Surgery in Mexico

[ywilson 0]

Hello. I'm fighting a lone battle here. Up above in my other post is the story of how I paid close to $20,000 USD for a band in Monterrey, Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. Thats the band, several trips to Monterrey etc. I was debanded after a year from what was a clear case of faulty installation.

Talk to the people who do fills here in the USA. They'll tell you that it's crazy to go for serious surgery in a place where you can't drink the Water. I have no legal recourse. My money is gone and the only thing I gained is more weight. Which I'm still gaining.

I'm reading these replys and I'm convinced that the majority of the replys are cayotes. The people who are paid a percentage for each customer they get. All the Mexican doctors have them. What possible reason would I have to lie to you. I'm passoniate about the bad decision I made. I'd give anything to back up the clock and get a good doctor here.

Talk to some fill centers. Fill center USA. Or any of them. They'll tell you.

Good Luck

Fill Centers USA was created in part by Dr. Ortiz...a mexican doctor...so I doubt that they told you not to go to Mexico for surgery]

[BigBoned 0]

Big Boned, I was banded on March 25th by Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about him and his staff. My total cost for the surgery was $7500. Of course, that does not include airfare, but you can take a friend with you for no extra cost. Nice hotel room and the hospital was small but nice. Has computers in the room, internet, and a telephone, where you can call back to the states for NO cost. The doctor checked on me 3 times the day of the surgery, was very very personable, just everything I could have asked for or expected. Cosmos, you might as well put me on ignore because I will not write anything you want to read. I am not a coyote, I don't work for any medical facility, I am not getting any kind of compensation for my compliments to these people. I was treated with total respect in every aspect and would do it again in a heartbeat, but it won't be necessary, because they did an absolutely perfect job. I feel you could very well be a "fake", saying bad things about Mexican doctors to sway people's opinion that might be considering going to Mexico. I think you are a total ass and a liar, and had to laugh at your pointing out others' misspellings-take a look back at your posts and see if you can find the typos and the punctuation errors and then make fun of someone else.

Thanks for the feedback mmh498. Dr. Ortiz was 1 of the 2 doctors I've narrowed my search to. Since their prices and reputations are both on par, I only chose to go to Mexicali because: 1. I've never been there; 2. They'll send a car to pick me up in San Diego so I won't even have to drive my own car.

I'm looking forward to seeing another part of Mexico that's so close to home. Plus, it will be a nice motorcycle ride through the back-roads and canyons of San Diego to get my fills when the time comes...:crying:

[isabelle290 0]

I agree 100 % about Cosmos. I used Fill Centers at first and most of their patients are from Mexico. Dr. Ortiz did start the group. You can read about it on the website. In fact, that is why Fill Centers are spreading around the country- from Mexican patients. They didn't say one bad thing to me about going to Mexico at all. Not on the phone or at the doctors office. What a LIE! I don't know what his personal agenda is against Mexico. You would think he would have better things to do with his Harvard degree and all.

[hali 0]

I would like to thank you for your comments. I am a little scared because I am going to Mexico from Canada. There is always a chance that the surgery doesn't work :rolleyes2: however, in Canada 20,000 is close to the going rate and getting insurance to pay is not easy or doable. My date is July 22, 2008. :rolleyes2: I hope I don't have problems, but the thing about life you can't avoid them. The problem today is: I NEED TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT. I want to be healthy again, this may be a chance at that goal.

[Fanoftheband 0]

Hi All,

I too was a self pay patient and had my surgery in Mexico in 1995. At that time, I could not afford the cost for Lap Band in the US. I have to say that I had a great experience with my surgeon, his staff and my entire stay in Mexico. If I had to offer one subject of negativety, it would be availability for aftercare/fills. When I add up all the money I've spent traveling for fills, I could have had surgery here in the US and it would have been A LOT cheaper in the end.

Also, there are a lot of very good and expereinced US surgeons offering Lap Band surgery at competative prices to the cost of surgery in Mexico. You just have to take the time to do some research and do the math.

Aftercare and fills are SOOOOOOO important, so make that a priority when making a decision about traveling abroad for your surgery. Some US providers charge outrageous prices for fills and patients realize too late that they cannot affort those prices, thus they cannot utilize their bands as intended. However, there are US providers that are somewhat reasonable in their pricing for fills. My best advice is to have your fill provider lined up before you go for surgery out of the country. Another good option is www.fillcentersusa.com They can help you locate a surgeon abroad or in the US and also assist with making sure your aftercare is in place for you. GREAT COMPANY!!!!!

Best of luck to you!

[Fanoftheband 0]

Hi All,

I too was a self pay patient and had my surgery in Mexico in 1995. At that time, I could not afford the cost for Lap Band in the US. I have to say that I had a great experience with my surgeon, his staff and my entire stay in Mexico. If I had to offer one subject of negativety, it would be availability for aftercare/fills. When I add up all the money I've spent traveling for fills, I could have had surgery here in the US and it would have been A LOT cheaper in the end.

Also, there are a lot of very good and expereinced US surgeons offering Lap Band surgery at competative prices to the cost of surgery in Mexico. You just have to take the time to do some research and do the math.

Aftercare and fills are SOOOOOOO important, so make that a priority when making a decision about traveling abroad for your surgery. Some US providers charge outrageous prices for fills and patients realize too late that they cannot affort those prices, thus they cannot utilize their bands as intended. However, there are US providers that are somewhat reasonable in their pricing for fills. My best advice is to have your fill provider lined up before you go for surgery out of the country. Another good option is www.fillcentersusa.com They can help you locate a surgeon abroad or in the US and also assist with making sure your aftercare is in place for you. GREAT COMPANY!!!!!

Best of luck to you!

[jeannie315 0]

I will have my surgery in Tijuana with Dr.Ortiz I had only had contact with a patient coordinator . I would like to have more info.

[wasfatnowbanded 0]

I will have my surgery in Tijuana with Dr.Ortiz I had only had contact with a patient coordinator . I would like to have more info.

Ortiz is a surgery mill! You will be lucky to get 30 minutes of his time. Most of your care will be with other surgeons. He recently had another turn over of surgeons so who knows who you will get. He is quite charming and smooth. Be careful! JMHO

[grammylew 0]

Huh, I had a wonderful experience and so did 2 of my personal friends. I had MORE personal time/contact with him than my husband has had or will have with the local surgeon who will do his surgery. What PERSONAL experience do YOU have with Dr. Ortiz and/or his clinic?

[cosmos110 0]

Hello. I'm fighting a lone battle here. Up above in my other post is the story of how I paid close to $20,000 USD for a band in Monterrey, Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. Thats the band, several trips to Monterrey etc. I was debanded after a year from what was a clear case of faulty installation.

Talk to the people who do fills here in the USA. They'll tell you that it's crazy to go for serious surgery in a place where you can't drink the Water. I have no legal recourse. My money is gone and the only thing I gained is more weight. Which I'm still gaining.

I'm reading these reply's and I'm convinced that the majority of the replys are coyotes. The people who are paid a percentage for each customer they get. All the Mexican doctors have them. What possible reason would I have to lie to you. I'm passionate about the bad decision I made. I'd give anything to back up the clock and get a good doctor here.

Talk to some fill centers. Fill center USA. Or any of them. They'll tell you.

Good Luck

Fill Centers USA was created in part by Dr. Ortiz...a mexican doctor...so I doubt that they told you not to go to Mexico for surgery]

Fill Centers USA did my fills, it's just that on a personal level when I started having complications they were as blunt as everybody else, "GO BACK TO MEXICO".

This is something everyone should know if you are considering surgery in Mexico.

You will be treated like a leper here in the USA.

[Kat817 19]

I can only speak of my own personal experience, and I have not found that to be true. I have had excellent follow up care, and attention from many physicians on other issues, and have never been treated poorly for my decision to be banded in Mexico.

Without exception all of the Dr.'s I have seen since being banded have simply been glad I found a way to control the weight, the blood pressure, the blood sugar, the cholesterol, the joint pain....

In fact my PCP is interested in sending his wife to my surgeon in Mexico.

Kat

[mygirlayanna 0]

Just returned from Mexicali being banded by Dr. Aceves. Can't say anything but positive things about the whole experience. Being a nurse for over twenty years I know good care. The care received pre and post-operatively was superb. The hospital was immaculate, cleaner than any hospital I have ever worked in here in the states. Dr. Aceves is personable (no God syndrome) and his staff is quite knowlegeable. My only grief was the plane ride home. Sitting in the center seat for four hours was hell!! Any questions please email.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Ortiz is a surgery mill! You will be lucky to get 30 minutes of his time. Most of your care will be with other surgeons. He recently had another turn over of surgeons so who knows who you will get. He is quite charming and smooth. Be careful! JMHO

Martinez isn't there anymore???

People really like him a great deal, I know of one person that specifically asked for Martinez to do her entire surgery.

[km0825 0]

Hi - I am thinking of having tghe gastric sleeve with Dr. Aceves in August. I started the process by contacting Nina. How was your experience with Dr. Aceves? I am from Toronto, Canada and I have so many fears (?) with the thought of flying to Mexico for this. Any input would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[mygirlayanna 0]

I really had my doubts as well but I can hosnestly say Dr. Aceves and his staff and the Hospital were awesome. I could not have been more pleased with the whole experience from beginning to end. Mexicali is a border town and initially on arrival I was a little skeptical but once I entered the hospital I was at ease. It is small but far nicer than most of the hospitals in the states and cleaner than any I have ever worked in. Trust me as a nurse of twenty four years I've seen plenty. I've also done travel nursing so I seen my share including those inside and outside of Georgia. As a patient you are treated as a guest and not a number. They go far beyond your expectations. As for me I'm 5 days post-op and down 8 lbs!!!!! Don't even miss food right now. Just a little gassy but that will pass. I'm sick and tired of Gas-x. There was a lady there when I was there from Toronto that had the sleeve but I didn't get her email address. Maybe she's around and will give some input as well.