Travelmego

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Dr. Elias Ortiz -

Reserving spot Dr. Ariel Ortiz - revision from lap band to sleeve

Reserving spot Dr. Ponce de Leon

Reserving spot Dr. Alvarez

Reserving spot Dr. Aceves

Reserving spot Dr. Alejandro Lopez

Reserving spot Dr. Illan

Dr. Quinones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLY6SHmMgyI

Dr. Fernando Garcia - talked to alma and asked if I could pay extra for glue and mesh and she said no problem if I want. I still have an issue with the lady naked on the table but I am sure we can ask them to please NOT do that.

Dr. Jose Rodriguez

Dr. Pompa (6,500, Center of Excellence, Tijuana Mexico)

The first one I am putting is one from San Francisco, so people can compare it to USA surgeries. Interestingly, in this one the surgeon just does a suture 'oversew' line at the junctures or leak spots rather than a complete line from top to bottom. Many of the Mexican ones do the full line. The USA one does, however, add the glue and the mesh, which I haven't seen on any Mexican surgery videos. I wonder if we can pay extra to have the glue and mesh in addition to the full line of sutures from top to bottom.

I am making a thread to consolidate my research. I have posts all over and a lot of private messages with good tidbits to consider. First, here is a chart to be filled in as I gather information. This document is just being put together so it is a VERY rough draft and is not organized yet. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jd4oi1BFANNxuZ28L5w-D79fg2Pm6WWeG7pfQVDfW3U/edit?usp=sharing Things to look for in surgeon - Professional experience (education, number of sleeves,reputation, other qualifications like trauma surgeon, privileges at quality hospitals, FACS, Proctor, Center of Excellence etc) - Quality (reviews, leak rate, complication rate, infection rate) - Safety (mask covers nose and mouth, hospital is full service with icu/er and bloodbank, doctor on premises 24/7) - Procedure (32 bougie, 3 lines of staples, sutures top to bottom (oversewing the staple line), glue and mesh), covering of body at all times) - Instruments (recognized quality instruments) - Package - price, number of nights in hospital, number of nights in hotel (what's the dif btwn hotel and recovery center?). - Service - good customer service before and after, no coordinator wars, videos and records available on release)

Ok, great thank you. I am a little hesitant to look at 'ratings' pages because it is so easy to just create one - anyone can do it - including coordinators who want to promote their own guy. HOWEVER...I do find them very useful to figure out surgeons names to research. They are also useful in anything that we can verify independently. I was just looking at this page: http://www.mexicobariatricsurgerycenters.com/ which lists hospital certifications (or lack of). That should be pretty easy to verify. Please continue to give me links or any info you find.

I did inquire with his practice. I just found the email - it is 8,500. Too much for me.

I don't have either but I will get them.

reserving this spot for later information summary feel free to post below!

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Do you have a link to the surgery video? How much did they cost? I found the video of him doing surgery and u are right - everyone has their nose covered. I saw one girl sitting far in the back uncovered her nose for just a second and then covered it again - so I would give them a 99 percent on covering. Much better than anyone else so far. I feel kind of weird being so focused on this aspect and that maybe I am over reacting....... but how else are we supposed to judge sanitation other than with the videos they put up? Risk of infection is so great everywhere we have to try to find the safest place we can go right? Look here from the CDC website discussing MRSA: "Studies show that about one in three people carry staph in their nose, usually without any illness...." http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/community/ And here is another good article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10634.php

I will probably take my mother with me. What kind of activities are there for her to do other than staying by my side? I want her to have some fun and a mini vacation. I heard Tijuana is somewhat dangerous so where can she go? Are there any tours she can take? Go to the beach? What did your companions do while there?

Ok thank you Janey. I am also considering Dr. Illan but it is hard to find info on him. Do you know if he has a surgery video up any where?

I have seen several posts about being sure to tip various people who provide services. So I would like to know how much is an appropriate tip for various scenarios. I know someone will say whatever you feel like giving but I would rather more concrete numerical examples. How much for: nurses in hospital (is this really necessary? and which ones should you tip? all of them? every time they bring you food or when you leave?) driver to and from airport? driver from hotel to hospital or vice versa? hotel room service? luggage handler? anyone I forgot or don't know about?