Question:
Self Pay - After initial session - How long before surgery takes place?

I am a slef pay and my session with the doctor is tomorrow. How soon will the surgery be scheduled? Does it take a few months to schedule this surgery or can it be scheduled right away? Thanks all! This is woinderful!    — S. Troxell (posted on April 5, 2006)

April 5, 2006
Sherry, With my surgeon (also self-pay) it was a matter of whether or not he accepted you as a patient, first off. Then, if he did, and you had a passport - and if he had an opening in his schedule, you could have surgery pretty quickly. In fact, he'd just had a cancellation when I was ready to have surgery - and if I'd only had my passport ready, I could have had surgery in 2 weeks - not the 2 months I had to wait! But - now - 3 years 9 months later - my only regret is not doing it sooner! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

April 6, 2006
I went for my first informational session in Oct. of 2005, and because I was paying cash out of my pocket I assumed that I would be moved ahead of everyone else that had to wait for insurance approval... I was wrong. I didn't get scheduled for my surgery until all of the paperwork was in from everyone else i had to see.... Then they scheduled me for surgery, but he was 2 months behind, so I didn't get it until 2-27-06. It was nice not to have to diet through the holidays, but it was a long wait. The Doctors surgery costs and my hospital stay was covered in the $15000.00 I was quoted on the first day, but i've also spent about $3000.00 on other things that were required before and after surgery........ and it's all been worth it, cause i'm down about 35lbs now.
   — Penny P.