My Experience of BariatricPal Team MX

[737captain 54]

I'm on the aircraft on my way home from San Diego and want to write of my experience in Tijuana with BariatricPal, Team MX, Florence Hospital and Dr Illan.

My wife and I did a great deal of research in deciding,

A) If I wanted to undergo the procedure and

who we wanted to perform the surgery.

After a year or so of investigations we decided on BariatricPal, (BP). One of the deciding factors was whenever we called the phone was answered immediately and by a real person who was well versed and knowledgable in the process and the procedure, Bill Yanez. Having made the decision we wanted to get it done smoothly and quickly, Bill worked with us to get the dates we wanted with a surgeon of our choice. He responded to emails with the same efficient turnaround as he did our phone calls.

Fast forward to our arrival in San Diego. We were waiting for our bags to arrive on the luggage carousel and I got a text message, it was Stacie, Bills wife telling us she was in the cell phone lot and when we were curbside to txt her with the zone number and she would be there. Within three minutes of our text we were in the car on the way to the border. Thirty minutes later we were checking in at the Holiday Inn, a copy of any H.I. Stateside. We spent the day there, unfortunately the weather was poor with heavy rain so we didn't venture outside the hotel. That evening Bill and Stacie invited us to join them and the other couple who had arrived that day to join them for dinner at a local restaurant. (broth for the patients, delicious Mexican food for the spouses). Over dinner they addressed all of our questions and concerns. I'm sure Stacie won't mind me saying that she is a former patient and made us feel very comfortable telling us her story.

florence Hospital:

This is a small facility downtown Tijuana and frankly when I first saw it I was asking myself if I had made a mistake. Once inside and in my room all doubt were removed, it is a very clean well managed facility complete with all the facilities of any hospital you would find in the United States including an ICU. It turns out much of the "chaos" outside was due to the fact the hospital is completing construction and commissioning a state of the art "living transplant OR", that they claim will be the finest, most advanced in Mexico. One thing it does not have is any food facility at all, everything has to come from the myriad of restaurants nearby. That's what the valet does.

The admission procedure was simple, straightforward and fast. Their staff spoke good English and explained every detail of the procedure and what to expect. My only concern was the signing of the required disclaimers which are in Spanish only. Bill Yanez and Stacie were there through the process and introduced us to the valet who would be there for us, especially my wife during our two day stay. We had 24 hour valet available throughout our entire stay. Later Dr. Illan stopped by to introduce himself and address any questions, he speaks perfect English and has excellent bedside manner. More on Dr Illan later.

The rest of the morning was spent doing X-rays and lab work pre op. One of the resident Drs visited with us and reviewed all the results. Then it was off to OR. The rest of that day was a bit of a blur for me, my surgery was very straightforward apparently and took only about 30 mins although afterwards all I wanted to do was sleep. My wife was getting visits from the valet at regular intervals to make sure she had everything she needed. Dr Illan stopped by to see us post op, I think to reassure her as anything else.

I woke the next morning feeling fine. I had no discomfort at all, in fact I still have none. I spent the day walking the hallway and exchanging stories with the other patients. The Dr stopped by to check on me after his surgery schedule. Of course the valet was in and out checking on us to see if there was anything we needed, or if my wife wanted to go off campus for food.

The Recovery House:

Post surgery we elected to go to the recover house rather than the hotel and frankly I'm glad we did. The facility is a series of two bedroom apartments that surround a courtyard. BariatricPal lease all but two, one of which is a small clothing boutique the other is leased to a musician who apparently is never there, he certainly wasn't there during our stay. David Lopez co-owner of BP was there however and welcomed us. David grew up in that part of Tijuana and still has a house there, he is passionate about his company and strives to make these facilities a home away from home. The rooms are completely renovated with new decor, new furniture, high speed wifi, cable tv with umpteen English channels and all access is controlled by CCTV. David met with us not just that evening but the next too, he wanted to know everything we thought of our experience good or bad either with the hospital or the recovery facility or the staff and listened to everything we offered as potential improvement or changes. While in the Facility we had a full time valet at our disposal.

Kitchen equipment was sparse as was cutlery, plates etc. you really don't need it, the patients can't eat and supporters can eat out or use the valet service. Indeed on our arrival one of the BP staff took us all to the local very modern mall and specifically to a restaurant I believe was called Habana? Excellent and inexpensive by U S standards. Patients sipped seafood broth while spouses enjoyed real food, and imbibed in beer and margaritas.

Clearly published in each room is a comprehensive phone list of all associates including the surgical staff. Also each unit has not only a Mexican phone for your use but also a US phone for free use for your incoming and outgoing calls.

Dr Illan an the Medical Staff:

In a word "exceptional". Dr. Illan is the consummate professional, he has excellent bedside manner and speaks to you in eloquent English and takes whatever time necessary to explain not only the procedure but expectations going forward. He came to the recovery house during our first evening and we all met in one of the condos. He must have stayed there 2 hours chatting to us and left only because he had to pick up his kids. The nursing staff spoke enough English to get by and were also very attentive. The Nutritionist is new to the team and well qualified, she too joined us one evening at the recovery house explaining the vagaries of post op diets. Incidentally I think I am correct in saying that BP offer their nutritionist free going forward.

The final afternoon of our stay Bill and Stacie invited both couples to go with them south down the coast where we ate seafood broth and lemonade or gigantic lobster, beer and margaritas depending on your status!!!! I don't think this happens all the time but we enjoyed it.

The Not So Good:

Not too much to say here, any minor issues were dealt with on the spot.

Both myself and the other patient who had surgery that day agreed that the Florence Hospital Imaging department is in bad need of a makeover. The equipment is modern and functional but the premises is out of the Second World War era. David Lopez told us it was the next to be addressed at the hospital but Monday he will take it up with the hospital owner and either expedite the rehab and/or use an alternative facility in the meantime. The Radiologist did not have a good command of he language but got his message across, the other patient that went through with me had issues with him that David is taking up with the hospital owner also.

We casually mentioned that when we were discharged we were both given small hospital bills to settle. Mine was $5 the other closer to $40. David was furious, promised he would fully refund us and moreover take it up with the hospital, that is not supposed to happen.

All of us were confused about what we could and couldn't do in respect of diet. We were told different things by different people which caused substantial conflict of ideas. This needs to be addressed and after our meetings I believe it will be.

In General:

Medical Tourism is big business and BariatricPal Team MX is bound and determined to be the best at it and from what I can see are there or very close to it.

If you think going to Mexico will be nice and warm, wrong. Take a sweater or fleece.

A visit to the pharmacy will provide a source of inexpensive drugs by US standards.

My wife and I both have Global Entry cards which really helps expedite the way through the Mexican / US border. From leaving the Recovery Facility to arrival at San Diego airport took us less than an hour on Saturday late morning.

The acid test:

Would I recommend them? From my experience to date the answer would be an unequivocal yes.

[MS Sherry 37]

What an awesome review! Thanks for posting your honest perspective! 29 more days and I'll be there! WooT!!

[kf4zra 38]

Wow, buddy, what a write up!

That puts my mind at total ease.

I cross the border tomorrow for my procedure, and hope that I experience the same thing.

We will definitely need to meet up in FL when I return

John

[kf4zra 38]

Actually, this will put my wife's mind at ease moreso than myself.

[737captain 54]

Guys, I would recommend that you shave your belly before surgery.

Since surgery I have been cold. I think I read about this before too, I'm normally the one that turns up the ac but not now.

[Guest robmezquita]

Thank you Tony for such a detailed review.

We appreciate your kind words.

Good luck on your journey.

[DebSmiles 62]

@@737captain Thanks for the thorough review. I am in the midst of researching doctors and facilities. I really needed the information you gave on your experience.

[Ready2enjoylife 20]

Awesome great review !!! I'm also scheduled to get mine on August 18 will be calling bill today to confirm my dates and deposit .

[ChiakiAngel 8]

And they now do their surgeries at their very own hospital! I'll be checking it out in November!

[Angie's_Ocean 213]

I'm getting mine done at the new hospital too. I can't find it on the BariatricPal website though. ChiakiAngel do you know where it is?

[ChiakiAngel 8]

1 hour ago, Angie's_Ocean said:

I'm getting mine done at the new hospital too. I can't find it on the BariatricPal website though. ChiakiAngel do you know where it is?

HI Angie, no, sorry, I have no idea where the new hospital is. I know it is still in Tijuana, but that's about it. I'm just thankful the shuttle drivers will be taking care of that.

I let them know they should update their site and FAQ to reflect all the new information.

Edited September 10, 2017 by ChiakiAngel
Add information.

[Angie's_Ocean 213]

Thanks Bill!