitoba Health Care they will reimburse you for your plane fare for you and caregiver. Please contact me if you are in need of anymore information. Lynnette

I would recommend going to Dr Christou in Montreal, if you can in any possible way self pay. However, due to needing to be very close to your surgeon if something goes wrong, a lap band is not a good idea. I would suggest getting RNY. As for any reimbursements, you will get a small portion back from MB Health, and if you have work health insurance, possibly more. I *just* started actively looking for a surgeon on January 31st of this year, and I had my surgery this past Tuesday. My husband and I remortgaged the house because my health was more important. Think about it - there is no more waiting, and no more hoops to jump through with the public system... Here is his website: www.weightlosssurgery.ca Hope you find your way! Diana

Thank you, Diana, for responding to my query. Congratulations on your surgery. I wish you a speedy recovery. My husband and I were looking at self-pay, but if it came to that, I would be going to Brazil to have the BPD/DS done by Dr. Marchesini. I've studied his work for 1 1/2 years and have been following his Canadian patients. He has unbelievable success. Did you self-pay because of the long waiting list? If there are no bariatric surgeons in Manitoba, it doesn't really matter what kind of surgery I have, does it? At least Dr. Cobourne has a surgeon here who works with the fills of the lapband. Why do you say it is not a good idea? I'm needing as much information as possible. Thanks so much! Cheers, Sue

Sue How is your research going? I know that it can be so frustrating trying to find a surgeon and having to travel to another province. Here is what I found out about Manitoba Health and what they cover. You family doctor has to send in a request for you to travel for surgery with a caregiver and Manitoba Health will send you an confirmation letter. You have to submit your airline boarding passes once you have had your surgery and MB Health will reimburse you. My accountant told me to keep track of the number of trips to Winnipeg for fills, plus keep all medical receipts to be included in next years income refund. Manitoba Health will pay a portion of the cost for the surgery about $1,100 of the $16,000. that Dr. Cobourn charges. You will have to pay for fills around $50. or 75. but again you can claim them on your income tax. Dr. Cobourn will do the consult over the phone so you don't have to make a trip there for that. When I booked my surgery he made a appointment to meet me the day before the surgery. He is excellent and great bedside manner. Hope this helps and if you need anymore information please feel free to contact me. Lynnette a happy bandster.

Hi Lynnette! Thanks so much for the information about Dr. Cobourn. I didn't realize that Manitoba Health did not cover the lap band surgery. I'm not understanding why Manitoba Health is willing to pay for 1/16 of the surgery and the trip there and back for the patient and a caregiver and not cover the whole surgery. I wonder why the lap band surgery is so different from the RNY or the BPD/DS which is covered in full. It's perplexing to me. What happens if you need an adjustment to the band, which, from what I understand could happen as you lose weight, or sometimes it slips? If I have to pay $16,000.00 for this surgery, then I may as well get the BPD/DS surgery in Brazil. It costs about $15,000.00 to have it done there, whi*****ludes the trip there and back, the hotel stay and the surgery and hospital stay, plus a private nurse once you leave the hospital. Can't beat that. And, I've found that the hospital is much cleaner than Canadian hospitals with almost 0% infection rate. I appreciate your help. Cheers, Sue