WLS Doctors In and Around St. Louis - Need Info? Also Mexico

Would like to hear any commits about WLS doctors

in and around St. Louis.

My husband is going to have the surgery, but we

will be paying for it because his insurance won't.

If you know how much it cost would help also.

Was also wanting to hear from anyone who had surgery

in Mexico using one of their packages with the

air fare and hotel stay included. Thanks

Brenda go to the South of the Border forum , there are people in mo that have gone . i was thinking very seriously about it before i found Dr. H. but their prices are really good and and the doctors are trained here in america so it isnt any different , except you get a vacation on the beach in Mexico lol 

I live in Marquand, MO, but I had surgery with Dr. Van Wagner at St. Alexius, in South St. Louis.  St. Alexius is a part of the New Start Program.  I was self pay and it cost me right at $23,000.00.  That included the hospital, the anesthesiologist and the surgeon.  Dr. Wagner has a $300.00 up front program fee but it is credited towards his fees.  I have UHC and they have an exclusion to WLS.  But oddly enough they paid the $200.00 consult fee and I only had to pay a $20.00 copay for that.  Dr. Wagner's office is in Lemay and his staff are great.  They gave me the name of a lady for my psych eval who was just down the street and her fee was only $75.00 for self pay patients.  I believe the hospital fee includes up to 4 days but I had surgery on Monday and went home on Wednesday.  The fees also include full access the the New Start nutrtionists and director at no charge and their support group meetings. I also have a sister and 4 other relatives who had surgery with Dr. de la Torre out of DePaul.  He is a great surgeon also. The reason I chose Dr. Wagner is because he practices alone and being self pay I wanted to see one doctor who knows my history.  I know in a lot of other practices sometime you have to see 2 or 3 doctors.  I just didn't want to take the chance in the event that something would come up that I would have to pay 2 or 3 dr. fees before I got to see "my" surgeon and find out what was wrong.  God willing, and believe me I pray every day, that hasn't and won't be a problem. If I can be of any other help, please let me know.  You can pm me.  I post mostly on the light weights board, but I check in here regularly and read the posts to see what all the home town girls (all mostly Dr. H's girls) are up to. Julie