Dr. Altamirano

TJ is looking like the better of the two. Thanks for all the advice. If you have more please share. Thanks in advance

I can't wait- I'm scheduled to have surgery w/ Dr A in March. He's awesome. I highly suggest joining his FB group if you aren't already a part of it

My date is Jan. 25, and I'm definitely apprehensive taking this life-changing step, but excited too. Just to make it extra nerve-wracking, we are in the middle of the biggest snowstorm in years! Hoping the docs can get to the hospital on Monday!

This happened to me as well. 1st day post op and swelling already going down.

Thanks Dr. a, im really impressed by all the Good Stories about you. I contacted bariatric Pal Already and hope to get a Surgery date with you in june

Thank you.

I just had the sleeve with Dr. A. last week. I would do it again, it was a good experience. I am an RN as well

Ok so I have a friend whose insurance does not cover Gastric Sleeve.
I told him about mine and he has tried everything to lose weight- i'll spare you the story we all have.
He is diabetic but not on any meds because he did lose 70 pounds and since has gained 20 back. He did the medical weight loss 700 calorie a day shake thing. Yeah......
Anyway- he is self employed so I believe he is on Obama care and can not get surgery- his insurance told him it is cosmetic. I told him how great everyone is here!!!
Personally i don't feel he is all that big but I know how it feels to be overweight and desperate for a solution. He knows where he is headed back to and fast. Surgery is his way out. I have informed of all the changes he will have. We have had long talks about what it means to have surgery.
He is 6'2" and I believe somewhere around 280-290. I am not for sure.
Anyway- I see the lists of surgeons. My questions are:
1. Where does he start?
2. Success stories from Mexico?
3. How soon after surgery can he fly?
We will be coming from Indy.
4. Can I stay with him? Being in the medical field I know how important it is to have a pt advocate there with you.

My surgery is on the 9th but I can tell you from having a Skype session with him, that he is the real deal.  I am an RN and did lots of research before choosing him, and the Skype session sealed the deal.  He will also ask questions of YOU, which was a nice surprise.  He wants to make sure you understand the process and how the sleeve is a tool for you.  He has many youtube videos that are very informative as well.  I was initially against Mexico too, but Dr. A. changed my mind.  His outcomes are excellent and you can read about the hospital as well. 
 
My sweetheart won't be having the surgery, but if I had my choice I would definitely do it together.  It seems most patients do quite well.  If you book Dr. A. through BariatricPal, you will be assigned a valet and be up and shopping the next day and seeing the sights.  

Wow! This is great to hear! Thank you!

Hi everyone. Trying to decide between Dr. Altamirano and dr. Ponce de leon. They both seem to be great Doctors but they have a bit of difference in price when using the BP deal. Also, wondering if the BP deal is better since recovery is at a condo vs hotel. Any advice? Thanks in advance!!!

Hi there. I'm new to the forums. Have been reading a lot and am starting my process to get gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Altamirano through Bariatric Pal.
Since everyone is such a help I wanted to ask a few questions to those who have had their surgery in Tijuana.
If you did it over would you do it there again?
Did you feel you got personal attention?
Did you ever feel unsafe?
Was there anything you would have liked to be different?
Is there anything that would help me to know ahead of time (any advice)?
Would I be better off in the house or hotel?
Thank you in advance for your insight!

Awesome! I'll be there on June 4th if God is willing. Dr. A is gonna give me a new start. Beyond excited to see Mexico!

Just a little update. I have lost 80 pounds and feeling great!!! No regrets. And highly recommend!!!!

Surgery August 11, and lost 80 pounds. No regrets. Have felt this good sine I was a teen.

Ask her for the morbidity rate of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia?
I have been a nurse for 15 years and am dual certified as a family nurse practitioner and a psychiatric nurse practitioner and I am doing this and have no fear. This weight loss surgery is a tool and if you look at it that way and not as a cure you will be fine.
The next time someone comes at you with negativity plug your ears and say, "La La La La" and walk away.

To @@heartofthetinman ...
Reading your initial and subsequent posts, I think you are related to some of the most ignorant, selfish people I have ever read of. Sorry to talk that way about your people.
They aren't educated about this surgery. Yet they refuse to be educated about it.
They aren't showing you any love -- probably because they aren't loving people.
Your husband really is an asshole. Sight unseen.
Here's what it boils down to: Ultimately, each of us is responsible for the life we get. No matter what others do that affect us we all have to then respond. You can respond by caving in and becoming *their* victim (probably wouldn't be the first time you did that). OR you can make your decisions and have the conviction to follow through with your convictions.
Accept that your family isn't going to support you -- at least not on the front end of this, and maybe not on the back end either. Maybe never.
And what if you were wildly successful with your WLS and they never supported you -- because they (semi-consciously) felt how wrong they'd been, but didn't have the balls to own up to their ignorance and errors? You could still go on and live a much, much, much better and longer life than you will live as an obese person with all the health issues that come with that.
You can bitch about them. And that's OK. But you still have to make your own decision. And you have to stick with it every day thereafter -- if you truly want to build a better life for yourself.
I honestly, truly wish for you a better, happier, healthier life than you've got now. Things can get much better for you if you choose that different life.

When I first began to look into this surgery I went to the class that my hospital provides and to meet the surgeons. I found out that because I do not have diabetes my insurance won't pay for it so I began to look at alternatives. As a nurse I pay close attention to medical issues. I read about the surgeons in Mexico and they do perform this way more often than the 2 surgeons that do it at the hospital where I work.
I had eye surgery in Canada years ago because it was cheaper and when I got there and met the surgeon I found out he TAUGHT the surgeons in my state (Montana) how to do this new procedure. And he did the surgery every day, not just a few times per month.
Yes we have great medical care int he U.S. (if you can afford it) but that does not mean our hospitals are the only place to get good and safe care. I have not one fear about my choice to go to Mexico except the normal fear that anyone would have with a medical procedure and anesthesia.
Good luck to you OP and thank you Dr. Altamirano and all of the surgeons that make this available to folks that would otherwise suffer.

Well I am finally here in Tijuana after a long day of flying from Kentucky. I am here at the Bariatric Pal House. It is very nice! Me and my husband are the only two here tonight so we have it all to ourselves. My surgery is at 2pm local time tomorrow. Please send positive thoughts and prayers my way. I can't believe I am so close to my new life! It is very exciting. )

Hi everyone,
I am officially band-free! I had the band removed last Saturday and the surgery went great! I feel so much better and the best part: being able to eat and drink at the same time. I didn't realized how much I missed being able to take a sip with my meal until now. I doing okay in terms of eating -- I gave myself last week to eat whatever I wanted, and this week I started a diet. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I opted not to have another WLS, instead I'm going to try dieting on my own and see a food therapist. It's going to be hard but I'm taking it slowly this time. I'm not looking for results right away like I did with diets in the past. I gave myself a longer goal that I know I can manage. Hopefully it works out!
~M

I would love some information, I definitely want to have surgery in Mexico and thought I picked a great doctor. However reading more about this doctor I'm very interested.

Yup, I meant Dr Altamirano, sorry about the confusion and thanks for the warning.

Not Dr. Almanza. Dr. Altamirano is the Dr. A I believe she means and he is wonderful.

I have just scheduled my Skype session with Dr. A! I have already met with a doctor here in the states. Total costs 19K as my insurance won't cover. Any advice on important questions? Also, I saw a YouTube video which mentioned the doctor they used wasn't very sterile between surgeries. My biggest concern is infection. Has anyone had any issues with this facility and cleanliness?

I am new here.
This just confirms my decision to tell no one in my family except my mother (she had gastric bypass in the early 70s when it was in it's infancy). I will not tell my kids (mostly adults) nor my husband nor anyone I work with. I do not want the skeptics or naysayers. I don't want anyone to tell me "no" or my husband to sabotage me.
This seems like a good place to get support so keep coming back here.
Good luck!