Question:
WLS in another country

okay given my previous question about hospitol stays I am now look for out of country. So any one who went to another place (esspically Brazil) If you could give me info that would be great    — Megan B. (posted on March 4, 2003)

March 4, 2003
I hate to see anyone get any surgery out of state or out of country. But if I say why, everyone will be all over me like flies on poop. I never intend to get another surgery out of state ever again. It's a big mistake.
   — Danmark

March 5, 2003
Dan - In your opinion it may be a big mistake, but for some of the people out there it is their only option. If I had the money or could finance it, I would go to Dr. Baltasar in Spain in an instant...could be packed and ready in an hour lol Just because you have to travel for a surgeon doesnt mean he/she is any less qualified or can offer you any less of a quality of care than if your surgeon was a few hours drive. With proper coordination with your primary doctor, everything can run smoothly and sometimes better since you have double the concern for your care as if you had just one doc. Dr. B is considered one of the top WLS surgeons in the world. He would not release patients to travel home unless he really thought they were ready to handle the trip. He has an excellent reputation for being very caring and compassionate towards his patients. Dr. Baltasar even offers his services free of charge if any complications come up and you must remain in the hospital longer than expected. Now that is a great doc in my opinion.
   — ImANewDee

March 5, 2003
I would never say that a surgeon out of state or out of the country could not do a good job. However, make sure that you have made some provisions in case everything does not go smoothly. I know that we all expect that we will bounce right back and things will be OK. That did not happen for me. I was in and out of the hospital for 5 months and it was another month before I was able to return to work, even part time. If I had not had insurance or had been away from home, I don't know what I would have done. The support I got from my sister and brother, both in just visiting me and advocating for me with the insurance company and my surgeon, was phenomenal. At one point, before my last two months in a stepdown unit and a skilled nursing facility, my insurance had paid out over $180,000 on my behalf. They (brother and sister) also kept up with continuing to get my surgeon's signature on my short term disability papers and got those to the STD insurance company.
   — garw

March 5, 2003
I knew it was coming. Be prepared to pay an arm and a leg to fly back and forth should you have complications. Be prepared to be rejected by doctors in "your area" should you have a real emergency. They will not always see someone that another doctor has screwed up. And don't anyone give me this load of crap "they have to see you by law". That is BS. I know. I've been there, done that. You people are lucky in that you have'nt seen the dark side of medicine as I have. Never again will I ever, if I have any kind of choice, go outside my area for surgery again. It opens up all kinds of problems. Not always, but if it does....
   — Danmark

March 6, 2003
I went to Brazil for a DS. It was a wonderful experience with a gifted surgeon. I had no complications, and have none since I have been home. The fee was $3500 for the Dr., and $4500 for the hospital with up to a 2 week stay. The airfare was about $600 each and the hotel was $500 for a 2 week stay. The hotel and the hospital are new. The care I received was excellent. The Dr. came to see me 3 times a day while in the hospital, and either he came to the hotel, or I went to see him at his office after I was released from the hospital. Check out my profile, and also his group... [email protected] Good luck to you! Jackie
   — Jacklyn C.

March 13, 2003
Megan: I'm on my way to Brazil! My PCP and I have become very close over the WLS issue and we both have learned a tremendous amount about the surgery, complications, follow-up and expectations. I called my insurance company and they assured me they will cover any complications and follow-up and pay just like any other injury/illness - even out of country (as long as the billing is in English and coded correctly). Some people will warn you about going out of state for surgery - but their experiences are not necessarily for WLS surgery. You will have to make your own decision in the end. Cheers!
   — Cera H.