Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

Going August , still searching for flights

Hi I am considering having sleeve surgery with Dr. Altamirano has anyone had a gastric sleeve with Dr Altamirano and can share their experience. Thanks Alison

Was hoping to see the dr. Before I leave Mexico in the morning, but doesn't look like that is going to happen. I am 4 days post op and am having loose almost black bowel movements several times a day the last couple of days. No stomach cramping. Had the barium test, it showed no leaks. Anyone think there is reason to worry?

I would love to hear the name of your doctor and what made you decide?

I am scheduled for bypass with Dr. Ortiz through A Lighter Me on 08/03/15 at Mi Doctor Hospital. Is anyone else traveling there at this time? Also any feedback on Dr. Ortiz or Mi Doctor would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone traveling to Tijuana Mexico alone? Anyone need a support person? I am traveling alone......would love to connect with others we can be each other's support. planning May /June

Today is my third day in Mexico with the Bariatric Pal team company. I had my surgery Thrusday afternoon and now I am enjoying my recovery in their beautiful recovery house II. Dr. Altamirano and David are amazing. I chose to have my surgery with Dr. Altamirano based on his knowledge and true personal caring about his patients. They have made the process very easy, I will reccommend them to everyone I know. I thought coming to another country to have a medical procedure would be scary but it is not. My surgery broke all their protocols that they have in place as I have many allergies but I never was at risk, not once. I felt totally safe and secure and they always make yo…

Please tell me about doctors and their locations

My surgery is scheduled for next week. However, I hadn't realized that I haven't been on a plane in over 5-6 years and I don't know what the protocol is for overweight people. I currently weigh 238 and I'm 5'2. Those of you that had surgery in Mexico, did you need to purchase 2 seats? Thank you.

I don't know if it's just me being nervous, but I've been working with bariatricpals through email to get my surgery scheduled. I know they are probably busy, but I feel the slow response is making me nervous. I know I have nothing to worry about I'm sure. Anyone else experience slow communication when trying to get things set up?

For those who have had surgery in Mexico, how have you handled care once you're home? Anyone have any problems in this area? Thanks in advance for any information!!

I am one week postop. I was sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on Monday, June 15. I went through bariatric pal and my surgeon was dr. Jesus Lopez Dominquez. I want to add that though I was confident in my decision to go to Mexico I will admit that I was skeptical the entire time. When I set foot in the airport at San Diego to go home I knew that I had not been mislead in any way. My husband and I arrived in San Diego airport on Sunday, June 14. We had about a 10 minute wait before we were picked up. The young man who picked us up lived in San Diego and spoke english and was a very polite and friendly young man. He drove us the 20-30 minutes to the recovery house. We drove…

Anyone going to Mexico in June, 2015? I will be flying in on June 14th, surgery on June 15th with Dr. Fernando Garcia. Anyone else going to be in TJ in June? Who is your surgeon? When will you be there?

Who has had the sleeve done in Mexico? I have a family member who wants to have it done and is a self pay and I heard Mexico do it cheaper thank the U.S.

ETA When looking for a surgeon in Mexico what questions did you ask ? I just want to make sure I am not missing anything ?

Hi guys: i want to go to Mexico and get my gastric sleeve. i am researching several doctors. Dr Kelly and Dr Rodriguez being two of them. Even though I speak Spanish I don't particularly want to go alone. Is there anyone that is 30-45 days out from getting their surgery that would like to go at the same time I do? Maybe we'll get a discount for going together? Plus I can translate for you.

The day before the day is finally here. I'm sitting at DFW waiting to board my flight. My mom is flying from Seattle and will meet me at the SD airport. I lost 11 lbs the first week of my liquid diet, but only one pound on the last week. I'm so excited, but soooo anxious. Prayers appreciated!

Hey y'all, I had my sleeve on the 5th of this month and everything was great. I lost 15lbs in the first week but now I've stepped on the scale and it says I'm up five pounds. I've been drinking the Protein shakes and having a few sips of Soup. I haven't tried to sneak any Cookies or cakes or anything but this is super disheartening. Is this a normal thing where it takes your body a little bit to get used to the fact that you only have a small portion of your stomach? My step-mom said it happened to her but it's still disappointing. My expectation are all out of whack because even if I did gain and my scale isn't wrong 10lbs is still great. Let me know if you've had a simi…

Me and my mom were sleeved on Monday here it is Wed we are doing great and begging to go home! We have to get X-ray for leak test then drains and staples out if all goes well with leak test and we can go. We have nights paid for at the Marriot but we are missing our puppies and ready to get back! Pain is minimal at this point just and a little difficult to move around! I had the worst reflux of my life last night but mylanta saved me! My mom has had no nausea no reflux very little gas pain she is doing great! We are super anxious about having these drain taken out!! I know it's going to hurt!

Ok, finally back from Tijuana, I had my sleeve and it was fabulous, this is long feel free to check out now if you prefer. I took off for TJ on Thursday, had a very pleasant and uneventful flight and as soon as I landed called the coordinator for my ride. I walked out and in less than five minutes the driver Angel pulled up with the van. He took my bags and we hopped in the medical lane and drove off towards Tijuana and the Marriott. The drive only takes about 20 minutes in good traffic and soon we were at the hotel. The Marriott is beautiful and everyone is so helpful the only downside is that they are so busy. Even with reservations I waited for an hour for my ro…

BariatricPal is pleased to announce BariatricPal Deals! This exclusive new program offers unbelievable deals for weight loss surgery with the top weight loss surgeons and best service in Tijuana, Mexico. All-inclusive packages start at only $3899! We cut out the middleman and pass the savings on to you! We guarantee our prices and are willing to beat ANY advertised prices for Dr. jaime Ponce de leon, Dr. Jesus Martin Lopez Dominguez, Dr. Juan Francisco Zavalza, Dr. Carlos Altamirano and Dr. Juan A. Lopez Corvala. financing Options are available to help patients pay for the program. All applications and questionnaires are reviewed by our Internal Medicine Doctor on staff.…

I will be getting my sleeve through Dr. Ponce on 4/1/15. Anyone else going to be there then?

Wow I can't believe that it's over. I have been planning, researching, obsessing over going to TJ for VSG for the past 6 months. I arrived in TJ on Wednesday (5/27/15) evening, sleeved on Thursday (5/28/15) morning and now I have just arrived back home. Whew!!! I feel great, no significant pain to speak of, and minus the immediate post Op phase no lingering nausea. Still a long road ahead of me but grateful to be on the sleeved side of the fence????????

Sitting in a hotel in San Diego sipping clear liquids taking laxatives and getting ready lol! So so nervous at this point I'm just ready to get the surgery part over with! Me and mom are both getting the sleeve this time tomorrow! I'm so so anxious!!

Scheduled my surgery for the end of the month. I am a single mother of 3, youngest is 16. He is going to visit his dad for a month. I am flying down on the 25th for surgery. I am not telling anyone. Hopefully I don't die in the table because no one will know where I am lol.

Is anyone else getting sleeved on 7/2? My doctor is Dr. Zavalza and I'm going through bariatricpal.

Anyone else scheduled to get sleeved for July 24th in Tijuana? I'm so nervous!!!

48 hours out and feeling fine we decided to go home instead of stay the two nights in our hotel. We woke up at 6 am had a shower our dressings changed and ivs out. We were then transported to a X-ray office where we drank barium (which can give you diarrhea by the way) while they shot the X-ray checking for leaks. Me and my mom were both leak free and then headed back to hospital to have drain and staples removed. I was so anxious about the drain and I won't lie or felt really really weird and unpleasant. It took my breath away when she pulled it out super fast. However when it was out I had zero pain at all in my tummy. What little pain I was having was from the drain …

Not hungry at all and im so surprised and grateful!!! I feel slightly weak and tired but not bad!!! My pain is minimal mostly what hurts is my reflux! Im so glad I did this even through the rough first day and night! I know it'll be worth it!

Anyone else having surgery Friday? I'm using dr Garcia.

Am scheduled July 9 with Dr. Altamirano in Tijuana. Is anyone else going in that timeframe? Mary

Im scheduled for mexico surgery on june 3. Anyone else go there for surgery?

Anyone out there have to use fmla after surgery in Mexico? Did you have your pcp in the states sign your paperwork? What did you do?

Feeling way better! Gas pain is minimal I'm just a little sore, but it's tolerable. I'm keeping down ice now and some blue liquids they gave to test for leaks. Which I was worried about since I couldn't tolerate ice last night and dry heaved my guts up! Other than the soreness I feel 100% no nausea just a little sleepy but feeling great!

I'm new here, I'm still a young lady who's been overweight since I was.. Mmm, I think 4, ALL MY LIFE, I 've been going through diets like forever, most of my friends are in shape and it feels horrible to be the OBESE one, I hate taking pictures with them, going to the beach, I hate being fat, I can't stand it any more. One really good friend of my mom, she's older than me, had the gastric sleeve surgery, I never knew till I saw her a couple of weeks ago, she looks amazing, I want to get it done too, I asked my mom to ask her about it, well, I already talked to her, she explained almost everything, she went to Mexico with Bariatric pal, well, I signed in right away, I see …

Feeling way better! Gas pain is minimal I'm just a little sore, but it's tolerable. I'm keeping down ice now and some blue liquids they gave to test for leaks. Which I was worried about since I couldn't tolerate ice last night and dry heaved my guts up! Other than the soreness I feel 100% no nausea just a little sleepy but feeling great!

Dr Garcia did mine and my moms sleeves yesterday around noon. They wheeled me into the OR after my nice dose of sedatives that eased my anxiety. I got onto the table and it was just me and the anesthesiologist. I made small talk with him about how many cases they do a day and saw the syringe in his hand and asked him if that was gonna knock me out he said yes and next thing I know my Bp cuff going off every 5 min in recovery woke me up. I had no pain at this time I was just so sleepy I couldn't hold my eyes open. I tried hard to make myself wake up so I could walk. Once in my room after a hour or so I was not dizzy and sleepy anymore so I walked and walked. My mom went f…

Reading all these posts makes me worry that I didnt get such a great deal. I used a different facilitator and my package is not like everyone elses. Hmmm I feel kinda cheated. Wish I had known about this site beforehand. Live and learn I guess ???? The most important thing is Im getting it done!

When we first got here they weighed us in the lobby area then sent us to our room. Which looks like a suit with couches flat screen etc..Had EKG, labs, IV places and are getting IV fluids. We have been napping on and off because they gave us klonipin and lorazapam by mouth when we got here! I'm very relaxed lol. My mom is going back first at noon then I will go. This entire experience so far has been like a vacation, everyone is very accommodating! The only bad thing this far I can think of is dry mouth. I woke up with dry mouth knowing I could not drink lol made it worse. My next drink of liquids will be post sleeve!! I can't wait!

I am ready today on my way to Tijuana, tomorrow getting sleeve in the name of the Lord!!!!

Crossed the border it was so easy took all of 5 min to get to the Marriot! Sam picked us up and was Very sweet and well dressed A nice guy who even brought his wife with him who was a sweet heart also! The Marriot is super nice! Everyone is so sweet! They have live music also at the little bar restaurant downstairs in the lobby! The room is nice and we just had room service delivered to us which consisted of bottle water, broth, and melon infused Popsicles! That's included with the package Ns I didn't know about it. A very pleasant surprise! Sasha called as soon as we got here and gave us instructions to shuttle to hospital at 645 in the morning to meet her at the hospit…

Hello: I am so excited for my operation! While I will be traveling with my husband and I know he will try very hard, I know he wont truly understand all of my worries, pain, and overall feeling. That is why I am sending out a "wanted" sign for a sleeve buddy traveling to Tijuana so we can support each other while we are there, pre-op, and post op. My operation is on 7/2/2015 with OCC. Look forward to talking with and possibly meeting y'all.

I am taking a leap of faith and going to Mexico for a band to sleeve revision. I have a infection in my port and slipped band. I have gained about 50 pounds back. My BMI is 36. I have been watching this forum for a while, first time to post. I would love any information about the doctors and what to bring or expect. Thanks for all your help!!

Did anyone take any vitamins preop? I purchased a bottle of preop vitamins from bariatric advantage and was thinking about taking those 30 days prior to my surgery. Just wondering if there's actually any benefit to doing this.

Just posted this question, but figured it's best here since I intend to go to mexico. Anyone smoke pre sleeve? I know it's bad and every time I try to quit I gain huge amounts of weight, which leads me back to smoking. If I quit and gain weight during preoperative diet will they deny me, or if I quit and start using patch or gum will they deny me for having nicotine in my system ?

I've read mostly positive posts about Dr. Ortiz and OCC on this and other forums. A few people don't seem to like his "celebrity" status and I did find some older complaints about their bands. Anyone out there with bad experiences or complications with their sleeves from him?

Hello everyone, I know this is a forum for weight loss, but I already hit my goal and I'm looking for plastic surgeons in Mexico, I need a full body makeover!!! HELP!!

I have an iPhone 5 through AT&T. Do I need to do anything special to ensure that I do not get charges added to my bill?

Hi everyone. I wanted to pop in here and let y'all know that I have started a YouTube channel where I will be doing videos and reviews on my surgery and experience along with results. I used LongTerm VSG and am grateful I was able to take advantage of the $2999 price. I hope these videos that I will be doing will help people should they be on the fence about LongTerm VSG. You can find my videos on my new channel.........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUbPIqxIxCA Thanks, Chrissy G.

I'm just curious to know, I keep seeing the bariatric pal specials pop up through out the forums, is this what everyone is using and paying for ? Or is it just a random ad?