Question:
Self pay READ THIS what do you think??
If you are self pay or no insurance or denied, go to www.affordablebariatrics.com WLS for $214.00 per month. It's worth a look! They have an ALL INCLUSIVE packet (airfare, meals, hotel, surgery, hospital, meds, tests, etc) Hopefully they can help. I've got MY fingers crossed!!! — Alisa Sheets (posted on March 27, 2004)
March 27, 2004
I went to the site you suggested. I am NOT going to bash any other
country's skills... BUT I will say; that regardless of where its at... IF
this doctor was doing surgery in the US I would certainly INVESTIAGTE
seriously before using him. ANY doctor that's 'that commerical' in his
practice would give me pause. This may be the answer if you have to say
pay; but PLEASE investigate 1000% and NOT just the patients the doctor
give you.. check out medical etc etc etc....Also, on a last note; there are
risks to any surgery.. including death.. WHAT happens if you die in
Columbia? how is your family going to get you home, if its even possible?
And also remember; self pay; renders your insurance 'null' IF you have
complications due to WLS with an exclusion on your policy. YOU will be
faced with enomous medical bills... also a great consideration.
— star .
March 27, 2004
I AM SELF PAY ALSO. I WILL BE HAVING SURGERY WITY DR AGUIRRE IN MEXICO.
THE COST OF THE SURGERY IS $8500.00 PLUS TRAVEL EXPENSES. PLEASE EMAIL ME
SOON. PATRICE
— PATRICE T.
March 27, 2004
I was a self pay here in the US. My job takes me to third world countries
several times a year. I travel with a very extensive medical kit. On a
recent trip to Peru, a doctor looked at the kit and said it was better
equiped than most doctor'd offices in the country. I would never seek WLS
in a third world country that offers an all inclusive package. You are
having surgery, not going on a vacation. Think very long and hard about
what you are thinking about.
— barbara A.
March 28, 2004
I agree with Helen! Alot of doctors are just trying to get in on the gold
rush of WLS. They do not have the proper training for this surgery as well
if you have complication which is a real possiblity you will pay and pay
big! For me I like the fact that I can call my doc anytime and get good
information that I trust. I know it hard and you want to have surgery but
please think long and hard before doing this. May God bless you in what
ever you decide. janeen 350/296 01/27/04 lap rny
— Vitabella
March 28, 2004
Don't get discouraged about self-paying. Some of us have to do
it...insurance won't pay for it, end of story. Thus we have no choice if we
want to be healthier. I self-payed by taking out a home equity line of
credit. Sure, there were risks. But my dr.s bill and hospital bill included
any services that is surgery related, and up to 30 days in the hospital
within the first month of having the surgery. My total came out to $16,250.
The beauty is that the line of credit and possibly the surgery will be
deductible on next year's taxes. I would be cautious about going out of
country. By doing so, you have no support, and no follow-up. Fortunately my
surgeon's office is within 5 minutes of my house, but so far (knock on
wood) I've had no complications. Katie W. Lap RNY 2-4-04 -36 lbs.
— Le P.
March 28, 2004
I can see the point of of the others who have posted, going out of the
country can be dangerous. I too am a self pay, I went to Mexico for
surgery. I have not had any complications. I would probably have been
leary of going in to any other country, especially into South America, as
it is very hostile. I also see the pre-op's desperation to have surgery.
I would have had surgery in my surgeons garage had he offered....I was not
living any more, and was miserable...I was willing to die trying to improve
my life than to continue dying slowly the way I was. I am now post-op 7
months and have lost 107 pounds.....Would I go to Mexico
again??.........You bet, in a heart beat!!! Is it for everyone????.....No,
but neither is surgery! All we can do is research, and edjucate ourselves,
until we reach the decsion that is right for "us" as in
indiviual, whether it be having surgery here in the states, or going to
Mexico, or even to a third world country, It is for each of us to decide.
To the original poster.....I hope you find what will work best for you!!!!!
Good luck on your journey!!!!!!
— jennap
March 28, 2004
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE........ Hi all, Thanks for all the posts and concern.
I know a lot of people have gone to Dr. Aguirre in Ensenada, and he is my
first (and favorite) choice. I was talking to him about the surgery when
it was still $6700. Sad to say it has gone up to $8500 now, and I just
can't get that kind of cash together.
As far as Dr Miklos in Bogota, he was trained in Florida so that offers
SOME measure of comfort, and so far he has not lost a patient.... At this
piont I'm just checking in to it. I'll know more and be better informed
after my appointment with the Dr.
Thanks again for you concern and good wishes!!
— Alisa Sheets
March 28, 2004
As a person who has had strange post-op problems with both my WLS and PS I
would never go out of the country or probably even out of the state. I had
my WLS 20 minutes away from home and my PS 50 minutes away. I am 5 weeks
PO from a lower body lift and I have been in my PS's office twice a week
since surgery with issues from dead skin that needed to be cut out, to
drains that won't quit but then had to be removed due to concern of
developing an infection for being in too long. End result I was back 3
days later for fluid build up and had to have a drain installed and then 3
days later again to have another drain installed. I'm willing to bet they
will be with me at least another week or two. How in the heck would I have
dealt with this if I had surgery far away from home? A 50 minute drive is
enough of a pain in the butt.
<p>I also had incision healing problems after my WLS. I saw the doc
about every 5-10 days for the first 10 weeks. At that point he decided to
go in and see what was up. It was some stitches in the fascia that would
not dissolve and kept irritating everything not allowing it to heal. Once
they were removed it healed up fine. However, it took an outpatient
surgery to resolve.
<p>The only way I would go far away is if there was some doc locally
that had agreed to deal with whatever follow-up care I needed, which would
be hard to find. My internist would to a point but not with removing dead
skin or digging out stitches etc.
<p>Each person has to figure out what works best for them. Even if I
was total self pay (was partial self pay for PS) I would have still gone
with the same surgeons, which means my WLS would have been $26,000 and PS
$20,000. Consequently I'm not sure how I would have paid for it, but going
out of the country just would not have been an option for me.
— zoedogcbr
March 29, 2004
I went to Dr. Aguirre for RNY also. FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE. It's
interesting to me that almost everyone I know (personally/locally) who has
had surgery in the US has had complications - one friend was in the
hospital 8 days with an open wound infection, another has had multiple
hernias and a horrible tummy tuck that needs to be completely re-done...and
so on....but so far (knock wood), everyone I know who has had surgery with
Dr. Aguirre would go back in a heart-beat. The U.S. does not have a
monopoly on good health care. In fact, I received better care in Mexico
than I ever received in the U.S. and believe me, I was very skeptical
beforehand. Such good care, in fact, that I'm returning for plastic
surgery in May (Dr. Gongora/Genesis Clinic in Rosarito Beach). Good luck
to all of you!
— [Deactivated Member]
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