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WOW!! Just had lapband surgery in Tijuana, Mexico 10 days ago!!



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Okay, okay, I know there are a million skeptics out there..but while going to college in San Diego I couldn't afford American insurance and so I would get medical treatment in Mexico instead. I did this because, frankly, I couldn't afford American medical insurance or care AND because anything I needed as a young adult (common colds, dental work, flu, checkups, etc..) could be taken care of quite easily, quickly, and with better service than I typically received in the U.S.

So fast forward 10 years, I'm a professional now that works with computers and have gained about 80 pounds of excess weight. My American insurance denied my lapband procedure although my doctor thinks its a great idea to get it...I make enough money to pay for the procedure but thought, why not save some money and get the procedure done in Mexico...after about 6 months of research, saving money, and working up enough courage, I finally made the jump and had the procedure done in Mexico at Jeruselem Hospital by Dr. Mario Almana Reyes.

The result?? Well, I still have my liver!! Ha-ha, actually, I am extremely pleased with the service I got there...they were extremely professional and seemed to do a great job! Now don't get me wrong, it's only been 10 days and so far I've only lost 9 pounds...was hoping I'd lose a little more by this point but I haven't even had my first fill yet so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But I will say that before the procedure they took lab work (blood), had a cardiologist run an EKG on me (not an RN or medical assistant...a real cardiologist), the primary physician, and an anesthesiologist...after surgury I spent two days at a guest house where doctors, nurses, and maids kept the house safe and checked up on me.

Before leaving I was given a barium x-ray to make sure the Allergen product was working correctly, Allergen documents and serial number card so I can authenticate that the Allergen lapband was made and purchased in America (the only authorized dealer of lapbands), and all the medications I needed including pain medication and antibiotics.

All in all, I was nervous, hell, who wouldn't be when going under the knife? But I was impressed, they did a very good job. Oh, and the price?? You couldn't beat the price...seriously.........$4,250 with lifetime free fills.

So if your considering this procedure and Mexico, think of this facility, I'd vouch for them.:smile2:

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That is wonderful! I too went to Mexico for surgery. Insurance wouldn't pay (specific exclusion for ANY type of WLSurgery) blah, blah, blah. I saw Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana and I LOVED HIM! His entire practice was awesome. I know how it is when you say you're going to Mexico for surgery, people look at you like you are on fire. Thankfully, we both did great. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!

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I'm in central Ohio and we have alot of self pays who go to Michigan. Apparently there's a surgeon up there that does cash for about $6000. Glad it all went in Mexico.

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I am going to Tijuana in Sept. I am from central canada. This is a big trip. I am nervous about the long flight back. I have to make two stops to get home. I was wondering about the pain with flying?

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I went to Mexico too and had a great experience. I went to Cancun and went several days early so that I could have a great vacation. I have no complaints about the surgery there and the hospital room was like a 5 Star hotel.

I too got my box and documentation along with serial # of my Allergan band and have registered it with them and gotten the WLS Card with no issues.

My fill doctor has twice complimented the placement of both my band and port and even asked for the contact info for my Mexican doctor to pass on to patients who cannot afford to pay for it in the US

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Does anyone know if they use FDA approved bands at Mt.Zion in Tijuana?

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No, but that is a question I would be asking.

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This is a glaringly-obvious planted post -- a commercial.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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