Has anyone had successful, safe surgery in Mexico? Where did you go, and what doctor/clinic did you use?

I was successfully banded on 9/30/09 by Dr. Lopez-Corvala at Hospital Angeles in Tijuana. The process went smoothly from start to finish and I've had no problems post-surgery. The total cost of the surgery and hospitalization was $6500. The facility was modern and clean, and the surgical staff were all knowledgeable and attentive.

Thank you. Specifics are very helpful.

I went to a lap band seminar on Monday and the doctor there said he had a girl come to him wanting to get her fills from him and had had her surgery in Mexico. I don't know how he knew I think she said she was able to eat just like normal so he checked her out. Come to find out they put in her portal but didn't put in the band! Something about there financials system there...there was no way she could sue or get her money back! She was just out of that $. That is really the only thing I have heard about Mexico lap band! Hope this helps you make your decision...kinda like that saying if it sounds to good to be true it probably isn't! :biggrin:

I was successfully banded on 1/8/2010 by Dr. Lopez Corvala. Everything was fantastic from the planning to current. The hospital was beautiful and clean, the surgery and the staff were wonderful and the after care as far as phone calls and such (for my own dumb mistakes- not following directions) has been wonderful too. I paid $5995 and was picked up at the airport and taken to the hospital for 2 nights then a 5 star hotel for a night then back to the airport. It was a great experience. I highly recommend Dr. Lopez Corvala and his team. They represent health care as it should be!

I went to a LAP-BAND® seminar on Monday and the doctor there said he had a girl come to him wanting to get her fills from him and had had her surgery in Mexico. I don't know how he knew I think she said she was able to eat just like normal so he checked her out. Come to find out they put in her portal but didn't put in the band! Something about there financials system there...there was no way she could sue or get her money back! She was just out of that $. That is really the only thing I have heard about Mexico LAP-BAND®! Hope this helps you make your decision...kinda like that saying if it sounds to good to be true it probably isn't! :biggrin:

These seminars are designed to bring in money for the doctor that is hosting the seminar... i think they will tell you anything they can to scare you.

I debated the band for over 3 years before doing it and know dozens of people who went to mexico for the surgery and not one that had any problems. Other than not following the rules and not loosing the weight... but that's not a banding issue...

Dr. Ortiz from Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico did my mom's surgery a couple weeks ago. I am going to the same place next month. She was VERY pleased with Dr. Ortiz, him and his staff were very professional and knowledgeable and everything went as smoothly as it possibly could! She just loved the staff and the doctor and I am excited to go there myself next month! We paid $6800 each out of pocket, fills will cost $100 if we go back there, so that is a pretty good deal I think, also.

I also want to add that it has been legal in Mexico longer than here in the US, so I would think they would have more experience than US doctors, which helped me make my decision.

Edited January 21, 201016 yr by janellody

Janelle, you beat me to it!

I did have my surgery with Dr. Ortiz, who was one of the doctors who developed the lapband. He actually wrote a book on it, which is available through Amazon.com--Lap Band for Life.

Saying you get what you pay for is true in many instances. When you're talking medical care outside of our country, though, it isn't always true. There are many reasons why medical care is less expensive in Mexico and other countries, and it is not because the quality of care isn't as good or better.

You will find good and bad doctors in Mexico and the US and stories about bad surgeries from both these countries and all other countries.

Do not discount Mexico as a viable option just because it's outside the United States. I went there because the cost was 2/3 less than what it would have cost me in the US and my insurance wouldn't pay here in the states. But now, having been through it there and knowing the number of these that Dr. Ortiz has done (more than any US surgeon that I'm aware of), I would probably choose to have him do the surgery even if I could have it done here in the US with insurance.

The only downside to me is the distance. But I live on the west coast, so I can be there in a few hours. And there are fill doctors in my city and state that will do fills for people who have had surgery in Mexico.

If you do your research, you can very safely have lapband surgery in Mexico. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

I was successfully banded on 1/8/2010 by Dr. Lopez Corvala. Everything was fantastic from the planning to current. The hospital was beautiful and clean, the surgery and the staff were wonderful and the after care as far as phone calls and such (for my own dumb mistakes- not following directions) has been wonderful too. I paid $5995 and was picked up at the airport and taken to the hospital for 2 nights then a 5 star hotel for a night then back to the airport. It was a great experience. I highly recommend Dr. Lopez Corvala and his team. They represent health care as it should be!

Hey, I too went to Dr Corvala and recieved the same treatment!

The hospital was beautiful and state of the art!

I go back every month for a fill with Dr Carmen

William168: I was banded 1 month after you with Dr Corvala!

Did both of you receive a 5 cc band?

Can you believe that other post above stating their Doctor put a port with no band... Yeah right!