Hello. I am going to Mexico tomorrow for my lap band. Research obesity control center. I live in California and grew up just miles away from the Mexico border, even went over to pay every weekend when I was 18 lol. It's a lot cheaper there and dr ortiz travels across the world teaching and learning. I was afraid because I was going to Mexico but its not deep into Mexico it's right over the border. Its $5000 for the lap band, or I.was going to go to arizona and pay a little over 10,000. I prayed about it because I didn't know if I should get it or where should I go get it and the next few days I met a girl on thinner times forum who went to dr ortiz in Mexico and had the lap band done this pass july. She had nothing but great things to say. $5000 pays for your cost of surgery and one night at the Marriott hotel. And they pick u up from the border, or air port and from hotel to the center. Check it out and read the testimonies of the people, I thought they were fake testimonies until I actually met my new friend. Good luck