so, how do I pay for this?

So, I've been thinking about the Lap Band thing, but how do I pay for it? there are a couple of options

1) take out private hospital cover, wait for 12 months (the waiting period) then get the surgery done with anywhere between $1000 - $10000 out of pocket expenses, thats after making health fund contributions for 12 months.

2) do it now, get a personal loan to pay for it - between 10-20K from the research I've done, depending on some variables like private/public hospital

2) do it now, apply for an early release of my Superannuation Funds to pay for it, again, it'll cost between 10-20K this way.

After much deliberating, I'm going to self fund through Super. The money will be no good to me at retirement age if my health starts to go to shit because of the obesity (make that morbid obesity, cause thats what it is), so with all due respect to the 'don't touch your super' people out there, I'm doing it. On the flip side, I will start salary sacrificing extra money into my Super after the surgery and think that I can replace the amount I take out within 3-4 years.

If I find a surgeon who can 'do me' as an intermediate patient in a public hospital, then I rekon I can swing the whole thing for 10K. thats a bargain I rekon.

I will take out hospital cover once I commit to a surgery date, it won't help me out now, but statistically around 10% of people who have Lap Bands need to have them surgically adjusted at some point for a few different reasons, so I'll cover myself financially against that possibility so I dont need to dip into my super again.