Question:
PLEASE ADVISE BALLPARK FIGURE OF LAPROSCOPIC BYPASS SURGERY.

ALSO, IS THERE A SURGEON IN AUGUSTA, GA OR NORTH AUGUSTA, SC THAT WILL PERFORM THIS SURGERY. (A QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED ONE).    — [Anonymous] (posted on June 1, 1999)

May 31, 1999
Here's a partial listing of lap surgeons: Dr. Clark and Dr. Wittgrove at Alvarado Center for Surgical Weight Loss San Diego, CA; 800-342-3944 www.gastricbyass.com J.K. Champion M.D. http://www.drchampion.com/ Has two offices 3280 Howell Mill Road, Suite 227 Atlanta, Georgia 30327 Phone:(404)367-9997 Fax:(404)367-9911 Oakside Professional Building 125 Oakside Court, Suite 201 Canton, Georgia 30114 Phone:(770)479-5941 Fax:(770)479-4594 Dr. Keith Boone or Dr. Higa Valley Surgical Specialists, Fresno, CA; 209-449-3901 Ask for Laurie Curry the Bariatric Coordinator by Dr. Phillip Schauer at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; PH: 412-647-4710 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.upmc.edu/minsurg Robert Rutledge, M.D., 4301 Ben Franklin Blvd., P. O. Box 15698, Durham, NC 27704 Phone #: 919 479-4400 Fax #: 919 479-4415 http://unc-clos.tierranet.com/ L. Albert Wetter, M.D. Pennisula Vascular Surgery Associates P.C. 1828 El Camino Real, #601 Burlingame, Ca 94010 (650) 652-0600 Dr. Ninh Nguyen Dr. Bruce Wolfe UCD Meidcal Center 2825 J Street Suite 400 Sacramento, CA (916) 734-0779 New York NY Michel Gagner M.D. 212-241-5339 He does it at the Mt. Sinai hospital in New York City Mark Vierra, MD Stanford, California Telephone; 650-723-5956 or 650-723-5672 650-723-0162 650-725-8441 Fax: 650-725-8441 [email protected] not sure which phone number is right (some were on Stanford's web page and the last two were from the list) Dr. Melvin Ohio State University Comprehensive Weight Management Program 614-292-2888 New York NY Marc Bessler M.D. 212-305-9506 1-800-227-CPMC http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/surgery/Sub/Surg.Sub.html#Lap J. Stephen Scott, M.D., FACS Midwest Bariatric Center 600 Medical Drive, Suite 214 Wentzville, MO 63385 (Metro St. Louis, Missouri) 314-327-4500 www.obesesurgery.com Program Director: Janet Duce, RN 314-332-6606 Midwest Bariatric Center Drs. J. Stephen Scott / de la Torre 600 Medical Dr suite 202 Wentzville, Missouri 63385 314-332-6606 Janet Duce Program Director Dr. Schauer at UPMC Univerversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center He has done about 110 of this so far. www.upmc.edu/minsurg/SevObesity.htm Dr. Luciano DiMarco 4319 Londonderry Road Harrisburg, PA 17109 Here's a couple recent additions but I only have partial information on them: Dr. Owens Orange, CA UCLA may have just started up their lap program Los Angeles, CA
   — Jennifer L.

June 1, 1999
Canton....Dr. Champion. Cost was $20,000 Low fat diets cause the gall bladder to sit idle (the gall bladder excretes bile to help in the digestion of fats). While the gall bladder is sitting idle, the bile hardens and turns into stones (this is a simple as I can explain it). Its very common after weight loss to develop stones. With all of my dieting prior to WLS, I was full of them and had already had a cholecystectomy in 1996. I'm not sure if they will remove the gall bladder via the lap approach or not (they certainly can) but I know several folks that had the open approach had theirs removed at that time. Hope this helps. Regards, Diane - Empire BCBS - New York Lap RNY 4-9-99 Dr. Champion - Atlanta Pre-op 263 BMI 49.8 7 Weeks Post-op 234 BMI 43.4 23% of Excess Weight Lost O :)
   — Diane N.

June 2, 1999
it is about 25,000 dollars to 35,000 dollars. it depends on the state your in.
   — Sandra S.