Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

I've been doing a lot of research and think Dr. Aceves or Dr. Alvarez is the best choice for me, but can't seem to decide. There are lot's of Dr. Aceves patients on here and I've notice many are actually weighing below their goal, which is Amazing! If you had either Dr. do mind sharing what was the Very Best thing you experienced going to them that you don't think you would have gotten from another Dr. Thanks for your help. I'm a newbie and still on the fence.

My rather weird experience. Physically I'm doing well. I'm not disappointed at all with my choice. I do think it's important however to address a particular negative that was ridiculous and unnecessary.* There were 4 of us that had surgery that day. We all had pretty much the same experience. I thought the pre-op stuff was great. I think they were thorough and professional. The post op care I felt was a little lacking. The pain control in my case was inadequate. I know people are individual and maybe it just didn't work as well for me. The night nurse was not great. There was very little help. In fact the friend I brought with me helped us all out more then he did. She…

I'm looking for reviews and experiences of Dr. Alvarez patients. What was your experience like with him? Are you happy with the results of your surgery? How was your recovery and follow up care? What did you think of the hospital? Thanks so much for your help.

I am planning to have my surgery in Mexico with Dr Aceves on Nov 5th. I have $5000 on my flex spending card that I plan to use for the procedure. Nina wants me to go ahead and send the card to her to make sure it will work (sometimes they won't "swipe".) I am concerned it will become lost and then I will be up the creek. Has anyone else used a flex spending account to pay for VSG in Mexico? Should I send the card on to Nina? Thanks for helping out a newbie! Lisa

Hey everyone, just wanted to update you all. I developed a cough after surgery. Stopped in at a hospital last night because I was having trouble catching my breath. They did an xray and sure enough I have pneumonia. 10 days of antibiotics and hopefully I will feel better. The cough wouldnt be so annoying if I didnt have the fresh wounds lol, but I think I will be alright

Does anyone know if it is acceptable to use your passport application, birth certificate & driver's license to return to the US. Dr. Aceves coordinator Nina said you don't have to wait for the passport, but that you can use the application along with the other id's. Did anyone else do it this way? I did some research on-line but haven't been able to confirm it yet. Guess I will try to call on Monday but was wondering if anyone else did it this way? thanks, Ellie

do any body have any information in regard Dr. Garcia ans the clinic were he does the surgeries ??? Hospital MI Doctor.

Just want to pass this information along. A section of scaffolding on the U.S. side of the border at San Ysidro and Tijuana collapsed today. The border moving north, from Tijuana to San Ysidro is closed. The section going south, from San Ysidro to Tijuana is still open. In order to go to the U.S. from Tijuana you have to use the Otay border. I just thought I would pass this on in the event that you will be leaving TJ soon or perhaps you might be waiting to hear from someone when they arrive back into the U.S. If you have a flight out from San Diego, you will want to allow a LOT of extra time to cross the border!

I work extremely hard to stay at my 31 bmi (almost a 30!)- 5 tiny meals a day, no starch or sugar, and at least 45 minutes of intense cardio a day. My concern is, that after the pre-op diet for Dr. Kelly, I may drop weight and be (hopefully!) at a bmi of 29...BUT, that would make me too light for surgery, right? Is it expected by doctors that after two weeks of the pre-op diet that you are "already on the road to weight loss" and this is acceptable? I know this sounds like a ridiculous problem, and chances are, knowing how strict I already am I won't likely lose a ton of weight on the pre-op diet, but it's a fear I have. I have not been this " thin" in 10 years, and…

Hi y'all. I am in the mushies phase and I am trying to figure out if I can have soft whitefish like tilapia. Do you know if it is ok at this stage or if I need to wait until we move into the full foods phase? Thanks!

Are you happy with your decision? Will you do it again? If you could have changed something, what would it have been? Is there something you wish you were aware of before hand?

Hi all! Well the big day is finally here. I've been in San Diego for 4 days and it's amazing here. Everyone is so nice. Lots to see and shopping is great! My hotel had a false fire alarm last night and I never knew I could get all of me moving so quickly. 27 flights of stairs! Whew! It was definitely an experience! :-) Oh and today we went to the beach. Walking along the beach with the Pacific ocean on my feet!!! Wonderful. Anyway, after 15 days on a liquid diet and enjoying San Diego I am ready to get things going. Wish me luck and send prayers my way please. Thank you for all for your support throughout the last 8 months. I will update as soon as I can. Smi…

I'm new here , and I have noticed a lot of people are saying they are getting or have gotten surgery in mexico, why there and not here in the U.S?

Has anyone tried Miguel Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico? I hear he is very good as well. The hospital is very nice accredited,coe ,etc. It seems I keep having these set backs.I would love to go in Oct.but I just had an old credit card issue come up,and trying to finance it.Just found out too I have to have a partial hysterectomy next month,even though they cleared me for the sleeve surgery,it looks like I may be waiting until next year.I'm supposed to talk to my boss about it so we see what she says and go from there.Anyway its been such a long journey and I'm just done and ready to get this done and keep getting hijacked.I dont know.Anyone elae have this much trouble?

Hi folks, I will be sleeved by Dr. Rodriguez at Star Medica hospital (Near by the Amirican consulate) in Juarez beginnig of November (I'm waiting for confirmation from Jessica, my patien facilitator of belightweight) The hospital (not a clinic) looks awsome, almost like a 5 stars hotel. It is a bit more expensive than other Dr. in some other post, but with what I saw from Dr. Rod it worth it. I have seen lots of surgery Dr. Rod did on you tube and he work very well!! So, I want to share my joy Cheers

I just read the post "attention Almanza patients" This is freigtening...it has been confirmed through a coordinator! I had my heart and my surgery date..but how can I go peacefully...even if they are saying they have taken care of the problem! One thing I am not is a basher...i did the research for myself and was elated go through with my decision...I RESPECT everybodys opinion! I have heard about leaks..infection...and other aspects of the surgery from all drs. But robbery!!!!!! This again has been confirmed by a coordinator...and that is enough for me....There are some whose only option is Dr. Almanza..be safe and stay prayerful..I wish you a great safe success..and I …

Good Morning All ! I just wanted to say that I have gotten a date for my surgery...October 14th with Dr Ponce de Leon ! I am sooo excited and scared too. I have done alot of research and this is what my husband and I have decided. This just seems like crazy talk...going to Mexico to have surgery....but it is all ok. My daughter had hers done (not in Mexico) last November and I have been observing her all this time, asking questions,etc. and have decided that this is for me too! We will become "sleeve buddies". I am so glad she told me about this site and all of the wonderful people willing to share their experiences. I will keep you posted on my progress

I have finally managed to get all my lil quackers in a row and schedule my surgery! I booked my plane tickets and paid my deposit and my husband and I will be on our way to Tijuana and a better lifestyle!! I decided to go to Dr. Ramos-Kelly on September 28!! AHHHH!! That's only 18 days away!!! Wish me luck and thanks to all of you who wrote about your experiences so us newbies could know all the facts . :hug: --Krystal

I finally have saved the money that I need to have my surgery. The surgeons office is willing to finance the last $500 I need to have the surgery. Now that I know that it can happen soon, I have started to feel guilty. I am clearing out ALL my savings. My husband is paying all the bills alone and plus christmas is coming and my dughters bday. I see all the things that my money could be use for. I know that if I use all my saving, everthing is going to be really tight until tax time. I don't want to have to wait that long. I could be half way to goal by then. I am unemployed so I don't have much income coming in and I know that my daughters are looking forward to christmas…

Anyone seeing Dr Almanza September 18 through 23?? My surgery date is the 19 th!! I would like to be in touch with someone else going around the same time. I think the support will be not only good for me but for my mom who is coming with me. She has been so amazing and supportive even though I know she is scared!

I have decided to get the gastric sleeve done by Dr. Aceves. My husband is luckily supportive, but the rest of my family is very unsupportive. My mother literaly said why don't you just try Jenny Craig, and that I am taking the easy way out.. I am so hurt and upset, how did you guys convince your family it was the right thing. I need my dad to cosign on a loan for it, and he is willing but my mom will not let him.

Hi, I am new to this forum and I am hoping to get the vertical sleeve this year! I am currently trying to get financing for the surgery. NOt sure if this is normal but I keep going back and forth with my decision on doctors!!! IT is making me crazy! I have heard good things about both but some more negative about Dr. Almanza. I know things can happen with any surgery but how do you make your decision?? Dr. Almanza has the better price so is that how I choose?? I would appreciate hearing how you made your decision and if you feel it was a good and safe one! Hope to learn alot from all of you! Karen

I am having my sleeve with Dr. Kelly on October 31st. My brother was suppose to come with me, but he flaked on me and there is no one else that can go. I don't want to cancel it because I really need this surgery, but I don't want to go by myself. If there is anyone out there that went to Mexico alone, please tell me about your experience and what I need to do to prepare. Also, if there is anyone going to Dr. Kelly at the end of October let me know and we could be a support for each other. Thanks.

My husband is going with me when I have surgery. I am trying to find out a few things about the hospital. Is there internet available? Are there nearby restaurants for him to be able to get meals? And I am looking for some feedback on how much Mexican money he needs to take to get meals for the few days we are there. Thanks for your help!

Hello everyone! Im Jenn and I just booked my surgery! I will be going to TJ Mexico and getting the Gastric Sleeve with Dr Jose Guadalupe Rodriguez. Have any of you used him???

I have tried to contact Dr. Kelly's office online but the contact form seems to be invisible. Wondering if anyone has used medchoice for their financing and what kind of rates did you get? And if anyone has a phone number for Dr. Kelly?? Or a email address? Thanks, Karen

Hi! I am new here and I am looking to book my surgery with Dr. Kelly in TJ. I have heard alot of good things about Trish and Dr. Kelly, and I want to book directly with her. Does anyone have her number or a website I can visit? Also, does anyone know how soon he books, I want to get 'er done, STAT!!!!! lol Thanks!

Oh my goodness!! I am trying to decide if I want to finance the Gastric Sleeve surgery or not. I have looked up a few companies that offer it and am just not sure. Sooooo ... Im calling on all the folks that have financed. Would you do it again? What were your interest rates like? How about your monthly payments? Have you had any problems with the companies? Thanks a bunch guys !!!!!

Would anyone sleeved by Dr. Garcia be willing to chat?

My surgery date is October 8th. Anybody else going that week?

So, after 4 months of research I have decided to go with Dr. Aceves. Nina tried to call me a few minutes ago (SATURDAY!) but we had a bad connection so she's going to call me back in a few minutes hopefully. I know my insurance won't pay for the VSG here in Northern California so I have decided to look for Self Pay in Mexico. Nina suggested to get medloanfinance.com or cosmeticcredit.com for my financing needs. Does anyone have any experience with them and going to Dr. Aceves? I don't know if I will get approved and that is the only scary part to me, really. I am sooo sure I want VSG. I wish there was a checklist of things to do. Do I first get financing? Or do I speak wi…

I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Lopez Corvala at Angeles Hospital in TJ, has anyone else been there?

After everything, I have gotten financing and a date, I am soo excited. Is anyone going to see him around this date?

I have a couple of sutures that are poking out from two of my incisions... they are like fishing wire..lol Will they go away? They aren't dissolving and one of them is rather long. Anyone else who went to Dr. Kelly have this? Thanks

I am getting sleeved on 9/6 with Dr. Almanza. Anyone else gonna be there the same time? Either way, post your date and surgeon. You may meet a sleeve buddy! I NEED A SLEEVE BUDDY! Well wishes to everyone!

Does anyone happen to know if I can use a striaght talk phone from Jesusalem Hospital and the recovery house? The phones website says straight talk uses Verizon towers, you may have some signal just over the border. Thanks, Holly

Hi y'all. I just posted some pics from my trip to Mexicali & Dr. Aceves. Feel free to view my gallery to see some glimpses of my journey. I didn't believe it until I really got there, but no the people who graciously shared their experiences with me were not paid and are telling the truth.

I bought a ton of Nexium Mups when I was in Sexy Mexi. For some reason I thought they would be a powder, but these are tablets. Is everyone crushing the tablets and mixing in something?

I'm looking for a sleeve sister. Someone who I can possibly meet in person,exercise together, cook ... whatever? I had my sleeve on 8/17 and looking for some support.

Getting sleeved on Oct. 6th by Dr. Almanza. I was just wondering how many incisions there usually is and if they leave scarring? Thank you

Hello everyone! I am new here and tenatively scheduled to have surgery on Oct 3 with Dr Ponce de leon. I am very excited, very nervous, etc. My biggest concern is that we are new to the area and there are no doctors accepting patients here. We are on a waiting list. I know they do an EKG before surgery. I don't have any known problems, but being so overweight for so long makes me wonder and worry that something will come up and I will be sent home without surgery. I cannot afford to pay to fly from Canada and not get the surgery, plus I really want it done. LOL Does anyone know of anyone who ever had issues with the EKG before surgery in Mexico? Thanks!

Hi, I paid for my wife's VSS to Dr. Kelly instead of using the US coordinator and since my wife changed her mind we have been trying to get our money back for two weeks. Apparently, Dr. Kelly needs to go to the States personally (??) to send/wire our money back, which makes no sense. What's more, the US coordinator, Sandy, is apparently no longer working with them due to things they have been doing and which have been damaging to Sandy's reputation. We were told our money would be sent back to us within a week. We called after a week and were told it would be sent back to us over the weekend. When called on Tuesday after the weekend, it was now going to be another w…

Hi everyone, I would like to calla Dr. Kelly office and talk about the surgery but I can't find the direct number, I dont want to book using a 3rd party, Doe's anyone has the number?

Hi all! So I had agonized between Dr Kelly and Dr Almanza. Of course, I can't speak for Almanza, but as I am in TJ as we speak, Dr. Kelly and his staff have been AWESOOOOMMMMEEEE! <BR>My first thought meeting the driver, Ricardo, was... Umm, what if the website was a set up? What if he's taking me to a torture chamber? WHO is this man and where am I going? I was thinking that I was clearly insane.<BR>The hospital was like at home, and Dr Kelly, like everyone on here has said, is caring and compassionate. As I was rolled into surgery.. I am down here ALONE.. BTW.. And was TERRIFIED.. thinking-- WHAT THE HECK DID I DO?? MAYBE I SHOULD RUN OFF THIS TABLE, out of…

I remember reading that it wasn't a problem to travel back into the US if you have your driver's license, birth certificate and a receipt where you applied for your passport. Well, I applied for my passport today (my surgery is Sept 15th with Dr Aceves), but they didn't give me a receipt! He said I can go on line in a few days and print off that it's "processing". Is that the receipt that people are referring to? Someone please say yes, or I'm going to panic! Lisa

Dr. Aceves requires 10 days of clears, 10 days of full, 10 days of mushy/puree, THEN solids. I am wrapping up day 8 on clears and I don't know how you didi it. I really need some tips or something. I found myself staring at hot chocolate mix tonight wondering if somehow it could be considered a clear?! I feel so empty! How did you guys do it?

I have attached the photo but also included the address where I got the picture. Just thought I would share this with anyone going to Mexico. Now before you assume that the left side is Mexico, it is actually the right side. Enjoy source http://www.laht.com/...ategoryId=12395

OK, I'm hyperventilating here. I am probably going to switch to Dr Aceves and have the surgery this Saturday. If any of his patients have some words of encouragement and/or advice I would REALLY appreciate it! I'm a bundle of nerves, as if this whole thing wasn't nerve wracking enough!!!

Ok ya'll I bought an electric cigg and put down the butts today, I think i just broke up with my fiance... Im totally loosing my ****!! I didnt think it would be this bad. This makes dieting seem like a dream come true.. atleast you can still eat something!! This e-cigg is helping with the mental and hand to mouth thing ok, but im still feeling like scratching someones eyes out. Prey for Carl ya'll...

for those who went to Mexico... What did you do for follow up appointments? What did you do when you had questions? What did you do when something went wrong? (if it did) I am supposed to be sleeved in September by Dr Kelly and am getting a little nervous about doing it so far away