TimZor

Yes, I felt the same.... didn't want to go to Mexico until I found Dr. A. Where I'm from... kinda complicated question. I live a rotation of two months in Vancouver, BC, and then four months on a cruise ship (cruise ship employee). I fly home on the 18th, spend two days at home, and then fly out to Mexico for my surgery. It's going to be crazy, but I'm so excited! Not sure if you have a WLS facebook account or not but if you don't, I highly suggest that you create one. Feel free to add me if you want. (Timzor Canada). There are a bunch of amazing people out there to meet and get info from. YouTube is also a FANTASTIC resource.

MichelleMary, when do you fly in? I have surgery on the 22nd but don't leave until the 27th and will be in the hotel on the 26th! I'll be freshly post-op at that point. I think Dr. Aceves is the best choice of surgeon in Mexico. Wishing you all the best!

Hi canam60. I have going down for surgery to mexico on Jan 22nd, and can send you my thoughts about it afterwards if you would like. My suggestion - check out youtube videos. There are MANY vloggers who share their stories, including videos of their entire Mexico experience. Good luck on your decision!

Thank you for your replies! Under1star - Wishing you all the best for your surgery on Dec 14th. Let me know how it went afterwards. Thanks Pedrosmommy - I am very excited and feel less worried the more I hear from others who have been seen by Dr.A.

There are not many private surgeons in Canada, and even fewer bariatric surgeons. I have done A TON of homework and research, and have decided to go down to Mexico for my surgery. I know what you may be thinking - "surgery in Mexico is not safe", but that just isn't true. Yes, there are a few dodgy "surgeons" in Mexico, and even some good ones that are not quite as ethical as you may hope, however if you do your research, you will find that there are some amazing surgeons in Mexico that can provide an experience that is safe and maybe even better than what you would get in some places in Canada and the USA. Some of these surgeons perform two of three surgeries a day, were trained in the USA and have been surgeons for 20+ years. The work in private first-class hospitals which are fully licensed and staffed. I highly recommend you look into this option. But, keep in mind, you NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! Do NOT select a surgeon based on price! Wishing you the all the best.

My surgery is booked! I have been scheduled for a band to sleeve revision with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali on Janary 22nd, 2014. I'm very excited and very nervous as well. If there is anyone else on this forum who is scheduled (or already post-op) with Dr. A, would love to hear about your experiences as you go through them. I have opted for an extra-long stay, so I'll be in Mexicali Jan 21 to Jan 27th, if anyone else is scheduled for that week. Can't wait! Now, time to start working on the mental part of this...

Anyone going to be going to Mexicali Bariatric with Dr. Aceves between 1/21/2014 - 1/27/2014? I'm going for a band to sleeve revision. Flying in to San Diego from Vancouver Canada on the 21st, surgery on the 22nd, three nights in the hospital, and then opting for an additional two nights at the hotel. So excited!!! :-) Tim

I know that there are a lot of posts about surgeons in Mexico, and even about Dr. Aceves, however I'm hoping to get in contact with anyone who had their surgery with Dr. Aceves of Mexicali Bariatric within the past year, and to ask what your thoughts are about the experience. I was banded back in 2009 and am going for a band to sleeve revision. I have done lots of research and believe that Dr. Aceves is the way to go for surgery in Mexico. I'm about to go ahead and book my surgery and flights, etc. But, I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has gone down their more recently to see if the standards are still the same, how they felt, etc. Also, if there is anyone who had the band-to-sleeve revision with Dr. A, would particularly love to hear from you! Very excited and nervous, but mostly excited! :-)

I was banded in October 2009 at my highest of 290 pounds. Over the course of just 6 months I made it down to 230. That's when I started having problems. For a while, I wasn't able to eat anything except for protein shakes, so made it down to about 205 - but not the healthy way. Had a complete unfill and that's when it all went down hill. I was able to eat again! So, I ATE!!!! gained 20 pounds in just two months (how embarassing). Was able to regain control a bit and basically yo-yoed the same 10-15 pounds since then, now at 235 and feeling FAT!! The band is definitely not working for me. HOWEVER.... I am also not working the bad. I have learned how to "eat around the band" - choosing foods that I know I can easily eat, adding lots of oils/greases so that it slides through, etc. If I eat the lean protein and veggies, then I get stuck, have horrible pain, and sometimes vomit. But, that's usaully becuase I am not eating them properly (not chewing to a paste). Even when I am chewing to a paste, I still feel so akward that it takes me 20 minutes to eat what other people eat in 20 seconds. I work on a ship and spend 6 months at a time eating food which is cooked for me, 3 times per day, with my colleagues. Though I know for sure that the band is not working for me, I'm worried that I will do exactly the same thing with the sleeve. Somehow figure out a way to eat around the sleeve (don't even know if that is possible). I am self pay, and am trying to decide if I should pay $5,000 to have the band removed, or just $3,000 more to have the sleeve put in at the same time. Or, just keep on suffering and getting more fat? Or, maybe I need an adjustment (both my band and my head). Or maybe just try doing an actual diet while still having the band? I feel like I'm searching desperately for a tool to help me, but that there simply isn't one that actually works. I'm thuroughly confused and simply mad at myself for failing. Help!