Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

I'm finally sleeved! I fly home tomorrow and couldn't have asked for a better experience. The surgeons, nurses, staff, facility, hotel, etc have ALL exceeded their wonderful expectations, and I couldn't he more thrilled. I've also enjoyed visiting with my "sleeve sisters" while here. I passed both leak and Barium tests and indulged in the famous chicken broth I've heard so much about:) Glad to be on the other side and to get everything rolling! All the best to those about to embark on this journey!

ALighterme is having a special right now with a Dr. Jesus Ortiz for $4500. Has anyone had surgery with him? Or know of anyone that has had surgery with him?

So I'm at my pcp for a check up and to ask of he will follow me after the surgery. He said yes (yeah) then he took my blood pressure then took it again and again! He was like umm you feel okay? i said yes he said well your blood pressure is very high 150/98. I NEVER have high blood pressure. He did an EKG everything is good but I have to go back in a week to see if it goes down! Only thing in my diet that I have charged is I stopped drinking diet coke and I'm drinking green tea.

Are they ok? I'm 4 days out.. Sent from my ADR6400L using VST

Once you leave Mexico and if you have any questions, concerns or problems who are you following up with? PCP or another bariatric surgeon in your area?

I did it! I am booked and nervous/excited as hell!! Any December sleevers out there???

Just curious if anyone had any complications or words of wisdom they could pass on about having surgery in Mexico. I am planning to have my surgery in TJ first week of November and I am very nervous and scared of the unknown about having the surgery in Mexico. I wish I actually knew someone who had the surgery there. My husband thinks that there is a hoax and that everyone is posting good experiences about their surgeries because they are being paid too. I told him he was looney and crazy for thinking that. I just don't want to talk myself into not going thru with it.

I'm going to miss it, post op. Amanda Rae

How in the world do you get all your liquids in after surgery?? Or what about over night? I wake up with a pounding headache!

Deposits are made airline tickets are purchased!! I am super excited and but very scared!! Feb 7th can not come fast enough!

I am trying to buy tickets for my husband and I to fly into San Diago did not think it was going to be so hard!! We usually fly Southwest and buy three seat for the two of us so was are comfortable. Well Southwest does not fly to San Diago so we have to fly United. I am asking if we can just buy the tree tickets and explaned to the guy that we are having surgery so we want to be comfortable on the flight home we need three seats together we get almost finished and he says oh we dont have seats together! I was like why would I need to seat not together!! I can understand if it was not three together but two???? Why would one person buy two seats under the same name on tw…

I am going to TJ for my surgery. My husband is Coming, we have Our passports, they say the price is going up by $250.00 1/2013.

Anyone know how many leak tests Dr. Lopez does?

I just paid my deposit and booked my flight for surgery with Dr. Lopez on October 24th. Slightly nervous. I would love to read other's experiences with Dr. Lopez.

When I first started doing research on doctors I recall many threads daily about dr.kelly. Did I miss something? I don't see any more threads regarding him. All of a sudden their seems to be a lot of dr.garcia patients posting. Just wondering If i overlooked something in my research. thank you

Just got the best news in the world! I've been wanting to do my surgery with Dr Ortiz but was quoted 6500, well, now he's working with alighterme and guess what??? $4500!!! This is perfect timing and I'm beaming from ear to ear

As of today I am officially booked for surgery with Dr.Lopez in TJ in December! I do physical labour at a coal mine and work 12 hour shifts(14 hour days with travel). I am concerned about the pre-op diet and my job as I will be working right up until the day before I leave for TJ. Has anyone else that works in labour positions have any trouble with energy, passing out, etc. as a result of labour work during the pre-op diet?

And surgery tomorrow hope all goes well. Sent from my ADR6400L using VST

I received the news yesterday that my DH's employer does not offer bariatric coverage. Needless to say I was devastated. In another forum that I was browsing, I started hearing about Mexico and someone mentioned this forum. I've been reading some of the posts and am now intrigued. I have some questions that right off the bat, I couldn't find answers for - and am hoping ya'll can help! 1. What is needed in the way of referrals, PCP documentation, or pre-op diets (outside of liquid in the weeks prior)? Anything? 2. When the price is quoted as all inclusive, has anyone experienced any "oops" charges? Or expenses that you weren't prepared for? So all inclusiv…

Dr Garcia instructions say you may have dinner the night before, has any one ate the night before surgery? Will I risk anything by doing so? Sent from my ADR6400L using VST

Experiences? Stories? Feedback? They're my choice at this point but real people sharing real experiences help so much. Thanx! Amanda Rae

I'm scheduled to have my VSG on February 2 with Dr. Lopez in Tijuana. I've read success stories on the research I've done n I was just wondering if there were anyone on here who has done it. I'm pretty excited and can't wait for this long life change!! #THANKSFORTHEINFO

Bygone have any feedback on this husband wife team?

Hi All, I just have a few questions, if anyone can shed some light I would greatly appreciate it. Did you request wheelchair help? Did you board before others? Did you feel sick or get sick at all on the plane? I am trying to be as prepared as I can be so I was curious about the above or anything else that may help. Thanks again to all of my VSG family for always offering their opinions and advice it is much appreicated.

This may be a stupid question, but where do I get a passport? Lol and I know that I can use the search field and look up past threads regarding this subject, but I don't feel like digging through all of them to find the info out... Guess I'm impatient. Thanks everyone!

Hi All, Just thought I would let you know I'm sitting at the airport waiting to fly to San Diego and the Mexico!!!! Yikes, how quickly time flies!! Ill let you know how it goes, wish me luck!!

Hey everyone. I was sleeved on 10/6 by Dr Kelly, so I'm less than 24 hours post op. When I got all checked in to the hospital, they measured my height. I've always been measured as being 5ft but was measured here and was told I'm 4'8"(I don't know why but I got really upset about this, must just be nerves). Then the nurses couldn't find a vein and I started to lose control. Huge meltdown almost canceled and went home but Omar (Dr. Kelly's assistant) came in and calmed me down. Woke up from surgery in massive pain and had tons of nausea. Some morphine and a few good upchucks and I felt better. One piece of advice, if you feel like you need to throw up, just do it. Hurt at …

Hi everyone! I just want to take a moment to thank ALL of you who take the time to post in here and give your experiences, positive and negative, and your feedback on surgery in Mexico. Brief history; Insurance denied several times. I have no medical comorbidities and I would literally need to EAT my way into the surgery to gain 11 lbs, and it would still ALL need to be done by the end of the year (including all of the surgery). Truly impossible. I have jumped through hoops for several months to attempt to get the VSG. A couple of weeks ago I just, by chance, entered "gastric sleeve self-pay" in to the search engine and this forum popped up. At the time, I had NEVER…

Out of curiosity, how are YOU paying for your surgery? Did you take out a personal loan? Save it all up prior to booking your surgery? Put it on a credit card? I'm just considering all the options available. I'd like to know what others are doing to pay for their surgery...

I have heard many many stories of those who have gone to Mexico for surgery through companies like Belite Weight, and the like. Has anyone used Belite Weight in the US? I am looking into using them, and there is NO WAY I can go to Mexico, so I am looking into the states. I know the cost will be much more, but the website mentions in house financing so I was wondering if anyone has done this? What was the down payment (I could have sworn I read on the website last night it was 3500 for the sleeve and then 200 a month but now I can't find it)? Are there any other sites like Belite Weight that offers something similar? My parents said that they can help, but it will be a y…

I a, going to be having surgery in the next month with this husband/wife team and was curious of anyone had any complications or any bad experiences with them?

I finaly did it! Im booked for surgery with Dr Lopez on Oct 20/12. Husband coming too, gonna spend a couple extra days just to make sure everythings good. from Canada so little nervous and excited. anybody been to Puerto Vallarta and want to share their experience would be great.

Can anyone tell me what these dr's recommend eating before and after surgery?

Hi All, I know there are many people on the board trying to find an ex-US surgeon (I was one of those people). I must say I did feel a bit weird not having my blood work or test run prior to going to Mexico (my date is Nov 7th) so I went to my PCP and she ordered a slew of blood test, I had gotten my results and scripts for medicine/vitamins to take. With that being said I am going through Ready4Achange so I emailed alma my results along with my script to ask if it is ok that I take the medications and when should I stop taking them (if at all) before the surgery. She forwarded my question along to Dr.Garcia and his medical staff within a short time I had received fe…

Hi All, So I go to TJ Mexico on Monday to have surgery with Dr Garcia and people have work have me freaked out!!!! I will be ok, right???? I am going by myself, I have been a little nervous but now I'm freaking!!!

I am getting sleeved on Nov 17th by Dr. A and im just wondering if anyone else had to wait a week and half for them to receive the deposit. I have a tracking number and someone signed for it yesterday and Susan (the receptionist) said today that once she gets the deposit we can move on with the process..maybe im just being inpatient but I feel like she is getting annoyed with me..LOL! Thanks.

Who out there has sleep apnea and went to Mexico for surgery... Or is going to Mexico. How was your sleep apnea handled? Have you addressed it with the surgeon? I'm nervous about being knocked out! Amanda Rae

I'm scheduled for Oct 10 and its becoming more real to me. I'm nervous and basically praying I've made the right choice..id love to hear from any of his former patients. The good and the bad please id really appreciate it;) Sent from my ADR6400L using VST

I just want everyone to know I had a great conversation with Dr garcia I appreciate him taking his time out to give me a call my surgery is not until2/2013 I had many questions and he answered all of them now I know I have chosen the right doctor

I am schedule for my sleeve surgery on Aug. 10. But i got financially problems so i have to reschedule my surgery for next month. I'm going to reschedule with Dr Almanza. I live in Katy tx. Will be flying to San Diegoim just sad cause I really wanted to have my surgery on August. But things happen for some reason. Anybody else in September.!!

For surgery before and after ill be leaving to tj on Tue and need to get everything ready (really don't want to forget anything). All input is greatly appreciated;) Sent from my ADR6400L using VST

Just a quick question about the post op diet with Garcia-- Are you following his post op diet? I needed more structure then what was provided in the paperwork. I do want to clarify that I did follow his plan for the first 5 weeks for the food progression but then changed it up. I didnt like the idea of all the carbs and stuff. Im just curious about everyone else.

I am considering surgery in Mexico but scared to death about possible complications after I get home. If you had your surgery in Mexico and had complications, can you please share your story? Also on who your doctor was and what they did upon hearing of your complication.

It seems crazy to me looking through all of these threads and seeing all the significant weight losses in short periods of time. Sometimes I wonder if I would just try one more time to eat healthy and exercise, could I do it on my own? But I seriously doubt it. To everyone around me, wanting this surgery seems obsurd to them. They just don't get it. They don't get the fact that I'm so tired of failing... It's exhausting. It's painful to sit back and know that I could be living a better life than what I am now. Being fat is completely devastating. I've even almost convinced myself that I love food so much that I can't get the surgery because I would miss it. Isn't that rid…

Had my surgery feb 22 2012 I was 211 I am now 145 in size 7-9 from size 18-20.... I'm so happy and thankful to Dr. Garcia I'm gonna try to post a pic Sent from my iPhone using VST

More nervous and scared I get..Oct 10th is my day with Dr Garcia, and I'm truly feeling iffy(sp) hope and pray I'm doing the right thing. I have 2 kids and a dh to live for:/ Sent from my ADR6400L using VST

Just wondering what is the Gastric Sleeve price for Dr. Fernando Garcia? Can you tell about the deposit, when you pay it. When do you set your date

I am leaving tomorrow for TJ. I fly into San Deigo in the evening and I will get to the hotel late. I know there are lots of people that would like more feedback on Dr. Lopez, so when I get back I will post a detailed account of my surgery with Dr. Lopez. I would have liked more feedback when I was doing my research. (But I didn't find any negative). I also confirmed that he was a Lic. Surgeon in Mexico. I'm on day two of his required pre op fast and doing well. Yesterday was challenging. I think tomorrow I will be too busy and nervous to care about food! I also did 10 days of a pre op diet and so far I am down 9 pounds! Yay! I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm second gue…

Who had even a little bit of a crush on Ernesto, Sergio, Dr. Aceves, or Dr. Campos?

Hi,Im self pay going to have surgery in Oct. I emailed my patient coordinator about hiatus hernias cause Ive noticed lots of people have them and the Dr.s are repairing them. She told me if I have one he'll repair it but it'll be a extra $500. Above what Im already paying. My question, has anybody else had to pay that and how are you paying it. thanks