cattigerlily

Dr. Sanchez did not train Dr. Ortiz. Dr. Ortiz was trained by Dr. Mitiku Belachew, the inventor of the Lapband. Kat;)

It's funny that you say this. Did you know that your doctor was trained in Tijuana by a Mexican doctor. Acutally by the same Mexican doctor that Sherri is considering. Kat :grouphug:

Look at http://www.lapbandinmexico.com/ That site has tips for picking a Mexican doctor. Also has a link to IFSO (Int'l Federation for the Surgery of Obesity). While word of mouth info is okay, you should do much deeper checking in to the background of these doctors. Kat

My guess is the reason for the doctors difference of opinion using endoscopy as a precaution is probably because of the expense. I think someone quoted $4200 for an endoscopy in the U.S.A. I paid $250 for mine in Mexico. Kat :puke:

Delara, I understand that you had a terrible band ordeal and lousy aftercare. You didn’t deserve that. I have much empathy for what you’ve gone through. However, I also think that what you’ve gone through has clouded your judgment and opinions. You make blanket statements about EVERY SINGLE Mexican surgeon. <O:p</O:p “Someone please call Dr. Ortiz back and have him quantify his post with factual data”.<O:p></O:p <O:p</O:p I think you should call Dr. Ortiz and ask him! I not trying to be a smart a**, I really think you should call him. Unlike your original surgeon Dr. Ortiz has his cell phone on 24/7. I know he’ll take your call and talk to you! The number is 619-***-****. We’ll be waiting for your post to tell us what he says. <O:p Why did you feel the need to “drag the original post through the mud”? Then this statement, “writing a book based largely on his personal opinions that are not backed by facts”. I thought the book was great. As far as the facts he states being only his opinions, I’ve copied and pasted the books list of collaborators here.. looks pretty impressive to me.. <O:p</O:p I wish to thank the following individuals and groups for their collaboration and support in writing and completing this book. With this combined wealth of knowledge, our goal of providing an up to date and complete book on the LAP-BAND has become a reality. <O:p</O:p • Mitiku Belachew, MD is not only the inventor of the LAP-BAND System, but also the first surgeon ever to place a LAP-BAND in Sept of 1993. He lives and practices surgery in Huy, Belgium. He is also my mentor and spiritual godfather. <O:p</O:p • Lee Grossbard, MD has one of the most successful LAP-BAND practices in the United States. He is considered one of the top experts and travels frequently proctoring other surgeons and as an invited speaker to LAP-BAND seminars around the US. He is also a personal friend and admirable example to follow. <O:p</O:p • Franco Favretti, MD is a pioneer in Gastric banding. He paved the way for the success of the LAP-BAND around the world. He practices at the Obesity Center of the University of Padua, Italy. <O:p</O:p • Roberto Rumbaut, MD is another famous name from Mexico. He is the leader in LAP-BANDing in Mexico and is a band patient himself. He is credited with teaching numerous surgeons worldwide the technique and has one of the busiest LAP-BAND centers in Monterrey, Mexico. <O:p</O:p • John Dixon, MD has been with the LAP-BAND since the beginning, and is the author of numerous studies on the benefits of the LAP-BAND. He is credited with scientifically proving all the major health benefits and advantages of the LAP-BAND. <O:p</O:p • Jaime Ponce, MD, also a Latin name, is a top leader in LAP-BAND surgery in the United States. He has developed a number of techniques and instruments and travels around the US proctoring other surgeons. He has a very successful practice in Dalton, Georgia. <O:p</O:p • Terry Simpson, MD, author of the book, Weight-loss Surgery, a Lighter Look at a Heavy Subject, is also a recognized weight-loss surgeon in his field. He is one of a handful of surgeons that perform the Biliopancreatic Diversion in the United States. <O:p</O:p • Arturo Martinez, MD, a Bariatric Surgeon, has designed and implemented a number of safety protocols and surgical techniques related to the LAP-BAND surgery. He practices with me at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. <O:p</O:p • Velma Moreno Bandy is president of V&V enterprises and is considered an expert in the field of reimbursement and insurance coverage on the LAP-BAND. <O:p</O:p • Bart Bandy is Junior Vice President of Inamed Health and has been with the company since the birth of the LAP-BAND. His dedication to perfection created an initial learning protocol followed around the world and has proved the major determining factor for success with the LAP-BAND around the world. His philosophy: safety and efficiency. <O:p</O:p • Vern Vincent shares the credits for helping design the LAP-BAND and implementing its use. He has traveled extensively around the world, teaching others the techniques of the LAP-BAND and still actively works on design and innovation at Inamed Health.

I’m confused. Everyone was asking for answers and when we finally got some reliable information, some people got their panties all in a bunch! Okay, maybe Dr. Pleatman’s remark was unsympathetic. But I think his point about how ridiculous some people have been to suggest that the doctor should pay all the costs if a patient has a complication is a valid one. Luckily for us self payers, the Mexican doctors only charge minimal costs for aftercare issues. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a free ride. It’s simply ridiculous to expect a doctor to give us a guarantee. I for one am appreciative that at least Dr. Ortiz shared this needed information and that Dr. Pleatman has visited and shared several times. I wonder if either of them will ever come back? :target: Kat :crazy:

I thought there were only 2, Michelle and Francesca. I don't know of any others on this board. I know that these 2 people were banded very close to the same time, but 2 doesn't make a pattern or cluster, as I've heard it referred to. I think that 2 people banded close to the same time by the same doctor both eroding is a coincidence. Also, unless the Lopez patients that eroded were banded before Lopez and Ortiz parted ways- before Feb 2003- then Ortiz didn't have a hand in banding them. Ortiz was my doc and I know he's done over 2000 surgeries. ANY doc that's done 2000 surgeries has had erosions. Erosions can come from an infection not promptly or properly treated. I guess that could be considered the fault of the patient if they didn't call their doc at the first sign of trouble. However I don't think that was the case with these 2 Ortiz ladies. The rest of the time, erosions just happen. Not the fault of the patient or the doc. If there was a problem with the surgical technique or with sterilization procedures of a certain doc, you would see a lot more than a couple of erosions here and there. I've seen it posted that Kuri and Rumbaut have not had erosions. Rumbaut has done a lot of surgeries and has had erosions. I know 4 Kuri patients that eroded that were diagnosed by another doc, and I've heard there are several others. Kat :eek: -121 lbs

DeLarla, Bandster Hopeful is yet another alias of Sandy RN. She recruits patients for Kuri. Is also promoting a new hospital offered in TJ. Make no mistake. All experienced docs have had slippages and erosions. Kuri has had his share of these and other complications. She makes lots of claims. She’s now on another board claiming that Kuri was asked to proctor by Inamed, but declined. A bunch of bull! The only ones asked to proctor and are proctors are Rumbuat, Ortiz and Lopez. This info may or may not matter to some, but the truth is the truth. Why make up a story? Sandy has been kicked off all the yahoo boards except her own. She keeps coming back under different names. Kat :rolleyes

Ortiz did not train Lopez and Lopez did not train Ortiz. Actually Ortiz, Lopez and Kuri were all trained at the same time by Dr. Mitiku Belachew (the inventor of the Lap-Band) in Belgium. Kat

Kuri is doing more bands than anyone else…right now. Means nothing. Others have held that title and it changes all the time. The most bands done in Mexico title is probably held by Rumbaut or Sanchez. Kuri has taken on other surgeons because of his current workload. You can request him for surgery, doesn’t mean you’ll get him. Verboonen was the one jailed for fraud, you are most certainly correct. The only docs you have found with no major COMPLAINTS? This statement might be perceived by some as these docs have had no major COMPLICATIONS. If you’re complaint info comes only from support group boards, that will explain it. Some boards (not this one, but especially the Yahoo boards) are owned an operated by patients and even employees of a doctor! Bad place to check for complaints. I can assure you that both have had complaints and complications. ALL of them have had complaints and complications. There is a small risk of complications with the lapband and that’s a fact. If you have access to a good PI (which it sounds like you are lucky enough to have), check out the hospital records of the 2 docs you mention with no major complaints, you’ll be shocked at what you find! Only surgeons I considered were Ortiz and Rumbaut. That’s just my opinion. Kat

FYI Things are not what they seem. Larry at INAMED and Lopez are VERY good friends! Take what Larry says with a grain of salt. If you do a little checking, you can find this out.