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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