Sleevealicious2012

When I first started researching it was on a particular doctor. A friend of mine has the lap band and used Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. Actually her whole family used him. She was telling me all about him, how he was featured on Oprah and all the magazine, and his practice is a center of excellence. I was almost positive I was going to use him. However my search was still continuing. Thats when I came across Dr. Guillermo Alvarez in Piedras negras. I started talking to people who have used him, as I was wanting to have the gastric sleeve and not lap band. After researching and reading many of forums, comments, reviews and articles I was positive that is who I wanted for my doctor. Last month I was able to meet him in person at a seminar he held in Houston, Texas. He was very thorough, answered all questions from the audience. After the seminar was over I met him personally and he even answered some one on one questions. that really meant a lot for him to take time out and make sure I had the answers I needed. I could not have chosen a better Dr. for myself. I am currently scheduled to have vsg surgery with on August 6th. He has tons of videos on youtube that will answer all sorts of questions a person may have. What I have observed is you are not just a patient, you become a friend, your not just discarded after surgery for he follows up with you through email, phone calls. If you have a problem you just shoot him an email or call the office and he will respond very quickly. He also has patient reunions every year where all his patients get together and celebrate.

I've heard good things about all of them. Dr. Alvarez seems to be pretty good, as surgeons go. I have no bias that he is in Mexico, and I believe the quality of care is quite good there from what I have heard. Go with your instinct, though - nine times out of ten, it's right. If it feels right, do it. If there's a hint of doubt, clarify or find another doctor. This isn't a game; it's the rest of your life. You want this to be done right the first time. Good luck!

I have a surgery date scheduled with Dr. Alvarez, if my insurer does not pay or if i cant get a surgery date this summer. I have been more impressed with him and his staff than I have been with my surgeon here. He took the time to do a consult with me via FaceTime and his office gave me the names of some of his patients in my area. Each of them emailed me and one even called. They all raved about him! I'm sure that all the surgeons are very good, but I am pleased with my choice!

I kinda wish I would've been told that! LOL...every time I brought it up to any of my healthcare providers, they were all YEAH TOTALLY DO THAT. And my friends were like that too. Only one ASKED me if I was 'big enough' to qualify. And no one's really ever told me I "have such a pretty face, if only I lost some weight..." I WISH. I think I'm actually not so pretty, but I'm much more attractive overall as a thinner person for sure.
One funny thing that happened recently is that someone I only knew from the WLS forums friended me on FB...and then sent me this PM: "You're much prettier than I thought you'd be!!!" Um, what? I just laughed...who knows what that means...also, who cares.

Wow! This really hits home for me. This is exactly what my Mother said to me when I told her I was taking the steps to have weight loss surgery. It stung really bad and I was having such a hard time with it. I really didn't know if it was a compliment, and if it was, why did it hurt me when she said it.
After reading your post I realize that it wasn't a compliment it was an insult and it's okay for me to think of it that way. I also don't feel I can talk to my Mother about having surgery because she will never understand why I have made this decision for myself.
It's been extremely hard because I have a surgery date and I haven't even told my Mother because I feel she doesn't support my decision. I never ever want to disappoint her but I know in my gut that this is the right decision for me.

Ok, so I go to my surgeon's support group and last night someone said something that struck me emotionally. A lady was talking about how she wants the sleeve and her husband, who was with her, was against it. After she was done talking another lady, who also didn't have the sleeve yet, said ".... but you're not that big".
Seriously???? We're at a sleeve support group and you bring that out??? Yes, the lady who said that was larger than the one with the unsupportive husband, and I think that maybe this lady was just trying to make the other feel better (compliment??), but I got so emotional and had to call the lady out on what she said.
I was told alot by friends and family that they didn't think I was big enough. I'm sure they thought of it as a compliment but really it hurt because I could never talk to them about the sleeve beyond their accusation of my size. I was 290 before I got sleeved and had tried and tried and tried and wanted to be able to diet and exercise SO BAD but I couldn't do it mentally. I came to the conclusion to do it for ME because I KNEW I needed a tool to help me, and asking for help is NOT a sign of weakness. Its a very personal decision that everyone makes to have it, and to hear someone say "you're not that big" now not only hurts but pisses me off.
So I guess what I'm saying is for people who may not be 350+ or who wear it well, don't listen to the ignorance when people try to tell you you don't need the surgery when you know in your heart that it is the right decision for you.