Advice needed!!

Hello, I live near Traverse City and I am hoping to have the lap band done soon after much research. If insurance won't cover, I will go to Mexico for experience and cost reasons. Has anyone near me been through this??? How does insurance work if I have any emergency and need help around here? If insurance will cover, I will know in about 2 weeks. I am then faced with going to doctors in Port Huron who have performed over 1,000 lap bands, Dr. Deol who has done over 250 or Barix clinics who have done about the same. Has anyone used these doctors? I would love information!! Thanks so much. Cheryl

Hello Cheryl, Not sure if you are dead set on port huron but, you might want to check out Dr. Cudjoe at Gratiot Bariatric Treatment Center in Alma, Michigan. He did mine and my wife's surgerys and is awesome. We had the laparoscopic roux-en-y done but my cousin and his wife and a couple of our other friends had him do there laparoscopic lab bands and they are very happy. The surgerys are done right here in Alma at Gratiot Medical Center which is closer than Port Huron. Not sure what type of insurance you have but Tammy is the coordinator for the program and would be able to help you out. Give her a call at 989-466-7456. Best of Luck! Trent

Trent, thanks so much for the information. I will check out Dr. Cudjoe. Are you and your friends who had the lap band all doing well?

Yes I am donig great and I have heard nothing but good things about Dr. Cudjoe. I would recommend him to anyone. I had some pre-surgery health issues that he went over and above with helping me on. He is really in it to truly help the patient succeed. I am sure you would be very happy with him. There are several of his patients on this board and I am sure they would back me up as well. Good Luck Trent

What is billed and what is paid are enormously different. Tell your prospective doctors that you are possibly going self pay. It's almost a third of what it normally costs. Personally, I would stick to locals in case of a problem. kp @ goal