hubarlow

There are a number of "Low End" surgeons here in the states that will perform the operation at near the cost of what Mexico's BEST surgeons will charge, but as it has been stated elsewhere, you get what you pay for. I have seen American doctors who advertise prices somewhere in the range of $12,000 US, but there are no bells and whistles. You have to pay for your own transportation and accomodations. With the Mexican doctors, usually accomodations and sometimes airfare is included in the price. With the American doctors who advertise the same price, you are lucky to get just the surgery, and a DAY in the hospital. After that, you are expected to go home (or somewhere else) after the surgery. These doctors have an "assembly line" mentality where they bring them in, cut, and send them out. You get very little in support from these doctors, or so I have heard. Once you are done, you are on your own. Now that is little different from having your surgery done outside of your geographical area, except that with the Mexican surgeons, you have better quality care when you are THERE. I hope that this answers some of your questions. Hugh

For ME, the decision to go to Mexico AND stay local was easy. My MEXICAN doctor is just a few minutes down the road, and just across the border. This is not always an OPTION for most people, however, and I can certainly understand why someone would look for a LOCAL doctor. I, too, wanted to point out that not all of the GOOD doctors reside in the US. There are PLENTY in Mexico, you just have to be careful who you see. The same can be said for AMERICAN doctors. There was nothing in my post about my doctor being better than anyone else's. I just wanted to point out that there were good doctors available OUTSIDE of the US.

WaSa: Way to go! I had MY sleeve done in Matamoros, Tamalipas, MX, and am quite satisfied with the doctor, hospital and the procedure. My wife used a CREDIT CARD to pay for my surgery, and no cash or check was involved. My experience was much like yours, with the exception that my SURGEON came and PRAYED for me after the surgery. I was OUT of it, but my wife was there, and he asked HER for permission to pray. He gathered up his STAFF, and they all prayed for my recovery while I was out due to the anesthesia. Now just have THAT done in a hospital in the US! Frankly, you would be LUCKY to even SEE your surgeon after the procedure was performed. I saw my surgeon several times a day, and his office was in the same HOSPITAL where he performed the surgeries. I suspect that when he did not have someone to visit with and talk to about Weight Loss Surgery, he was doing rounds and checking on his patients. My wife and I paid $12 K for my surgery in Mexico, and we could have found it cheaper, but we decided to have it done in Matamoros instead of going ELSEWHERE in Mexico because we live just across the river from Matamoros, and I would be able to have regular follow up care with little to no cost to ME for traveling. The only downside I can see with having surgery done in Mexico is that you cannot SUE the doctor if there is something that is done wrong. Most doctors in Mexico will GLADLY try to FIX any problems, however, since their reputation is important to them. UNLIKE in the US, you can EASILY vote with your feet when it comes to surgery in Mexico, and while the PUBLIC hospitals in Mexico are DISMALLY poor in providing service, the PRIVATE hospitals are usually GREAT! Again, you get what you pay for, and the American dollar goes FAR in Mexico at this time. The private hospitals and doctors usually give EXCELLENT care. You DO have to be careful, though because JUST LIKE in the US, there ARE charlatans who work as doctors. This is why it is very important to RESEARCH your Mexican doctor before you go to get surgery. A Mexican doctor with a GREAT reputation is a wonder to have. I strongly suggest that anyone who has to PAY out of pocket, look to Mexico for their surgery!