Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

According to KGTV & many other news sources: -- "A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Maricopa County against Dr. Mario Almanza, a doctor who performs weight loss surgeries in Tijuana. There are more than 20 people and businesses, Including WeightLossAgents named in the lawsuit. It also includes an Arizona woman believed to have been recruited for doctors in Mexico. It alleges fraud and negligent misrepresentation." I say it's about time!

Has anyone tried the plastic surgery from Mexico. I would try it tummy tighten after my weight balanced if need be. I know the saying crawl before walking.

Mexico weight loss surgery

If bariatric surgery is done in Mexico, will anyone take care of any complications in the US?

Has anyone had any experience with Dr Montano with A Slimmer Me or Dr Jalil Illan with bariatricpal Mx, Just really up in the air with which one?

Wondering which surgeons use Tri-Staples, instead of Echelon products.. Beside Dr Alvarez. Thank you!

I would love to hear from anyone who has used "Beliteweight"/Dr Rodriguez. Please and thank you

I’ve been approved for the mini bypass surgery with a doctor in Mexico. I moved mid last year to a new city so I had to find all new doctors. I have spoken with my primary care doctor and my current metabolic doctor and neither will take on my aftercare. My pcp said she is not familiar and puts me off on the metabolic doctor. The metabolic doctor doesn’t want anything to do with the mini gastric bypass for many reason beyond my understanding. For one he doesnt recommend the mini. He just simply refused and referred me back to my pcp. So, I took it upon myself to try to find someone that my insurance will pay for and no doctor will take me on. Either they say no or they wi…

I had surgery with Dr. Verboonen at Bariatric Mexico earlier this month and thought I would share some thoughts and tips about having surgery in Mexico. I haven't had any complications (knock on wood), and am doing well. While I don't regret it, if I had to do it over again I would choose a different surgeon. 1. Ask about their pain management plan. I was off pain meds by my flight home two days after surgery BUT there was terrible pain management the first 36 hours or so. I woke up in serious pain. I told them I was in pain in the recovery room, and was told it was normal. After that they started ignoring me, and the staff was eating chips in the recovery room. A…

Hello, I'm 26 years old female wanting to travel to Mexico for gastric sleeve surgery , starting weight is 207 so my goal weight is 130 to start, I'm excited but of course nervous , is it like plastic surgery do we have to make a deposit? What can expect ?? What to bring?? Is it cash payment only , any april buddy??? Going alone of course ... thank you..And good luck on your journey to a healthy and confident you.?

I start my pre-op diet tomorrow, but with the liquids mentioned below I feel like I’m going to be starving? And I don’t think I will consume enough protein to satisfy my hunger! Any suggestions? Clear liquid Decaf: tea/coffee Sugar free: juice, sports drinks & jello Broth: any flavor No dairy products or juice with pulp

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to everything and have lots of questions. My PCP recommended that I get VSG but my insurance doesn't cover anything. The cost here in Montana is $20100 plus anesthesiologist fees. I'm looking into other options before committing and I'm curious about a few things. For those who got surgery in the US - did you travel to another state for the operation? How does preop and postop work if so? Would you have rathered do it locally? Cost if you don't mind? For those who got surgery in Mexico - how does preop and postop work?

Long story, short. I have an initial consult in the US for weight loss surgery on Friday. I'm 6'2, 255-260 lbs. I don't think I'm going to qualify because I'm a little below 35% BMI and only condition is high blood pressure. If I am, insurance will pay completely. So, I've been doing research for doctors in Mexico. Approved at BariatricPal Hospital MX with Dr. Illan and Angeles Health International with Dr. Lopes Corvala. Dr. Corvala shows a price of $10,950 for the gastric Bypass travel package. No price with Dr. Illan yet. I guess my questions are what would be the right surgery for me and what kind of prices are every one seeing. I don't want to skimp on this type of l…

I was pretty much set on dr Garcia, but now after reading more on Dr Illan I am questioning going with him? Please anyone that has had either of these Drs, let me know! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Does anyone know what labs are done before surgery? My primary would like to know..thanks so much! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello, I am scheduled for surgery the first of the year , anyone else ?

Hello, I'm traveling on March 8th to Tijuana to have the gastric sleeve done by DR. Illan. I'm traveling alone so I was trying to see if there was anyone else traveling on that day as well. Thanks and good luck to everyone! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BariatricPal mobile app

Anyone traveling to Tijuana during the month of March (2018)? Would love to start an encouragement group.

Can we use sugar free Powerade or Gatorade to prevent dehydration?

It’s unlikely my insurance will pay. Given my BMI, I would need at least one co-morbidity. I (thankfully) have none, although the results of the sleep apnea test aren’t in yet (fingers crossed?). Weight has been a life long issue for me. I’ve been going to dietitians since I was in grade school. Other than my weight, I’m thankfully healthy. The way I see it, why wait until I’m not? so my question is, would you have paid out of pocket if insurance denied you (and you could scrape up the cash)? i live on the east coast, so Mexico would be too long of a haul for me. I also just feel more comfortable being close to home. Thanks.

I’m considering a sleeve revision and heard good results from a mini bypass (mgb) rather than full RNY. I’m targeting an end of Mar 2018 revision date. Help please!! I’m at 205lb, 6yrs post vertical sleeve. 1) does is help with reflux? 2) what your weight loss total so far? 3) side effects? 4) positives?

Dr. Elias Ortiz, Bariatrics Chief of Surgery Dr. Elias Ortiz hails from Baja California, Mexico, and holds more than 15 years of medical experience. With a degree in medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Baja California and experience ranging from general surgery to obesity studies, Dr. Ortiz understands bariatric procedures as well as anyone. Professional License Number: 528595 Hello All, As I’ve been spending some time back on forums choosing my surgeon for a tummy tuck, I thought I’d stop by and donate a little payback by answering some of your questions (to the be…

I had RNY on 1/6/18. Something happened that caused me to have massive drainage. That night I had 4 things of plasma. Over the next 2 days, I had 4 blood transfusions. I understand my number was 6.5 and really didn't change much. I was kept in the hospital the entire time- never went to hotel. I had drain removed on 1/11 and sent home. The fluid is still coming out the drain hole- i soak about 10 maxi pads a day. The staff at Mi Doctor Hospital was kind and took care of me. The asst. doctor checked in on a regular basis , but I felt he couldn't tell me the whole story. DR. Ortiz came just 3 times, despite my asking to speak with him. I do not feel he was very forthcoming…

Where do you go for post-op care if you get surgery away from home?

Well one year ago today I had surgery with BariatricPal MX, what a year it's been. Last night a friend of mine sent me a picture from the night before surgery and frankly I was shocked with the before and after. It's amazing how quickly you can forget how far you've come in such a short amount of time.

Just wondering if anyone has tried LiquaCel Concentrated Liquid Protein Packs? and if you did, what did you think?

Hi. Anyone have revision surgery from sleeve to MGB due to GERD? I'm considering Dr Jesus Enrique Grimaldi at Affordable Weightloss in Tijuana. Have you heard anything about him? What surgeon did you use?

I am having my surgery on November 9th in Mexico. Obesity Control Center. Has anyone have any comments about this place?

Hi I was wondering if your supposed to get your esophageal tube tightened when you get surgery. I was watching someone on YouTube and they said there Docter tightened there’s making it impossible to take big bites of food and forces her to eat slowly. So I asked my dr that I was planning to have surgery with if he does this and he said no so now I’m wondering if this is supposed to be done while getting vsg surgery dose anybody know??

Hey i can not find any reviews or feedback on these two doctors from BeliteWeight services- Jose Rodriguez-Villarreal & Dr. Elmo Aramburo in Juarez if any of you have anything to share- please help!!! TIA

ok so i want to here from mexico sleevers anyone who has had a leak and had trouble getting a dr in the usa to see them. i am giving my insurance 1 more chance to approve me than im going to mexico i would just go now since its cheaper than my copay and deductible but im worried if i did have issues no one would want to see me in the usa also i reached out to dr illan and yet to hear back from them i have had ALM reach out to me but i have read some scary things about dr ortiz.

Hi Everyone, Been lurking for a little while. Actually joined some time back but rarely post. I am looking for any and all folks who have had surgery in Mexico to weigh in and help me out. Here's a little background: I am 48 yo, 6', 365 with a high of 380. My health is deteriorating, particularly knees, hips and ankles. I had a knee replacement 1 year ago and have not healed properly due to weight. I have sleep apnea, high blood pressure and variable high everything else. If I am "good" for a while, my numbers fall into line, but they quickly swing the other way when I am not. I am always short of breath, can not run, jog and have difficulty with stairs. I can not cli…

Quite a few people have asked me about my experience at Mexico Bariatric Center in Tijuana and I want to share the entire experience as it was extremely hard for me to get a full review from the last year or so. I also wish I would’ve written this on day 3 and not day 7 as the farther away from your surgery date you get the more romanticized the process is. That being said, here is everything that I know. It is a bit long, but for those of you who want all the facts, here is my experience. I reached out to MBC on the 3rd of January and by the 5th of January I was already e-mailing back and forth with Kristi. I completed the patient questionnaire online and was approv…

I am scheduled for sleeve surgery on 4/11/18 with Dr. Lopez Corvala. Looking for past patients of his and their full experiences before, during, and after their surgeries. I’m feeling a little uninformed compared to those I know who have had bariatric surgery in the US. Please help settle these nerves! :-)

Hello, I am considering getting sleeved in Mexico. Would love to hear anyone that has had or will be sleeved anywhere in Mexico. What city, hospital, surgeon, how long did u stay?

Had a video call with him the other day and he seems like a nice dr, knowledgeable, 4000+ surgeries under his belt. But all the posts I've seen about Mexico none of them are with him. Just worried I should be looking at other Drs more? Any info would be helpful. Thank you!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I’ve seen many posts about Ramos Kelly saying he’s great, but last night I was watching post op YouTube videos and on Laura’s VSGtube channel, she posted a series of live videos (like minutes before I got to her page). She said Dr. Kelly screwed up her sleeve to mini bypass surgery, did it completely wrong. She was dying in her hotel room and no one would pick up their phone. Then Dr. Kelly’s wife proceeded to send her all these really nasty offensive messages, she even showed her phone on the camera to prove it. I felt so bad, she has me so scared to get the surgery ANYWHERE in fear this might happen to me. She ended up trekking it back to San Diego and checked into a ba…

I had GS surgery done in MX in Feb 2017. I've lost 55 lbs and have plateaued/stalled for the last 4 months and I still have lots of fat inches left to lose. I have a lot of food allergies (confirmed by blood work) and the "nutritionist" the Dr connected me with has no idea how to help me and I've been going it alone. I read the posts here about what someone eats on a daily basis and I can't eat over 3/4 of it. Add to my allergies is the complication that the surgery didn't remove my hunger like 99.5 % of patients. I've been hungry since day one. In fact my stomach growls so loud that co-workers can hear it. I'd like someone to brainstorm with, to talk menu plans with, to …

My doctor is Dr. Valenzuela (Mexico Bariatric). Has anyone heard of her and if so, what was your experience? My surgery is scheduled for the 21st and I'm staying in Mexico until the 26th and will return to work on the 2nd. I have an active job and spend a lot of time on my feet. I'm particularly concerned because I have an event on the 4th January which will keep me on my feet all day and that will be very taxing. I thought I'd be recovered by then but am hearing stories about people who needed to take it easy for 3 weeks. How will I feel two weeks after surgery? Will I be able to handle a big day like that? How soon can one do weight training? I know we are…

I had my revision from lap band to a bypass on Dec. 12th In Mexico, The surgery went fine and I’ve had some normal issues, nausea, left pain, and tired, nothing horrible. But going into the third week when I started puréed foods the nausea started getting really bad and my back hurt so much I literally couldn’t catch my breath. I went to my Dr who had agreed to do my follow up I the states and got a prescription for pain and nausea, he also said I needed a CT scan, which I scheduled for 5 days later. I didn’t feel it was an emergency, and the Dr said “as a precaution “ so I wasn’t in a hut. Well, Yesterday I get a phone call to go to the hospital ASAP I had a leak! M…

Hello everyone, I’ve been going back and forth for years now on getting the surgery done due to financial reasons and nerves. I contacted Mx Bariatrics team (Illan) was approved earlier this year but had to back out. I’m ready to bite the bullet & go to Mexico in the new year (2018) but I want to know do you guys have any other suggestions other than Illan? I have no issues with him I just feel like I should have more options & not put all my eggs in one basket. For some reason I’m scared because he is really popular now & I don’t want to be the one that gets a bad turnout... Idk if that makes sense to you all but I’m an over thinker. I don’t know who t…

Hello everyone, I'm getting sleeved in Tijuana at A Slimmer Me Jan.24th. Did anyone else go to them and if so how was your experience? Sent from my LG-M154 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello everyone I’m just in need of some advice I’m planning my wls for next month in mexico and the Docter I’m going with has a 500 dollar fee for a BMI over 50 and I really don’t want to pay the fee so I decided to put myself on a one month low carb or liquid diet at the moment I’m on a low-carb diet only because I won’t be able to buy protein shakes until Thursday then I’ll just do the protein shakes alone. I need to lose 34 pounds by next month. I’m not sure if it is possible but I would like some advice on what I can do to and would love to hear from other people to learn how they got through it

I am in the researching stage. Has anyone used Dr. Pasten? I am also looking at Mexicali Bariatrics but they are more expensive. Thanks

I am in the process of scheduling my VSG with Dr. Sergio Quinones in Mexico for May 1st....... I am scared and nerves and excited. As anyone had their sleeve done with him? Paz share ur experience in Mexico.

https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/1439290/bombshell-exclusive-multiple-jewish-people-missing-kidneys-after-bariatric-surgery-in-mexico.html?onesignal_site_push_notification Sent from my SM-G930V using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone! I am going to be a self-pay patient, and am seriously considering surgery in Mexico, since it is so much cheaper. Has anyone had any success? Complications? Advice on places that are great or places to avoid? I am so nervous, because I had a friend tell me I was crazy to even consider doing it in Mexico. Am I nuts? Those who have had their surgeries, what did it cost? What did the price include? Most importantly, if you have any complications after you get hiome, then what?

Hello, everyone. I scheduled a surgery with Dr. Alamanza a few months back and my surgery date is just about 6 weeks away. Since Ive been waiting for my surgery date(I had to wait a little while because I didn't have a passport and had to apply and wait for it), while waiting, I didn't more research and have read some things about dr alamanza and am considering switching to the bariatricpal mx with dr Illian. Dr alamanza is a lot cheaper but I have children so want as little risk as possible. Dr Alamanza seemed to have a very open schedule, which was helpful because I need to do my surgery around my husband's vacation time from work so he can care for our chil…

Hi. I’m considering a tummy tuck in Mexico. Has anybody done it? Where? Doctor? What was your experience?

I’m wanting weight loss surgery but I don’t have health insurance. I’m from Houston,TX. Can anyone suggest a doctors office that offers affordable payment options for their procedures?