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Here you go!! Dr. Aceves is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. (FACS.org) This means that the American College of Surgeons has done an extensive background check on the doctor. He has to exceed the same standards as a US surgeon. His background is completely verified, his licensing, credentials, certifications, absolutely everything. If he does not maintain his reputation and current standards he cannot maintain his affiliation with the FACS. FACS is a really impressive issue in the world of medicine. Not all US doctors can maintain the background and honesty necessary to be a Fellow of the ACS. But Dr. Aceves can. There is a doctor in MX that claims to have almost 600 VSG procedures completed. He claims to have been doing this procedure for 3.5 years. Yet according to his CV he was just trained in the procedure 2.5 years ago. We know full well he has not done as many VSG procedures as he claims but unless you know what to look for you won't know that his statistics are impossible. This is why going to an FACS surgeon is critical whether you are going to a US or MX surgeon. Surgeons from all over the world (including the US) inflate their stats so they appear more experienced than they are. If they told the truth about their inexperience they wouldn't get any business. So, they are less than honest. Dr. Aceves is the Vice President of the Mexican version of the American Bariatric Assn. This is a position that is voted, so the doctors of MX voted him into this position. They recently voted again and he will be President this year. There is another organization called the International Federation of Surgical Obesity. (IFSO.com) This is an organization where weight loss surgeons all over the world belong. A few years ago Dr. Aceves holds the position of Secretary for this organization so this means that even the US doctors voted him into this office. Dr. Aceves is a proctor surgeon meaning he trains other doctors in various bariatric procedures. He typically travels to one country a month and either attends lectures to further his own knowledge on the new advances in medicine or he trains other doctors in various surgical procedures. He recently returned from Chile and Argentina training their doctors in the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. He trains US surgeons in the various procedures as well. Mexico has been doing the sleeve longer than US doctors and there are simply very few doctors willing to train other US doctors because then they would have competition. Dr. Aceves believes competition in this procedure is good as patients have more surgeons to choose from. Dr. Aceves has done 1,000 Gastric Sleeves, and over 1,000 Gastric Bypass procedures. This means he has over 2000staple lines, a technique that is critical in a safe surgery for a VSG procedure. When researching surgeons you want someone that has done at least 250 VSG and at least 250 Gastric Bypass procedures. The reason is that the Gastric Bypass procedure has a very difficult staple line. It is an interrupted staple line and quite difficult to do. If a surgeon can do the more difficult Gastric Bypass staple line, he can do the easier VSG staple line. There are only 50 VSG surgeon world-wide that have done at least 250 VSG procedures *and* have excellent stats. Dr. Aceves is the only doctor in Mexico that has done over 1,000 VSG and never had a major complication. Leaks are a potential problem with this procedure but he has a technique where he over sews the staple line and we believe this one of the many reasons he has only had one leak with a VSG. I think one big issue here to remember is that just because someone is practicing in the US, that does not make them a good or skilled surgeon. Just because someone is in MX does not mean they are not a skilled surgeon or a person without ethics. I had a choice to go to any surgeon I wanted for my own sleeve and the only doctor I wanted to go to was Dr. Aceves. He is the surgeon with the most skill, the best stats, the best reputation, and the safest location. Another upside to going to Dr. Aceves. In the US if you have the VSG you will likely spend one night in the hospital. Dr. Aceves does not agree with this. He keeps you in a fully equipped hospital for three nights following surgery. He believes you need to be medically supervised, have a total of three leak tests to be 100% certain you have no leak upon returning home, and he wants someone monitoring your vital signs, drain tube, and he wants someone available to manage your pain should you have any. He does not believe in sending you home before three nights/four days. Keep in mind, he is completely and totally depend on reputation for business. He has no insurance companies referring patients. He has to do it by reputation. Dr. Aceves has been operating on US citizens for many years. He wouldn't have the reputation he does if he didn't do the best possible job for each patient. . He has another belief,; he only hires educated people around him. training. His Office Manager is an engineer by trade. Her Office Assistant is a Law student. His OR techs (OR techs are used in the US and typically have 9 months of training) are actually 4 year RNs. His hospital coordinator is a retired teacher that previously taught English in the MX school system. His Aftercare Specialist is a PhD. She is a licensed psychologist in MX and available to all Dr. Aceves patients by phone or email. I think you'll find that he meets or exceeds the standards of any US doctor or hospital.

On the back of the Medicare card there's an 800 number. Call and tell them you're looking for a bariatric surgeon in your area that accepts Medicare. That way it's only ONE phone call and you can get your information! I have Medicare and was banded on 5/5/08. No 6 month diet, very easy.

You might want to try Dr. Cribbins or Dr. Hamm in Plano. They operate at Plano Presby which is a Center for Excellance which I believe Medicare requires. If they don't, the bariatric coordinator at Plano Presby might know.

What are your doctor's instructions??? Each are diff and just cuz mine had me on mushies at that stage (I had to do 10 days each stage full liquids - mushies - soft - regular) so by 21 days out I was moving to mushies.. Refried Beans (fat free with a little 2% cheese) And at the end of my full liquids I was eating about 1 cup of soups. Are you getting 60 grms of Protein in daily??? Or I should say what are your doc's instruction on protein - but I would say that most want you to get 60 grms a day - and on the 1st 3 phase I had to incoporate clear Protein drinks (like crystal lite but with protein - ck out Bariatric Choice - they have the clear protein drinks - 70 calories and 15 grms pt...

To the OP: PLEASE post this in the Mexico forum, they need to know! I find the statement about US doctors being a safer or more advanced option to be arrogant, and honestly misinformed. I am a surgical technician in the USA, and I have to respond to this. Mexico is not a bad place to live for everyone who lives there, and upon investigating their laws and medical practices and training for the past 2 years- it actually rivals the USA. I can seen where a Mexican MD would prefer to raise a family in Mexico, and be around their family. My Dr. (Dr. Kelly) is also a US medical doctor, and visits here frequently to actually train US surgeons- he prefers to be in Mexico, where he was born and his family is. Property is much cheaper there, and the education system is actually much better than our public school system, and cheaper for private school. There are people who choose to live in Mexico, not because the USA isn't an option, but because they genuinely are happy there. I met a nice couple from Canada who has VSG in Mexico, when I mentioned the USA they gasped and said "I would never let an American doctor perform this surgery!"- also a prejudgement based on bias, but it goes both ways. It stands to reason that a surgeon who performs 5 sleeves a day for many years is going to naturally be more skilled than a doctor who performs 2 a week- it does not matter what country you are in. There are amazing doctors in the USA and Mexico, and there are shady doctors in the USA and Mexico. Though we would like to believe that if a US surgeon left us badly injured there would be justice or a revision surgery to correct it, the reality is they are set up for malpractice law suits- those forms you sign aren't just for fun. Though I think most surgeons would jump to correcting a complication here, there is no guarantee you are "safe" in the event of a complication. That said, it's obviously much harder to pursue a doctor whose surgery resulted in a complication if they are in Mexico and you are in the USA. There is little to no justice you can get, other than alerting other patients. I will say, when ever I've called or e-mailed Dr. Kelly, I've had a detailed response in 30 minutes or less to my concerns. When I've had concerns that would require a visit, he referred me to an independent bariatric surgery practice in my area (Los Angeles) that is very reasonably priced for visits, and performs VSG. I've felt very, very, very cared for through this process. The only surgeons in the USA I have real cell phone numbers for are friends of mine- a treating doctor rarely gives out that kind of information here. The OP also did not has VSG, she/he had plication, which is a different procedure altogether. It would be good to alert them on Sleeveplicationtalk.com instead of here. I chose VSG after my research because I didn't trust the results of plication. nor having a pprtion of my stomach "tied up" in a sense.

I am so disappointed - the bariatric coordinator told me when we spoke two weeks ago that she had everything and was going to submit for approval from my insurance company that day. I called today just to double check and see if any progress had been made with the approval. When I called today I got the other bariatric coordinator who told me that they had not even submitted! She looked at my file and said that indeed everything was set to be submitted and she wasn't sure why it had not been submitted already. She is going to submit tomorrow and now I will begin the waiting game all over again. This isn't the first time this girl has dropped the ball either.... My husband called the office because I was so upset and they weren't super nice to him although I heard the conversation and he was calm and not hostile or rude at all. I'm afraid they will now purposely delay it longer. Has anyone ever switched doctors at this point? Would they give all my information to another's doctors office? Any advice is appreciated!!!

forget about his medical diet and move on to another pcp right away - my pcp is the one who recommended I speak with a bariatric surgeon, and I think that's how it should be - prior pcp's just kept pushing the "eat less and move around more" philosophy on me - it's like are you even paying attention? if it were that simple I wouldn't look like this now! - since switching to my current pcp, I have absolutely zero tolerance for physicians that talk around the issue instead of getting on board with real solutions best of luck to you, I hope you find a good doctor soon

oh good!!! I hope you're able to get a surgery date that soon!!! My partner is having bypass with Dr. Soloman and we're hoping for the end of March/beginning of April!! Oh, and after you see Dr. Takahashi, they are going to have you do a 4 hour bariatric surgery class over where the support groups are. I had to wait 3 weeks to get into that class because the first one was full and I think it's only offered every two weeks. They sure make you jump through a ton of hoops!!!!

Hello! I began my pre-op diet today as well In my case it's for 2 weeks and I am on the 'Bariatric Advantage' product per my doc. It's the Protein powder shakes (I got chocolate, orange cream, and strawberry) and also the Protein Bars. I'm supposed to be on 4-5 shakes and 1-2 bars per day (plus all the crystal light I can drink). The bars look like something I might clean up after my cat (gross) but don't taste too bad. The shakes will take some getting used to, pretty chalky but not too bad. I'll have to see how I feel about it in a few days Hang in there!

I have Med Mutual also, but realize that there are LOTS of different plans within their complany. I did my diet with the Bariatric center and that is what they said I had to do for the insurance. You could always call your insurance and ask them to give you the list of their requirements. That might give you some peace of mind. Hope you had a good day at work!

Hi everyone, My name is Melissa. I am from Ottawa - those of you from Northwest OH probably know where that is. ( 1/2 hour from Findlay). I had my band placed on 10/6/06 at the Cleveland Clinic. I wanted to go the best- my surgeon Dr. Schauer has performed thousands of surgeries and is the President of the American Bariatric Surgery Society. I've lost 86lbs since October and I feel great. I finally weigh less than 200lbs - it's been 10+ years since I could say that. Nice meeting all of you - do any of you attend a support group? Someone was trying to form one in Lima but it didn't work out - only 2 people showed.

Thanks - I'll check it out. There was another support group in Lima but you had to be a patient of theirs - which since I went to the Cleveland Clinic didn't apply to me. I would have to say the secret to my success is exercise. I've had the mindset since the start that the lapband is only a tool - it's not a miracle cure. I'm I was going to have to work really hard - it also helped that my sister works in the bariatric dept at the Clinic and I couldn't fail and embarrass her or myself :-) I make sure I eat my Protein and drink Water. I lost 50lbs by x-mas - eating only 1000 calories a day and exercising 5-7 times a week. My weight loss has slowed down compared to what it was but I'm still loosing 1lb a week - which my doctor is happy with. I'm eating a few more calories - probably around 1200-1400 and exercising 3-4 times a week - so I'm sure that has alot to do with my weight loss slowdown. I better get ready for work - talk to everyone later.

First thing in the morning: sublingual Vitamin B-12 - 1x per day (1 total) calcium citrate plus Magnesium - 2x per day (4 total) > I take the second dose before bed. Vitamin D3, 5,000 IU - 1x per day (1 total) Potassium, 3% RDA - 1x per day (1 total) With Breakfast: Multi Vitamin plus Minerals - 1x per day (1 total) Ferrous Sulfate (Iron) - 1x per day (1-2 total) One hour before dinner: Calcium Citrate Lozenge from Bariatric Advantage (I forget half the time!) Omega 3-6-9 (4x per week or when I remember) Before Bed: Last dose of Calcium Citrate, 2 Pills Biotin, 2,500 mcg That is a lot, but it has kept me healthy with all of the rapid weight loss and my hefty workouts. There are a lot of vitamins/minerals in all Protein shakes too! In time I plan to reduce the amount I'm taking, especially one dose of calcium and the biotin as well since my hair loss has stopped, finally.

I was curious if any of you post op people have had problems drinking this particular shake. A FB group I just joined was saying it was the wrong type of Protein & suggested it can cause dumping. Yet Kaiser's bariatric pgm highly recommends it. Just curious if this is just a certain group bashing other drinks in order to sell their's or if it's truly not the best option. Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've had it every day and I'll be 1 year post-op RNY 4/21/16! Love it as my coffee creamer and when I make Protein pudding and frozen pudding pops My NUT at Mayo gives it 2 thumbs up and my Bariatric team there has been nothing short of wonderful! Down 120 lbs. so no complaints from me.

So the office staff hates you? Well wah wah on them! Don't they realize they upset,my little Moondoggie🐶, why should they be allowed to eat when everything you do comes right back barreling,up? I am peeved with them on your behalf. Now for an update on me. I went tomeet the 3 wise people at the OSU Bariatric center. First I met Valerie my nurse practitioner,a little difference in skin pigmentation but super smart, super efficient and very pleasant to talk to. Seemed like and/or accept everything on my medical history. Only jarri,g thing she asked. was " Am I Bipolar?" told her I was never diagnosed so I didn't think so, should have asked if Dr Kramer the staff psychologist thought I was. Then I met with the. dietician/nutritionist Roy, yeah a thin young handsome dude, he swiched me to prenatal vitamins for the iron , told me I basically was okay on my diet because he wanted me to,⬆my calorie count, didn't really give me a structuralized diet. Then I met with Kelly the exercise physiologist, she told me and gave me some sheets to follow. Well the next day I did 1 set of repetitions of the exercises and nearly lamed myself so I'm back to the gentle walking etc I was doing all along. Friday I finally heard from Jessica my case manager/facilitator. She had been out of town for a conference the 24 and25, so I didn't meet her then face-to-face. Then she was out until Thursday for a prolonged Memorial Day holiday. Finally talked for a brief time Thursday, find out my clearances for pulmonary and cardiology had gotten lost so I had to request they be defaced. Then there is v the matter of the EGD, I am running into a little trouble getting it refaxed, you see my gastroenterologist closed his local practice v down and,left town. I suspect I know where he relocated to but I'm not certain. Promised I would fax all the paperwork he gave me but if that isn't enough I'll have to go through my third EGD in 3 years. I will receive a letter on official stationary welcoming me to this next step of this process. Heard from another portion that my presurgical blood labs which they already went and did show I have a deficiency in Vitamins A and D, so I have to pick them up at Wal-Mart Monday. My landlord and I are not getting along for several reasons and I realized it may be possible to go into a house of my own . He refuses to make repairs, wishes $39.000 because of the amount of land. The house has v deteriated to equal condition of one offered locally for $15,000,the only thing mine has better is I still have working ceiling fixtures instead of wires hanging down. He has taken the majority of my rental monies and repaired his own home at the expense of Mine. So his Mon u we are in escrow at this point. I have an insurance settlement that might find a down payment and monthly morgage paymentscless than what I pay now. Just watch, settlement, threat of eviction , surgery and housing relocation will all fall in the same week or 10 days. What next? Oh I have a lump growing on the inner surface of my left arm right above the elbow. One doctor says it is a lipoma, a fatty tumor, maybe so but it is enlarging quickly. Almost the size of a wiggle or tennis ball cut in half. Hmmmm? And now. the only further problem is I need a 30 day stretch of C Pap usage electronically validated so no surgery until July 1st.😲

Shay I didn't have any co- morbities either, but my BMI was 42 that alone qualified me. I have Aetna. Be sure to contact your insurance company an get the facts. I know with Aetna I was able to go online & print their clinical policy for bariatric surgey.

I used Acadiana Bariatrics in Lafayette. Dr Gachassin very good, very caring personality. My surgery was at Lafayette General Hospital.

I am 54 years old, and have fought the battle of the bulge for all my life. I remember when I wad younger I couldn't find clothes to fit me right so I would buy my jeans in the boys section. I started Weight Watchers at the young age of 16! I married at the age of 19' we had our first daughter after I graduated from Nursing School. I weighed 132 at the beginning of my pregnancy. Never could get back down to my ore pregnant weight again! By the time I realized it, I was pregnant with our second child. They are 13 months apart. I loved being a mother, worked part time. Life was good. Always joining rejoining WW, or trying every new fad diet available. We have another daughter 3 years later. Family complete! Still back and forth with the diets. Never being able to drop the weight. Around the age of 40, I think I weighed around 200 lbs, hoping to see the wonder100's again. It never happened. I was always the biggest mom in my children's classes. I love being around people, and I think very outgoing, but as the weight continues to go upward, I went inward. The beginning if a very deep depression, which I sought counseling for, and still am. But the weight keep going up and up. Jenny Craig came into my life, I between Weight Watchers, etc, etc, etc...you know the picture. 2000 rolls around we have a lot of family tragedies, loss of brother inlays and sister in law in bridge accident, son lost 2 best friends, my comfort, food food, and more food, to bring me comfort! Weddings come around, my husband says, we need to lose the weight, so we aren't fat in all these pictures! Pictures last forever. nicely put. We all joined WW! My daughter (the bride ) made her goal! Me however gained everything they lost! Now for my sons wedding, I found a new "weight loss diet". Medifast! Did good for awhile, lost about 30 lbs, wore a size 16 dress! Quickly gained the weight back after getting off the diet! No surprises. Our last daughter got married in November of last year, husband once again, same statement. But life gets in the way! My mothers health was failing rapidly, my prayer is she would live to see her youngest granddaughter get married. She passed away on my daughters birthday, (yes the one who got married) 1 month, and 10 days before the wedding! 8 days after my mom died, we had a new granddaughter, so there was our ray of sunshine! 22 days later, my husbands best friend died from a brain tumor, then 11 days later, our daughter was married. Well what does one due in those situations you know eat, eat, eat! I had to let my dress out. How embarrassing! I just bought it in August! I was just too much! January of 2014 I weighed 261 at the dr. Office I as devastated. She was so nice, get the weight of she suggested Weight Watchers! Lol! In March a dr. Approached me asking me if I ever thought of doing the sleeve! I always swore I wouldn't do Bariatric surgery! Well never say never! One more diet, try Herbalife, well that lasted 2 months, I was in the dr. Office! My initial weight at her office is 255 so that is my official weight! That is my long drawn out story! I am ready to begin my new chapter, am hoping September 30th in a new start. Still awaiting insurance approval. Hopefully hear tomorrow!!! Sorry this was so long! Thanks for the support on this board. It is most helpful! [ attachment=48133:ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1411351975.746728.jpg] My husband and I I had lost 13 lbs. here!

I just bought some new soft chewables from Walgreens. The name of the product is U-Be-Livin-Smart General Health. These are made with fruits and whey Protein. It has about the same as the Bariatric Advantage ones, and taste a lot better! It does have 2g of carbs but also 2g of protein. If can take a picutre of the box later and add it I will, but this will work in the meantime: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/u-be-livin-smart-general-health-dietary-supplement-chews/ID=prod6263786-product

I did know a RNY person that turned to alcohol instead of food and it ruined his life - he lost his job, ability to drive and other things. I still think many bariatric programs need to mandate therapy for 6 months prior ad 1 year after because so many people fail to find a coping mechanism to replace food and have a multitude of reasons behind the symptom of using food. There is of course a wide spectrum to disordered eating and many are unwilling to admit or tackle that - oh I just eat too much, etc.

It has been one of those days to say the least. I called my insurance to check the status of my recently submitted papers for approval for bariatric surgery. To my dismay I was told I was denied because it wasn't medically neccessary. How can that be? My BMI is currently 66 and my weight is 422. I have sleep apnea and yes I sleep with a machine. I am borderline diabetic. I have high blood pressure. I have high cholesterol. I've got arthritis in my lower back, right hip, and my pelvis, making it very painful to do anything. I have Sciatic Nerve damage. I have Carpel Tunnel in both arms, and hands. I am ALWAYS out of breath. EVERYDAY I live in misery from the pain, and yet they say its not "Medically Neccessary". Are you kidding me? So now they are requesting a Peer to Peer with my bariatric surgeon, and yet the lady that handles the insurance stuff at the doctors office says she hasn't gotten a request. When they told me they sent one over, and their waiting on a response by tomorrow or else that's their final decision. I don't know what to do. I have come to far to give up now. I made sure I got clearance from my PCP, the Pulomonary Doctor, the Cardiologist, and the Gastroenterologist, and they ALL said it was "Medically Neccessary" for me to have the surgery. I also sent the last 10 years of medical papers showing that I have been battling with my weight forever. So now what? Does anyone know about Peer to Peer meetings and what are the chances of approval after having one?

Thank you. I’m calling again tomorrow to tell them I want to come in ASAP and I’m not taking no for an answer. I’m actually thinking about switching Bariatric doctors (if such a thing is possible after surgery). I also plan on going to the hospital to get all my records from the EGD to the surgery to the ER visit for dehydration. This is just completely ridiculous. But thank you for responding. Just talking to people about it makes me feel better.

I'm saddened to read all these stories. A general reminder to everyone that obesity is a complex, chronic condition that has psychological, social, hormonal, metabolic components. It needs to be managed carefully, and bariatric surgery is one tool out of many. For weight loss, it is the only serious tool so far, but weight loss is symptomatic treatment and likely not root-cause treatment. I can't think of a more desperate situation than having a restrictive-only surgery (band, sleeve) with an untreated eating disorder. I really empathize with that. However, there's hope. Therapy (and especially good group therapy, as it were) is powerful to help with EDs. Restrictive-only surgeries definitely work for some people, but I can't stress enough how awesome it is to have the powerful hormonal help a true malabsorptive procedure gives you. I'm sure the DS'ers / Loop DS'ers / SADI-S / SIPS etc. people will agree with us MGB'ers about that. So the sleeve isn't the final destination, and therapy is a more powerful tool against the root causes - bariatric surgery only fixes the physical side of things. Best of luck!

I was so so nervous and discouraged about the 1,200 calorie diet the surgeon wanted me to do, but it has turned out to be okay. I go over the calorie limit much of the time, but not by much, and I am able to take it in stride and not beat myself up over it. But lately it has been easier to control my eating (I almost feel like the promise of surgery is bolstering my spirits), but half of the days I still have that deep deep hunger that just won't seem to go away. I'm not sure how long I'd be able to keep up this diet without the eventual help of the surgery, but I seem to be doing okay with it for now. YAY! In other news... wow, it is hard to get a bariatric psych evaluation. All of the qualified individuals in my provider network are extremely backed-up, and many of them are not taking new clients. It is frustrating because I will be done with all of the other requirements by the end of July, but my psych eval appointment is at the end of October! I can't even get a surgery date set until after I've had the evaluation. I'd rather not have to wait that long, but I don't know of viable alternatives... ...Except I was googling and I saw bariatricpsychevaluations.com - I am not sure what to think about it... if I could get it done more quickly, paying $150 seems like it would be worth it, but is it legit? I was able to find a few reviews, and it seems to be split half-and-half - some people are happy, but other people never got their evaluation sent to their surgeon. Hard to know what to do. To be safe, I should probably just be patient and wait until October, but I need to have this surgery, and now that I've made up my mind about it, I don't want to wait. I need to be healthy YESTERDAY.