Melanie0574
Active Member
Did anyone have Dr. Coates as there DS surgeon? What was your experience with him? Are you happy with your results?
Dr. Coates
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Just be careful. Make sure you ask for a traditional DS. http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/dr-patrick-coates.2934/
Larra
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Last I heard (admittedly info is out of date) he was doing the real DS because of issues with either the hospital or the insurer not allowing the loop DS as it's experimental. But my info is so old that I'm not even sure he's doing the DS at all these days. Hopefully a call to his office should determine this - and please let us now anything you find out, as it may be helpful for other people in your same situation.
Munchkin
Full of Fairy Dust
What Larra said! I haven't heard about him doing DS in a while or seen any new patients roaming around.
Make sure you specify a TWO ANASTOMOSIS DS, because he his father/son (don't know which one you're talking to) have tried slipping SADIs past patients, without adequate disclosure and thus without receiving fully informed consent. I don't trust the practice, myself.
Melanie0574
Active Member
I am currently looking into Dr. Rabkin,as he is the one that performed my mom's DS. I noticed on his website that he offers financing options. I emailed them today inquiring about the total cost of the DS procedure. Has anyone else used the financing options he offers?
CaraOC
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No I haven't Melanie, but good to look into. If self pay is how you have to go please also consider a highly experienced surgeon in Mexico too. I paid $12,500 total in February. I would imagine the cost to come in at a minimum of $40,000 here in the states. For me I just wanted to get it done ASAP because I was tired of being fat and the years I'd spent fighting the losing battle.
DSRIGGS
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Dr k is $18-26k on last quote from his office for my brother. $18 open $26k for lap
Clematis
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Esquerra in Mexico is now even less than that for a virgin DS @CaraOC. (Yours was more because of the lapband removal.) I think I saw something like $8500 recently advertised. My virgin DS was $11,000 in November, plus $2k because I had them remove my gallbladder. Many of us here have used Dr. Esquerra, all with excellent results.
Once I realized I had to travel out of town for a DS (no one local would do it for <50 BMI, they didn't do very many, and self pay was $40k), I figured I might as well get a good price and save money for the inevitable plastic surgery. I did not compromise in any way on the experience of the surgeon and quality of the facilities. In fact, one is kept in the hospital for 4 nights in Mexicali vs the 2 (maybe 3) nights in a US hospital. When one is traveling, those extra nights are important for recovery before getting on an airplane.
Once I realized I had to travel out of town for a DS (no one local would do it for <50 BMI, they didn't do very many, and self pay was $40k), I figured I might as well get a good price and save money for the inevitable plastic surgery. I did not compromise in any way on the experience of the surgeon and quality of the facilities. In fact, one is kept in the hospital for 4 nights in Mexicali vs the 2 (maybe 3) nights in a US hospital. When one is traveling, those extra nights are important for recovery before getting on an airplane.
Larra
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Dr. Rabkin does have a self-pay plan, and like @DianaCox I also had my DS with his older brother and can recommend the practice highly, but you can get a DS for much less $$$ with Dr. Esquerra in Mexico. Regarding the ACA, I think the issue is not the ACA but rather that, to the best of my knowledge, Dr. Rabkin does not accept medi-cal. And neither does Dr. Keshishian. Dr. K does accept Medicare but not Medi-cal, I don't think Dr. Rabkin accepts either.
Susan in Tennessee
Well-Known Member
I think that 8,500 price was for those who already had the sleeve. I thought it was rather misleading how it was worded.
@Larra - I think it's a little more nuanced than that - in CA now, Medi-Cal is mostly through regular insurance companies. (The older of my two brothers has Health Net for his Medi-Cal, while the younger one, who is ill and needs to see specialists, has straight Medi-Cal.) But the ACA plans CLEARLY cover bariatric surgery - I think Keshishian would take my daughter's Blue Shield plan, which expressly covers bariatric surgery.
Larra
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@DianaCox you may be right. All @Melanie0574 needs to do is to call Dr. Keshishian's office and see if they will accept what she has. I don't know if she has straight Medi-cal or if her coverage is through an insurer. If he will accept what she has, of course that's who she should see. if not, then it's Dr. Coates or Dr. Esquerra, depending on what Dr. Coates accepts (again a phone call should provide the answer) and her overall financial situation.
Melanie, please let us know how all this pans out. We are hoping for the best for you!
Melanie, please let us know how all this pans out. We are hoping for the best for you!
