I was also banded by Dr. kuri and had a horrible experience. I have had my lapband two years ago this month. I had several complications. When I called his office, I could never talk with a doctor. I went to his office and was told I had to get in line with the fill people to talk with a doctor. I was told to drink hot tea and sent home. Two weeks later I again went directly to his office after being unable to talk to either Dr. Kuri or any other doctor. I was doubled over and holding my stomach. This time the office manager started hollaring at me for posting a complaint about the first time I went and couldn't get any help. Amazingly, they wouldn't help me. I went home and got on the internet and found a wonderful lapband doctor in Tijuana who I went to. He corrected the problem the next week.
To answer your question, I went to Tijuana last week for my yearly checkup with my amazing lapband doctor. It was not at all crowded walking over the border, but everyone said it was safe, and there were police all over the city. I was a little apprehensive, but everyone welcomed me and I did not see anything that alarmed me or made me think there was any danger. My taxi driver said there were problems mostly in certain cities and mostly with known drug runners