Anyone get WLS South of the Boarder?

I have to self-pay, so I am considering all my options here--one of which is going to Mexico to have the surgery done for about half of what it would cost here in Oregon. However, that brings up the issue of needing someone here to do my fills and aftercare (I am interested in the LapBand procedure only.) Anyone dealt with this already??? DO you know of any Oregon/ Washington doctors who will do aftercare only??? TIA, Marcie

Marcie - I am going to be going to Ensenada on the 10th for an open RNY. I found a doctor locally that is an internist that will handle my aftercare for me. He is talking to surgeons and other folks involved in normal aftercare programs to glean what info he can from them and will use them to consult for my situation. I think that is what most of us who have gone self-pay out of the country are doing. I'm not sure who down there does lap band, but I know there was one who did lap rny that someone else mentioned to me awhile ago (I'd have to look up the name). I would just ask around your area and see who might know of a good doctor that is open minded and see if they will take you on. My own PCP refused to have anything to do with it, so I had to seek out another doctor, which happened to be my husband's PCP, so it worked out good. Good luck and let us know what you find out! Dina

Wow! I just got back from a junket south of the border to a little town named Reseda.... It was an experience... I didnt go for WLS though, I went with my daughter in law who had her tubal ligation reversed ... maybe I'll get to see my grandkids after all.... Brush up on your Spanish, cause we found ourselves down there, 2 AMERICAN women alone, and even at the Hospital (it had 10 rooms and surgical suite/emergency room) we were the only ones who spoke English- they do a lot of surgeries for Americans there but only one of the doctor's speak English at all. It was very hard to communicate simple things like getting pain meds when needed, or something to drink.... and its true- dont drink the water. It can be done though, I just dont know exactly which hospitals do WLS down there but I do know that what would have cost 8 to $10,000 up here cost a total of $2000- there... and the doctor was good. Just please talk to someone who can personally recommend a hospital to you, dont just go because you find someplace that will do the surgery. It is your life you are putting on the line, and believe me I was very happy that my daughter in law had no complications because the hospital looked like something out of the old sphagetti westerns.... it was probably 150 years old, and had none of he amenities... Good luck to you!