Should I go to Mexico?

jog312 · February 2, 2008

I'm considering the lap band surgery, but it won't be easy to get my insurance plan to cover it. I'll have to do the 6-month medically supervised diet, and hope that BCBS of IL will approve me after the diet. However, I have a $5,000 insurance deductible, and the cost of the diet (plus all the pre-op tests) will not be covered. So this is likely to cost me close to $10,000 WITH insurance coverage!!! Part of me says to skip the 6-month diet, and just have the lap band performed in Mexico, where I could get it done for about $7,500. But I'm afraid - what if there's a complication and I'm in a foreign country? Or what if a complication develops later, after I return to the US?

If I do go to Mexico, I'm inclined to go to Monterrey, just because it's closer to the Midwest (where I live), as opposed to Tijuana. Anyone have experience with Monterrey doctors? Should I go to Monterrey? Or should I play it safe and do the 6-month diet, and hope that my insurance approves it?

kbinaz · February 2, 2008

Going to Mexico is fine, but you really need to count the costs.

My surgery -- self pay in the US- came to a little over $15,000. With that I get free fills for a year, free support from nutritionists and the knowledge that the person who did my surgery is less than 1/2 hour away in case of an emergency.

Most doctors in the US are leery of seeing patients who were banded by other doctors for obvious reasons.

Who will do your fills? How much will they cost? I have already had four and need more, if I were paying for them it would be really adding up. Stay on this forum and read, read,read and get yourself really educated and do your research. And mostly research how you are going to take care of fills. I don't think there is much to worry about medically with having surgery in Mexico, they are competent but I always wonder if it really saves that much money.

kbinaz · February 2, 2008

Oh, and when I say $15,000 I mean that is everything - none of my pre-op testing was covered by my insurance so my total is all that - the surgery was $11,500.

jog312 · February 2, 2008

Kbinaz:

Thanks - you've given me some good advice to think about.

--JOG312

Sunwyse · February 3, 2008

I have to agree, think very carefully. Getting surgery in Mexico is fine, but I'd keep that for things like cosmetic surgery or once off things. Lapbands require you to repeatedly go to the Dr for the fills and various check ups. Can you afford to be going to Mexico each month for years, possibly life, to have the check ups? When you weigh it all up, paying for it out of your own pocket in your own country, will cost you a lot less in the long run than going elsewhere.

kirajh · February 3, 2008

You don't have to go back to Mexico for fills if you don't want to. Unless you are close and then it is worth it because Mexican doctors offer free fills for life. But it might be cheaper to find a local doctor to do the fills. I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz and i get my fills locally. I am doing great....no problems. If you want to go to mexico, go for it. I did and I don't regret it.

MissTlynn · February 3, 2008

i had my surgery done in juarez mexico by dr. rodriguez and all my expenses were a total of $8000 because of the band i chose and they also do free fills but i will be going to a doctor closer to me for them so i dont have to fly anywhere! i have found a few doctors within a 2 hour distance from me that take mexico patients..however i do have to pay another $900 for one of the dr.s for 2 combined appointments and then $187 a fill after that or i can go with weightwise for another $2000 for the first year and then $100 a fill from then on....it does add up but it all depends on where you really want to go to have your fills! if you dont want to pay anymore out of pocket cost then you can always go back to mexico for your fills but unless you live really close to the doctor you had you surgery with then you have to include plane tickets or gas money while going back to mexico!

Angie4b1g · February 3, 2008

Where in the Midwest are you? I'm getting mine done in Cincinnati and it's $12500. Cheaper than Mexico if you add in all the airfare and such!

kirajh · February 4, 2008

$12500.00????? Cheaper than Mexico??? I don't think so. I'm from Michigan.........paid $8500. for surgery......$800.00 airfare for my son and me.........$89.00 for an extra night at the hotel........Total $9400.00.

jenncore · February 4, 2008

I had my surgery here so I don't know if I'm going to be a big help. If I was in your position I would do a ton of research and then weigh the pro's and con's. This is a decision that only you can make. You might want to check into where you can have fills done locally if you have surgery in Mexico. Do all of your research first and then make your decision. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best!

Jenn

chiquis1 · February 4, 2008

:ohmy:hi everyone i wish i had had mine in mexico its so much cheaper, some doctors are now charging as low 5500 dollars for the surgery. i paid 13500 with 1yr free fills wich i have had only 3 in 1yr. i would go for mexico if i could do it all over. do your research on the doctor and you should be ok with mexico.

mgordon1 · February 4, 2008

I thought about doing my surgery in Mexico, however, I did not because of the follow-up and aftercare that are required with the band. In my area, I could not find a doctor that was willing to do the fills if they had not done the surgery. Also, my other concern was if there were problems with the band, who would I go to immediately. I posed this question to the doctors in my area and the answer was either no or it was going to be very expensive. This may not be true in everyones case, but this is what is available in my area.

While it may be cheaper upfront, the after care and the maintenance made the decision for me. But like the others on this post, do your research and do what is best for you.

jog312 · February 7, 2008

I'm located in Chicago. Self-pay doctors here start at $16,500 and up. If I lived within a couple of hours of Cincinatti, I would definitely go there - $12,500 is cheap. Unfortunately, Cincinatti is about a 7 hour car ride - too far for me. Anyone know of a self-pay doctor closer to Chicago who is cheaper than $16,500?