Going to Canada?

[tami88]

Who has gone to Canada for the Sleeve??

I would love to hear your story!

Tami

[goodwillgirl51]

my name is viv from ohio, why canada for the sleeve...what is the cost there compared to mexico?? thanks for any infro you can give me.

[LaffeyTaffey]

Wouldn't Canada be many thousands of dollars more expensive than Mexico? People who live there seem to go south

[Chantale]

I am from Canada and i am going to Mexico for my VSG most Canadians go south because the VSg is not covered in all provinces and to pay on your own here it can cost upwards of $20000.00 and the waiting list is long (At least a few years in most provinces) Going to mexice the VSG will cost me under $10000.00 and I only have to wait 58 days for my surgery.

[tmclenn]

I was on the waitlist for 4 years and finally gave up and went to Mexico, as Chantale posted IF you can find someone to do it private it is VERY expensive and the medical paid waitlist is freaking ridiculous!!

[mrsomaha]

My Dr told me the wait list is at least 2 years and it costs $27,000. So.......... I'm off to Mexico. only had to wait 45 days. March 18th, so excited.

[kildaere]

Quebec Health board said the waiting list was 18 months.. which means closer to 3 years. Private is $15000.. so I went to Mexico. If you don't have a family doctor, finding someone to remove the stitches without judgement is really hard. I took out my VSG stitches myself; but I went to Mexico for a lower body lift too, and couldn't remove those stitches myself.. I caught alot of hell with the clinic doctors for that.

[christine53]

Mexico for me air tickets for two..... surgery..... hotel and playing money less than 7000

[SKgirl27]

Mexico for me too. They only do gastric bypass here and occasionally the lapband. Wait list is long. Procedure is expensive. Off to Mexico I go for VSG!

[SKgirl27]

Mexico for me too. They only do gastric bypass here and occasionally the lapband. Wait list is long. Procedure is expensive. Off to Mexico I go for VSG!

[patsy]

I was on the wait list for 2 years and was told it would be 3 more years. I am legal in the US so went to California got insurance and had surgery at Enloe Hospital in Chico March 25th. Had to pay $2,500 for some program.."lifestyle management" out of pocket for after care that I won't use when I get home but
got excellent care in a fine hospital! Have had no problems. Now I want to start finding out about the tummy tuck ;-) A bit early but any info would be appreciated! Has anyone had one in Canada?

[Sweetessa]

I am going to Dr. Michel Gagner in Montreal for the sleeve in Mid-July.

[Pinkyjay]

I am trying to book with Dr. Gagner now, Sweetessa how long did you have to wait for your appointment? How long did it take for them to respond to you?

[Sweetessa]

Hi! I am in fort mac too! Email Dr Gagner at gagner.michel@gmail.com he replies quickly! His next surgery date is in August, I am booked for July 22nd. It would be great to have a sleeve buddy lol... How did you hear abouy him? I was sent to him by a local Dr.

[Jennyk88]

I know this thread is a bit older but I need to set the record straight a bit. Yes the VSG is covered here, fully if you are Canadian. I have no idea what it would cost a US citizen...but I do know all healthcare is cheaper here for US citizens then it is in the US (having lived in both countries)..so it might be something actually worth looking into. A US reporter got sick while in Canada on vacation and had to go to the hospital. He was admitted and had numerous tests done etc. He was super concerned about his bill... and when it finally came it was under $800!! That would NEVER happen in the States! He was so impressed and shocked he wrote a newspaper article about it. I wish I could remember his name and give you the link to the article, but this showed me that even if you aren't Canadian healthcare is still much much cheaper here!

I'm getting my surgery for free. I have spent the last year taking nutrition classes, meeting with registered dieticians and taking cognitive beahavioural therapy classes to deal with emotional eating. It's been a year yes, but an incredible one! I'm having my surgery in 6 days, 1 day short of starting the program. Not everyone in the program gets approved for surgery in the first year, but the more committed you are, or the more co-morbidities you have the greater the chance you will get approved quickly (it's an investment for the gov't to pay for vsg to prevent health care as you get older and have more complications to deal with as a result of the excess weight). Here in Alberta they do VSG, Bypass and the band. They go for the VSG or the band first and then move on to the bypass if needed due to higher rates of complications. My surgeon first recommended the band for me but I did the research and wanted VSG instead. I told him why I wanted it and he agreed and said it was fine for me to have VSG instead.

I for one am so grateful I've had an entire program to go through. I've learned how to control my emotional eating, change my lifestyle and I now truly view food as fuel....not just enjoyment. And once I got the call for my surgery date I just had to wait 32 days for my actual surgery!