| The cost of gastric bypass surgery and/or | | | | He did investigate to a degree and it was found |
| laparoscopic lap banding varies from one country | | | | to be considerably more expensive in Canada |
| to another. Here in Australia if you are covered | | | | than in Australia even with a top-rated health care |
| by a top health care plan and you have been | | | | plan. Also when I went looking for him to see |
| referred by your GP (General Practitioner) as a | | | | where the nearest bariatric surgeon was, I found |
| morbidly obese person in need of more help than | | | | that Canada seemed to have a distinct shortage |
| just dieting alone, most of the lap banding costs | | | | of bariatric surgeons. So that helps to explain why |
| are covered in your health care plan. | | | | the costs were so much higher in Canada than |
| I have lived in Canada for the past year and my | | | | here in Australia. |
| special friend in Alberta is a diabetic and a | | | | It's not a cheap or a short term fix to the |
| morbidly obese person. I suggested to him that | | | | problem of morbid obesity. There is no way that |
| he investigate the possibility of having bariatric lap | | | | it is 'the easy way out'. You pay for the surgical |
| banding surgery. | | | | procedure and you pay by never being able to |
| On inquiry with his local Doctor, the Doctor was | | | | "over-eat" again. You have to work with the |
| not too familiar with the procedure and was quite | | | | physical limitations that a lap band imposes on |
| discouraging, so my friend being basically | | | | your eating pattern. |
| somebody who didn't really want to change, let | | | | Is the cost of lap banding or gastric bypass worth |
| the opportunity pass. | | | | it? My answer would be an emphatic yes for me |
| Now his diabetes is rampant and he has had to | | | | to the laparoscopic lap banding but you have to |
| undergo an eye operation and has been | | | | make your own decisions as to what if anything |
| considerably ill this year. He may even lose a | | | | you have done. I suggest you keep getting all the |
| couple of toes off his right foot. I cannot | | | | information available on both the gastric bypass |
| emphasis strongly enough that I consider lap | | | | and the laparoscopic lap banding and then make |
| banding to be a very good option for anyone who | | | | up your own mind. |
| is diabetic and unable to lose weight. | | | | |