Follow-Up Care after surgery in Mexico

[gastricsleever 259]

When you went to Mexico for surgery, how did you organize your follow up care? I have an appointment scheduled with my PCP before I go to mexico to inform him of what I'm doing. As far as the follow up care, my local hospital has a bariatric program. Do I just get in contact with them after my surgery and tell them I would like to do my follow-up care there, such as the nutritionist appts, any testing, etc? What did you guys do?

Thanks in advance!

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

Unless its an emergency your PCP can do all your follow up care including labs. Most PCPs wont hesitate referring you to a bariatric specialist when needed

[nolagirl 36]

i already talked to my dr about it PCP and he was like Yeah as long as you don't ask me to do the surgery i'm happy to help with taking care of you afterwards LOL.

funny man.

[McButterpants 2,846]

Even though I didn't have surgery in Mexico, I didn't have it locally - so I had the same dilemma.

My PCP is not qualified to do follow up care - my PCP is great, however she's not a bariatric surgeon or nutritionist. I figured my best bet would be to go to the local bariatric surgeon's office for follow up care. I have the surgeon who can check me out post-op and a NUT at my disposal.

I assume if you're traveling for surgery your insurance won't cover anything weight loss related - your follow ups locally won't be covered by insurance either. You may get away with going to your PCP if they code the insurance as something other than weight loss. My local bariatric doc will give me a list of labs that need to be done so the PCP can order them and get them covered by insurance. Your follow ups with a local surgeon can get costly if they aren't covered by insurance (mine are $185 each visit - follow ups for me are 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and one year).

[huberm 10]

Be careful; I contacted a local bariatric department to see if they would do the aftercare and they told me they would not do it for anyone having surgery abroad. I have since heard that this is common.