LoriBecky

We've updated Dr. O's profile on Obesity Help and we'd love everyone to stop by and post a review of your experience! This helps other people, looking for information on weight loss surgery find us and get more information!

When you have a chance, stop by and post your review!

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Ariel+Ortiz+Lagardere+glh.html

you can click on the upper right hand side and then post your review!

Hello my beloved bandsters

here's the deal, when you come back to us for your adjustment, we charge $100, that is the xray fee (also covers the needle charge)

we don't charge you for the office visit, doctor charge, etc.

So a band adjustment at OCC is $100

if you want the driver to pick you up and take you back to the airport the fee is $199 (adjustment and driver)

if you want a night at the hotel added on its $299 (fill, driver, hotel)

if you want an alternate way to get back and forth without hiring the driver, here is a helpful post from one of our bandsters: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=725 if anyone has an update to this post, let me know!

To schedule just call 1-866-376-7849 ext. 2 or email appointments@obesitycontrolcenter.com

any questions.... just let me know!

have a wonderful day.

not everyone comes to the forum.

You can always email me with your surgery date and I can try to get you in touch with others having surgery on the same date

For pricing or information on any weight loss surgery just call me at 1-866-376-7849 ext. 81 or email lori@obesitycontrolcenter.com ,i'm happy to help

Ok... its been a long time since anybody updated this... anybody have any newer information that they can post? Thanks bandsters!

Title: Tight Band, Loose Band

Speaker: Dr. Arturo Martinez

Date: Monday, August 2, 2010

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PDT

Where am I in the grand scheme of things? Dr. Martinez will discuss and give you a simple formula to answer this controversial yet simple question.

Register Here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/514704944

Title: Cellulite & Other Stuff You Don’t Like

Speaker: Dr. Gabriella Miranda

Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PDT

Dr. Miranda discusses the simple solutions to ugly problems in our skin and physique we would gladly do without.

Register Here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/518312529

I'm posting this at the request of one of our patients that was having trouble getting online:

I had a VSG on June 15,2010. Because I am 65 yrs old I wanted only this procedure because it did not involve any surgery on my small bowel. I went to OCC at 226 lbs. ,left 4 days later at the same weight but arrived home in Canada at 216 lbs. I had a very good experience at OCC. I am a nurse so am well acquainted with this environment and felt the care was excellent. I was never worried at all. The doctors and nursing staff were great and will gladly correspond with anyone who would like information about the facility, the hotel or any other concerns.

Donna F.

Its not deleted, it is just invisible for now because the Marriott wants to post a rebuttle with times, details and their findings, I thought it best to post them both at the same time so its fair to both parties. Two very different stories.

India, you and I have emailed back and forth - just call me at 1-866-376-7849 ext. 81 anytime and we can look at dates, set up a phone consult, or discuss your options

i just checked and it looks like you called this morning and got everything taken care of

congratulations!

Obesity Control Center is the only hospital in Tijuana, one of only two in all of Mexico and one of only a handful worldwide that has been certified as an International Centers of Excellence! You can check out www.surgicalreview.org for more information!

This is really big news! We've always known how exceptional Obesity Control Center was, and now we've been given the certification to prove it!

this is a great interview with one of our patients with NBC news! I would start by getting them to watch this. I'm also happy to answer questions and get you in touch with some of our teen patients and their parents! Just call me at 1-866-376-7849 ext. 81http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Teen-Weight-Loss-Going-Under-the-Knife-Better-than-Diet-and-Exercise-83993172.html

A Note from Dr. Ortiz....

Dear All

Thank you for you questions on the forum. One topic that requires my intervention is the use of particular bands for weightloss surgery.

After more than a decade of performing weightloss surgery, gastric bands have become available from different companies.

We will discuss two in particular: The Lap-Band AP System (Allergan Medical) and the Realize Band (Johnson and Johnson) both are FDA approved.

The original Lap-Band System now has a newer model out called the AP System (Advanced platform). This band was designed with a wider profile and a softer balloon and buckle that can be unlatched during a surgical procedure. The Lap-Band AP was introduced in the market to compete with the newer Realize band, manufactured by Medical giant Johnson and Johnson. Both bands are very similar, the Lap-Band having two sizes, the AP and the AP-L. The claims that you see on the internet about one band is better than the other are misleading. Both implants have a decade of history and research backing them up. Whenever an update or improvement was needed, it was addressed.

The Lap-Band AP system is still not available for sale in Mexico. I work directly with the President of Allergan Medical who updates me on the status of its availability. The versions of the Lap-Band (standard and VG) that are available in Mexico are still used and manufactured in the US, so the notion that these are “old” bands is inaccurate.

The Realize band by Johnson & Johnson called SAGB in Mexico is one and the same (name changes for the Mexican market). We are using the Realize band more and more because it has proven to be as safe and effective as the previous models and it is also the updated version of the two competing bands in the US market. We also feel that because fewer surgeons around the world are using the smaller sizes of the Lap Band (9.75 & 10), it may be phased out of the market. This will be a corporate decision and I am only expressing my personal opinion. If you have one of these bands, they have proven to be safe and effective, over 400,000 of these bands have been placed world wide. Speaking from experience, in the huge market of weight-loss surgery implants, a company is not going to put their reputation at risk with an inferior product, so whichever band you have, it has been proven safe and effective. After over 7000 procedures (This is verifiable information) we at Obesity Control Center are not going to put our patients or our reputation at risk by using anything less than the best. I was recently invited to visit Johnson and Johnson corporate headquarters and meet with design engineers and share our findings. They value our opinion! We are dedicated to the highest standards and quality as well as advancing what we do for the sole benefit of the patient. At this point in time we have performed over 700 procedures with the newer Realize gastric band we are very happy with the results. We also have not seen the need for different size bands since the adjustability of the implant itself is what has eliminated the need for larger or smaller bands. This is why a larger patient may need a smaller initial fill and a smaller patient a larger initial fill. We theorized that higher BMI patients would need a larger band but have not seen it at this point.

In conclusion, whichever band you have, you know it is not just the actual implant that promotes weightloss, it is how you use it as a tool. You are required to do your part. Any band can slip. The worst enemy of a gastric band is too much restriction and over dependence on the band. Wider bands, softer balloons and smarter buckles are not going to take the place of your part in this weightloss journey. Restriction is not food getting stuck. Restriction is not “I don’t ever get hungry anymore”. Hunger is a natural condition of the body and you will be hungry several times a day. While the band will help reduce the intensity of your hunger, it will not eliminate it. . Restriction will not help you if you eat mushy or liquids. Restriction will not work if you do not follow the guidelines. In fact if you completely depend on restriction physically or mentally you will end up failing. The restriction patients should seek is when eating solid foods, three times a day. You should be able to eat around a third of your typical pre-surgery intake by eating slower and chewing better. It is this combination that will provide satiety by enjoying food and feeling mild fullness.

We will be following up on this topic with one of our webinars… stay tuned!

Disclaimer: These statements are intended as a reference guide for persons interested in the treatment of obesity, not as a medical guide for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. The information contained in this statement should not be used as a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional, and accordingly, the author and publisher expressly disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects that might arise from the reader’s use of the information found in this statement. If you believe that the obesity treatment described in this information might be of benefit to them, please contact your physician or a member of the Obesity Control Center staff to discuss their personal situation.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Teen-Weight-Loss-Going-Under-the-Knife-Better-than-Diet-and-Exercise-83993172.html

This was supposed to air last night on their news but since I don't live in that area I wasn't able to watch... hoping it gets picked up nationally! The interviewer told me Lauren was fabulous!

we don't give fills at the time of surgery. I will ask Dr. O for a medical reason why the fewer fills, but from what I understand... part of it is I don't think that mens' stomach's thin out like women's do as they lose weight - that's part of the reason we need more fills.... as we lose weight our stomach itself thins out so we lose our restriction....

but even with the averages... some women only need one fill and some men may get 4 or 5 to get to their goal, there is no hard and fast rule for number of fills required to get to goal and stay there....

I will send a note to Dr. O and as soon as i get a response i'll post it

MERRY CHRISTMAS my band family! Have a safe and blessed day!

Hi OCC Bandsters.... I just got off the phone with Dr. O (and our clinic manager and administrative manager) and we do still offer several bands. I can't go into specifics about particular patients or why a particular band may be better for one patient vs another, but Dr. Ortiz says that the J&J band was a much better match for this patient than the Inamed. He has been misquoted and mis-represented. As I tell my patients, the doctors choose which band works best for your anatomy. If you have a band preference, we note it, but in the end, the doctors should and does decide which band you get (that is even stated in the paperwork you must sign for surgery). I'm not a doctor, so I can't tell you why a particular band works better than another for each patient, but I trust Dr. Ortiz when he chooses the correct band for the patient.

For this poster, please call me, Dr. Ortiz would like to speak with you so he can help you understand why you received the band you did. I would have hoped you would have called your coordinator if you had a question or were confused about something. We want you to be happy!

I think there is a misunderstanding.... this is certainlly news to me and doesn't at all sound right to me. I will speak with Dr. Ortiz tomorrow and post a follow-up! Dr. Ortiz has offered both bands since the J&J band received its approval. If that has changed, he would have let his "front line" know, and the reason for the change.

stay tuned....

Call or email me anytime for more information about surgery with Dr. Ortiz! I'd be happy to help you!

Frozen mixed fruit - I bought mine at Target - Market Pantry brand... frozen pieces of peach, grapes, strawberries, melon and pineapple. You can take out just want you want and keep the rest of the bag frozen.... great for blending with yogurt in a smoothy, thawing and having a serving of fruit, or eat like a fruit popsicle. Lasts a long time in the freezer and no cutting or chopping. Much cheaper than buying those little cartons/trays of mixed fruit that I never seen to make it through before it goes bad. Love it!

While I can't make recommendations for fill providers, one of our patients works for Dr. Moise and does recommend her! $250 for new patients, $200 for follow-up visits (no xray). If you have any questions you can call the doctor directly or call me for more information

If you need help finding a fill provider closer to home you can try www.fillcentersusa.com or contact me for more information

if you have a cold or allergies your mucous is thicker and will "clog" up your band, I know sometimes I just can't eat very much when my allergies are in full swing.

Good idea to stay on liquids today, take something to thin your mucous when you get home (Benadryl works great but can make you sleepy) and see how you are doing tomorrow.

You probably just had a bigger PB episode because of the mucous... but if you continue to have problems or feel more restriction than normal, call one of our after care doctors at 1-866-376-7849 ext. 5

if you haven't already peeked or posted here - this is the October surgeries section http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=10990

good luck

Dr. Ortiz is very well know by Inamed/Allergan - give me a call and I'll give you their number and you can speak with them. Not sure who you spoke with but we are still a certified training faciilty and he is still a proctoring doctor with them! He just spoke at the World Obesity Conference in Paris.... he is a very well respected Lap Band doctor.

Remember. I was a patient of Dr. Ortiz and was so impressed that I started working for him!

I think we all went through some anxiety prior to our surgery.... please call or email me and I'd be happy to help!

Why is that my band feels tight in the morning and gets easier during the day?

When you sleep, you lie flat in the bed, fluid tends to accumulate around the stomach wall, the same way that your face looks puffy in the morning. After you get up and move around, the fluid goes way by gravity and your band feels less tight

While we don't have our dentist in our office full time anymore, we do offer all dental services by appointment at our office! Please call the front desk at our clinic at 1-866-376-7849 ext. 83 and they can assist you in scheduling any dental services you may need!