Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

Greetings to all: My name is Larry and I decided to start a post about surgery in Mexico. There are many people here that would love to have the surgery but their US insurance will not approve or pay for the surgery. There are also many of you who might have thought about Mexico but fear going there for many reasons. I am hoping that this post and other that will follow will help to answer some of your questions, calm some of your fears and give you first hand stories from some of us that have gone to Mexico for this life changing surgery. First a little about me. I had lapband surgery about 2 years ago here in Iowa. I lost 90 pounds before I hit the wall and could not …

Where do you stay after surgery? And how much is it?

Hello, I was sleeved last weekend by Dr. Garcia and his staff! They were amazing! I must admit I was a little scared to go to TJ to have a surgery and still smile at the fact that I'm bold enough to do what I did. I am now one week post op and feeling great. I am still having a bit of the burpys when I eat and drink, but have to mention that this gets better daily. I have a low bmi and I truly felt remorseful the night after surgery. Feeling much better now and am looking forward to a better life. Dr. Garcia is still answering all of my questions through the awesome alma and I don't feel like just because the surgery is over that I am no longer someone that he know…

I will be going to Mexico on my own to have surgery with Dr. Kelly on January 3rd (in just a few short weeks!) and have questions on how others secured their items while in surgery...i'm talking about your passport, wallet, credit cards and smart phone...did you leave it at the hotel? So if you did, does that mean that you went to the hospital without any ID? Can these items be secured in the hospital? Aside from items how secure did you feel on your own??? Is there anything within walking distance of the hospital/hotel that you could easily walk to? Last questions...whille at the hotel...how did you arrange for food? Room service...or did you feel up to getting fo…

Has anyone used Mexico surgery solutions to book your surgery?

Ok, so I found out today that my new health insurance through work does not cover WLS. So I will be going to Mexico at the end of April. So I need suggestions for surgeons & Dr. Ramos Kelly is not an option. So if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. Thanks!

Has he performed many gastric sleeves? Has Anyone got home and had complications after A gastric sleeve surgery. From him? His price is good he Works with good doctors (Ramos-Kelly). Is he Safe?

Getting ready to send her a depost for my daughters surgery using Dr. Fernando Garcia in TJ in January. Looks legit and they have a BBB rating I checked out. She is super nice and seems very experienced in doing this. They are part of Obesity Solutions Int'l. Anyone have first hand knowledge of this group? Thanks!

U no what I'm just gonna put it out there. After doing made research and deciding to have my surgery with Dr Aceves he seemed like the best choice. Everybody had wonderful things to say and no complaints. I figured he wa the best. Well I must say surgery was I eventful, things went well, I was treated kindly and the experience was great. But I be dammed if I wasn't a week out and I started having left abdominal pain and chest pain. Thought it had resolved and now 6wks out its still here 24/7. I can eat and drink but this damn pain is no joke. I've had blood work, CT scan, md exam and they don't see nothing. All I no is that I did not have this discomfort before surgery…

I need some advice on the correct way to break the news to my physician that I was sleeved in Mexico. I have heard that when you tell them you were sleeved in Mexico they don't want to attend you. I don't anticipate any complications but you never know. Any advice would help thanks.

I have seen many a discussion about this but they where old posts. I have been trying to find current information on how to directly contact his direct office to make an appointment. I have tried 2 different suggested websites: ramoskelly.com and wlsclinic.com and both of these took me back to a lighter me. I have gotten some info from "sandy" and then from the wlsclinic i got an email from a Linda, here is what she said copied and pasted from my email: _______________________________________________________ "Thank you so much for your interest in A Lighter Me! I am happy to help you as Dr Kelly has hired our company to represent him exclusively. Trish is no longer …

I am working this week to schedule my sleeve surgery with Dr. Garcia for January 30th. Back in 2006 I went to Mexico for a lapband with Dr. Joya. Mexico was great and I enjoyed the experience until my band eroded into my stomach. I've since had it removed and I am healed and cleared for the sleeve. Has anyone ever had this experience and are going to or had the sleeve? I'm totally excited to go back to Mexico. I've never been to a hospital where you ring the call bell and hear people run down the hall.

Hi I was just wondering about after care once you return to the states I have heard about people having to have their drains or staples removed a week post op but by then you are back in the states so what is supposed to be done? Do most of the doctor's on the border make sure that everything is out before you are out of the hospital or recovery house?

Hey everyone! I was sleeved on the 14th in tijuana mexico, and i got home last night... Im still in alot of pain, they left my drain in so when i went to san diego airport i got molested lol. They sure dont know how to be gentle. But anyways im really scared now i didnt get much info on post op diet or anything. It hurts to breath deep. Im extremly uncomfortable. I donno what to do... Help?

Please help me find my family. Two family members went to have the vertical sleeve surgery with Dr. Ponce DeLeon. They arrived yesterday and we have not heard a single word from them or the patient cordinator. Who can we contact to find out what is going on??

Hi, There have been lost of questions about Dr. Almanza and Jerusalem Hospital and sending his patients to a Recovery House or Hotel to recovery. I think this is good information. http://www.obesityhe...gery-in-mexico/

Price is a huge issue for me. Has anyone had an experience with Dr. Mario Almanza at the Mt. Zion Hospital in Tijuana?

I've seen many people on this forum say they had their surgery done in Mexico. I am curious why they didn't do it in the USA. Is it the cost factor? Isn't it expensive to travel to a foreign country? Weren't you worried about sub-standard medical care? I was wondering if someone could explain the reasons they would chose Mexico. Thanks!

Hi Everyone! I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow morning to have a LapBand-to-Sleeve revision on Tuesday by Dr. Aceves? Will anyone else be there during the same time? It would be nice to "know" someone before I get there.

Hi Everyone, You know most of us plan things everyday in our life. That is how we stay organized and manage our lives, homes and famlies. I want you to start thinking about making some BIG plans in your life too. Consider WLS. But, take your time. Ask hundreds of questions. This is going to be a life changing event. You deserve to have the very best you can. Research and read all you can about WLS. I had "sleeve" surgery and I feel it was the very best kind of surgery I could have. It was what I wanted after doing a lot of research. Never allow anyone to get in the way of your own good judgment. Ask other people about the doctor they went to. Check out t…

Hi everyone! I am new to this forum and have been looking into getting my sleeve done in Mexico. I had a question about Dr. Kelly in TJ, I have received an automated reply from him stating that they would pick me up from the airport and take me to the office. I am not flying though, I live in California and was hoping to drive and be picked up by the border. I know other doctors do this and was wondering if anyone had made other arrangements with Dr. Kelly to do this. Any info would be great! Thanks!

So many that are sleeved in the US have to go through so many tests before being approved for surgery. How is it that so many just fly off to MX and in 24 hours are sleeved? I plan on going to MX, I have done a lot of research and also have chosen a qualified surgeon (not based on $).I planned on being sleeved in Jan. but finances have pushed the date back. Before, my date was pushed back I went to the doctors and had blood work drawn and a physical. Everything was normal except my weight of course, 95 lbs to lose. I did that to have a comparitve point of reference. Since then,15 lbs have crept on, suddenly I ache all over , ankles swell, I just feel really…

Hi everyone! I have my LapBand revision to sleeve next Tuesday. I'm starting my pre-surgery diet tomorrow. I'm starting to get more excited and nervous. Dr. Aceves will be my surgeon. For those of you who had him, can you tell me about cellular service at the hospital? I understand the hospital is very close to the border. Do you think I'll be roaming or charged for international usage if I use my cell phone there? Only one person knows I'm going to have the surgery, and I'm going alone. I don't want people getting worried if I don't answer my phone for an entire week. (I live alone, too, so my family checks on me every so often to make sure I'm okay.) Any tho…

Hi Everyone, I know it is such a big step to have Weight Loss Surgery. Then what kind and where are some of our next concerns you must be thinking about. I had WLS 3 years ago in Mexicali, Mexico. I did a lot of research for about 6 months before I made up my mind what doctor I was going to have do it. I also went by myself. I had people who would go with me, but it really was easier and better that I went alone. Some people will want someone to go with them, and that is good too. Do what makes you feel comfortable. I am so pleased that I had this done in 2008. I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. I want you to know that I am out here to answer any questi…

Hello Everyone I am new to this forum and have been sleeved by Dr Ponce de leon. I did my research on Tijuana Doctor’s and found Dr Ponce as one of the best. I was sleeved on the 21st of November and I believe I made the best decision off my life. I had been struggling with my weight for years and felt it was time for a change. I wanted to just be able to spend more time with my kids and my family since every time I took them to the park I was always tired and was having trouble breathing and sleeping. I wish my family would have supported me a little more but I had to take matters into my own hands. When I told my Mom I was having surgery she was totally against it.…

Hi all. I am new to this site and am just a few days away from finalizing my surgery date in Mexico but wanted all the advice I can get. Maybe hearing a few stories will put me at ease. If you know of any surgeons or hospitals in Mexico, I would greatly appreciate it. This is my first time having surgery and I have no clue what to expect!!! Hope to make new friends on here that share what I am going through. Yvette.

My doc was Dr. Corvala in Tj. Surgery Hospital Angeles and cost me 7,000.00. I had the plication. Experience was great. No complications at all. How about you?

Well surgery was yesterday in the am. I was out of it all day fading in and out. i did get up and walked twice but that was it. i feel a little crampy and sore more so than pain. The cramping is in my chest. IS THAT NORMAL?I was told that its probably the drain. I can't explain its like a funny sensation I have been tolerating my liquids very well no vomiting or nausea.No purple in the bag. I lust feel tired sleepy with this weird sensation I am hoping is the drain. Dr A and Dr C are great they are checking on me around the clock. The nurses are so sweet and compassionate.I feel like a celebrity So I just wanted say hello and thanks to all of you who have prayed and s…

I'm in Mexicali alone, going to be sleeved tomorrow. Experiencing very unpleasant emotions. Any support is welcome.

Hello all Self-pay/Mexico Sleevers! I am approaching my 3 month check up with my PCP and just curious if anyone has a list of things I should be asking her to check? I don't want to miss a thing!

It seems that the few posts I could find about Dr. Ortiz were older. I am hoping to hear from anyone out there who has had a Vertical Sleeve done by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I am considering scheduling with him. Any posts, good or bad, are welcome. Thank you! Lori

There are so many! We are considering Dr. Fernando Garcia Govea. It seems they are all the same price and they offer the same package and the same doctors. So far I've seen: Successfully Slimmer, Ready 4 a Change, Mexico Weight Loss Surgery, A Lighter Me, and Obesity Solutions International. There are probably more. Does anyone know which is the best one to use? It's time for us to choose and I want to make the right choice. One wanted a $2,000 deposit and another only $500 deposit. $500 isn't such a risk, but $2,000 is. How do we know we arent' getting scammed? Please tell us who you used and your experience. Thanks so much for your help.

Have anyone used DR. PONCE DElEON at the INT hospital.?

Hi Everyone, I know that there are some of you sitting out there and are thinking "OK when the Holiday's are over and at the 1st of the year I am going to do something about my weight and being fat." Yeah you are thinking in the right directions. It is pretty normal to sit out there and read a LOT of posting on a lot of different sites. I sure did. I know I checked out 3 or 4 sites because I KNEW that I needed to make some choice--it was now or never. I had after a little time pretty much made a choice to go to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico. I just had to prove to myself that he was the "one" I wanted. So I started to read about a lot of other doctors too. Som…

I was picked up at a meeting point outside of the San Diego airport, along with the other people who were having surgery that day. We greeted each other and asked what procedures we each were having. We also got to meet the people coming back and they reassured us of there time there. It was a breeze getting into Mexico. We all had our passport, but no one had to give them to anyone. I did see the Mexico military with guns, however they looked non-chulante about it all. We drove through the city until we came to a strip mall. It had the clinic, a pant store, and a negligee store. We joked about going there and getting nighties after we hit our goal weight. There is also a…

I had surgery yesterday an am Back at the hotel. The experience was very good I have had no pain or nausea what so ever. The nursing staff was attentive. Between their lited English and my limited Spanish we had no problems communication. . Tomorrow am I go back to the hospital to have my leak test done. Drain comes out on Friday and I get to fly home on Saturday Today at the hospital I met someone who lives in the next town over. Small World

Does anyone please have an email for Dr. Jamie Ramos Kelly in Mexico? Any contact info for him would be greatly appreciated, thank you. I had written to jrkelly@hotmail.com but had not got a response. It has only been a couple of days but thought maybe it was not correct. Anyone have anything different? -thanks

Ok ya'll...wow the time has finally come. I can't believe I am actually about to do the damn thing. I am so excited. At first yesterday when I left home I was feeling down. But as the day moved forward I was feeling better in better. My life is about to change for the better. I am going to be fabulous. I can't wait. God is good and my life is good and I have so much to be thankful for. I will be picked up tomorrow morning and will be heading down to Mexicali. Wow I will be sleeved come tuesday by Dr Aceves. WOOOOOO WHOOOOOO!!!!!. It seems so surreal I just can't believe it!!!! The trip across the country was ok until we did our transfer. OMG I almost could not snap the se…

I am scheduled for surgery on Monday. I was told to lose 15lbs before my surgery. I am only down 6. I have been on the liquid and leafy green diet for over a week and have only lost 2 lbs (included in the 6). I am concerned they wont do the surgery. Has this happened to anyone.

Hi everyone. You have all worked your magic and just reading the boards convinced me to go for it! What inspiring stories! I'm going alone to Mexico but it sounds like it will be fine. Glad to with you! Cheers!

I am new to the forum and have a couple and problems I have ran into. I spoke with Trish(she is a wonderful lady) and we tried to get the ok from Dr Kelly and the hospital for the gastric sleeve surgery. My BMI is 32.5. She received the ok from Dr Kelly but the hospital would not ok it. Has anyone else run into this problem. She said I could gain more weight (which I don't want to, too get to 34 BMI), or find someone else to do the surgery in which she gave me a different Dr.'s name. I am set on using Dr Kelly and am looking for any advice from someone who may have answers for me. I have to loose approx. 60 lbs and have been struggling for over 15 years. Thanks so…

So, I had a wonderful experience with having surgery with Dr. Kelly and Trish. The surgery with Dr. Kelly went well, but what also made the experience wonderful was the services of Trish. She set up the surgery for me, arranged the driver for me (both ways), arranged payment, was there to greet me at the hospital (at around 11:00 pm at night), was there when I woke up from the surgery, called my husband to let him know that the surgery went well, took me to the swallow test, took me to the hotel, etc. That's a lot huh? Anyway, although I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Kelly, I also understand that dr. Ponce de leon is a great surgeon too and Trish coordinat…

Hi Everyone, I recently have had a financial stumbling block with my sleeve surgery, with that said I have had to take a look at where the $"s are going . I am happy with the Dr. and coordinator I have chosen but in a personal message, not one but 2 people have told me 2 different prices for the same Dr. My question is can you work directly with the Dr. in MX or do they require you have a coordinator? The price of the surgeon and the total price varies as much as $1500. I realised that when they made reference to how much the Dr. will recieve. I do not plan on skimming on price of surgery , getting some shotty Dr. but $1500.00 over the cost of the Dr. for som…

I'm still searching Drs and i must say i found a # on the forum for Trish for Dr. Kelly i had read somethings about her so i called and guess who answered the phone Dr. Kelly him self we ended up loosing phone connection and he called me back. I just thank thats cool i was supprised i think that most Drs. would not of went out of there why to call me back. I think he may of just maid up my mind and If he cares that much he is probebly worth the extra $800.00 . What are your thoghts

Hey fellows! I just want to share my happyness with every body. My surgery was monday November 7th with Dr. Rodriguez. I'm feeling great, no complication at all. Staff are very kind and they make effort to speak english even when they don't speak it. Today was my X-Ray and a little bit later during the day he gave me the dvd of the x-ray for my record. The hospital look like a kind of 5 star hotel all equip for medical stuff. It is very clean. If you hesitate to take Dr. Rodriguez because you heard about the bad behavior Juarez have. I can tell you the way Belite manage it it is very, very safe. So, I'll leave you on that and I won't come back except if I hav…

Has anyone had any success with either one of these companies? Does Care Credit even work with people going to MX? How strict are they. I was surpriisingly just turned down by my credit union and now am a little gun shy to persue outside options. Any input would be wonderful. Thank you.

Anyone know of the name of a good translation dictionary that can be used In MX. My husband looked at Walmart, there was one but it was not very user friendly and quite large. Any suggestions? thanks a bunch.

My husband has been a sick mess all week, and though I've tried to avoid catching his cold, it's become CLEAR I have it. I CANNOT reschedule my surgery, I pulled major strings to get this time off. Will I still be able to safely? I know dr. Kelly is VERY thorough with his safety precautions. I do not want to call and have them insist I reschedule. I only feel a bit light headed, but I'm fairly stuffed up. Anyone experience surgery during a moderate cold?

It's finally feeling real (I say as I am starvvvving while sipping Gatorade walking around)! I am getting picked up Sunday afternoon, my mom will be with me. I have been working intensely with a fitness trainer 4x a week since august, doing daily cardio, watching my diet to get in the best shape possible (and it's worked, I haven't been this light in 8 YEARS!). I am bringing my mom, who has an eating disorder (but the other way around, she is anorexic) and I am fearful of what they may think when I walk in with her, especially since I've got as small as I can on my own. Maybe i am just being silly... I'm kind of "with blinders on" until the actual surgery is ove…

I am going to Mexico to have my sleeve done (self-pay) and decided on Dr. Kelly. My question is how much lead time is needed before setting up a date? I want to get it done the later part of March to coincide with our Spring break. How far out do I call to make the appointment? Thanks!