Dr. Joya?

[kimikat3 150]

Anyone having surgery with Dr. Joya??? I've been researching him and he has a lot of great reviews, yet, I haven't seen mention of him in these forums....

[does not matter 39]

I was wondering the same thing. I haven't seen anything really negative about him. I have researched a few Dr's in Tijuana but I'm not interested in crossing the border and I would not be able to use airmiles to fly to San Diego from Canada... so flying directly into Mexico is the option I am looking for. I found negative reviews on the Dr. in Cancun so that option is also out. I am seriously considering Dr Joya due to reviews and simplicity of the travel. I can have a friend come with me and they are able to stay at the hospital and hotel with me for no extra cost so that is also appealing as I'd be paying for her travel and food etc... basically everything for her to come with me.

So I'm hoping to see a few recent reviews from anyone that has gone to Dr. Joya? Both good, and bad.

I have also watched a few videos from people who went to Dr joya on youtube, all is well so far?

[kimikat3 150]

Okay, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in thinking that I have found some amazing-ness in Dr. Joya's reviews. I have only found one patient review that was negative, and frankly it was a default to the Lap Band product itself, not Dr. Joya's negligence.

I have been glued to researching Dr. Joya (it has become my new obsession). I too have watched the you tube videos and everyone seem to have nothing but wonderful things to say about Dr. Joya and his staff. I also love the idea of flying right in and having everything in one area. And have you seen the hotel/resort?!?!? Holy Moses!!!! Puts the Marriott to shame! I talked to his surgery schedule Gerald, and he told me that I can put my deposit down and lock in my surgery date for up to a year ahead. Which I thought was fabulous. My ideal surgery date would be next November (not because I wan to wait a year, but because I need to save some $$$ and some vacation/sick time to cover me while I'm gone). He did mention that the package price covered myself and all of my needs, the only additional costs would be the round trip airfare for myself and whoever I take with me.

[does not matter 39]

Yes, I have been in constant contact with him for the past week or so. I have firmly decided on Dr Joya myself. However here's the thing... I was on track the have the surgery in ontario canada where I live... I had to do one final test. They told me I was a perfect candidate from day 1... perfect! They pushed me through since I have zero medical issues. 8 weeks ago they decided to magically adopt a new model from Edmonton Alberta and I no longer fit the criteria! after alllll of the tests and hoops, I'm out!!! I was in tears for days.

This is when I stumbled upon the Mexico self pay option that I was unaware of. It too has consumed alllllllllll of my thoughts! 3:40am I woke up the other day thinking of it and couldn't fall back asleep. So I'm set on Dr Joya... do you think I have the balls to book it? Not quite!

If i could have the surgery over christmas break in ontario, I'd be elated! so why am i so hesitant to book with Dr Joya in August? Is it because I have to pay for it myself? is it because it's still 8 months away? I dont know what my beef is. If it wasn't that important to me and if I didn't really want it I wouldn't have been in tears when they kicked me out of the program, not just for one day but for 4 days... i couldn't keep myself together.

So what are you thinking of doing? It is 6000.00 US now if we book before the end of November. If we book in December it is 7000.00 US... he also said they just received notice this week that their medical supplies (staples etc) cost are increasing in the new year... so he can't even guarantee that it will stay at 7000.00. They website says the regular cost is 9000.00...

The other thing is... I just thought of this on my way home from work... If I do the 1000.00 deposit before the end of November, we lock in the price at 6000.00US which is perfect. However if we paid it IN FULL (line of credit for me) we'd also be able to claim it when we do our income tax in March(ish) would we not? I had cosmetic surgery after I lost 100 pounds before (I starved myself and worked out 3 hours a day.. clearly it wasn't sustainable and I gained it all back) I had a Tummy Tuck and breast augmentation... (tummy tuck was covered, i didn't have to pay) but I paid 5500 for my breast implants and I got 2000 back on my income tax 4 months later!

I like that idea since we wouldn't have to wait until april of 2014 to get some money back.... how much it will be I have no idea since I make more now than I did back then... but something else to think about for sure.

I am booking my flights using airmiles since I have a ways to go to get there so paying for flights isn't cheap. I am looking at going july 30th-Aug 6 with pre-op being on the 1st and surgery on the second.. flying home on the 6th.

Yes. I am still hesitant on booking since it's so far away? but I want to secure the 6000 price.

What are your thoughts?

[kimikat3 150]

OMGosh!!!! I love that I am not alone in this!!! First off, I'm super sorry that you have been dealing with that horrible news!!! I too would be devastated.

I personally am SET in going to Dr. Joya. I am trying to book by the end of this month and schedule for next next November. I ideally would like to use my thanksgiving holiday days off during my "recovery" period. I'm just waiting on my school loan $$$ to come in to put my deposit down. However, I'm trying to find a co-signer to sign on a personal loan for me. If that happens, then I'm going to go full charge and get it done sooner! Like ASAP! HA!

 

[does not matter 39]

I know exactly what you mean, It's hard to find a block of time that I can go. Since i want to use airmiles to keep things cheaper, I am limited to my christmas vacation, march break or my summer holidays... the first 2 are sold out for flights so I have 4 weeks off in the summer so that's where I'm left with doing it... it also gives me a month off to re-adjust etc which isn't a bad thing.

Where are you from? Too bad we couldn't go down at the same time!

[kimikat3 150]

Well trust and believe that if I can get a co-signer for a personal loan, I will be going MUCH sooner than next November! HA! I'm from Northern California (approx 1 1/2 from San Francisco).

[DDFinn 118]

$6000 is a great price for Dr Joya! When I was looking at having my surgery with him last year, he was over $8,000. Stop hesitating and just do it, you will not be sorry. Last Christmas I weighed 226 lbs and wore a 16/18. This year I am between an 8 and a 10 and weigh 159 lbs. AND, I'm still losing. I only wish I had done it sooner!!

[kimikat3 150]

Ughhhh!!! I can't wait!!!! I wish I could do it now! I live the success stories!

[does not matter 39]

$6000 is a great price for Dr Joya! When I was looking at having my surgery with him last year, he was over $8,000. Stop hesitating and just do it, you will not be sorry. Last Christmas I weighed 226 lbs and wore a 16/18. This year I am between an 8 and a 10 and weigh 159 lbs. AND, I'm still losing. I only wish I had done it sooner!!

Did you end up going with Dr Joya for your surgery? I know I want to do it... if I could do it over my christmas break I'd do it... why I'm hesitating to book in August I don't know... just seems so far away. I COULD do it sooner but now have as long of a recovery time but I would also not have someone to go with me...

I was just going to post a question regarding that... Do I really need to have someone come with me in your opinion? Could you have done it and been comfortable on your own?

[DDFinn 118]

I ended up going with Dr Kelly for $5500. I went with my sister but she was also sleeved, so we were two invalids . I wouldn't worry too much about recovery time. I was sleeved on a Friday, back home on Wed. I took the rest of that week off and went back to work on Mon, 10 days after surgery. Not everyone is as lucky but I had a very easy recovery. The same for my sister.

[kimikat3 150]

August does seem far... That something I'm struggling with too! I'm planning for next November, and I think once I put my deposit down, I will feel better because it will be set in stone and I'll have something to look forward to. If I can't get approved for personal loan, I will HAVE to wait due to finances.

It makes me sick to my stomach to think of how much money I pay for my health insurance and yet they have the right to tell me that I don't qualify for this surgery. Why in hell would try want to wait until someone is beyond obese to approve them?! I don't get it. I don't want to gain more weight.. I won't.

[does not matter 39]

I know what you mean... it's different for us in Canada but I was perfect for the surgery and they ripped that away from me. I'd still have to travel (20 hours driving or equivalent for flying) to even get the surgery here. I was comfortable doing that on my own, but it seems like everyone else would feel more comfortable if I took someone with me... but all of that adds extra costs as well since I'd have to cover everything for them to come.

[does not matter 39]

FLIGHTS BOOKED!

March 4th will be my surgery date

Just need to find to do the deposit!

[kimikat3 150]

Woo-Hoo!!!' Good for you!!! If I can get the personal loan I will shoot for the same dates! I would love to go have a buddy having surgery at the same time!!! I'm so excited for you!!!