I had my surgery with Dr Contreras in June 08 and everything about it was top notch from start to finish.

When I was researching surgeons, which I did extensively, when it was all said and done he was my first choice.

He was the only one willing to do a consult on the phone with me before I ever committed to using him. He spent about 45 minutes on the phone with me explaining exactly what he does and why he does it. It was reassuring to me that I could speak with him direcly and not a coordinator.

I flew in to San Diego the morning of surgery and was met by the driver who was professional and curteous. He drove me to the hospital which is about 10-15 minutes over the border. At no time during the border crossing either way did I feel unsafe or in any danger.

Dr C met me at the door of the hospital and talked/walked me through what would happen that day. I had all my pre-op testing (Chest Xray, blood work, EKG etc done by the internal med MD and this staff. I was then taken to my room until it was surgery time.

I remember going in to the surgical suite, I remember getting the epidural but not much else after that.

I remember waking up in my room later that day. I was not in much pain at all and was walking and talking on the phone that evening. I know that I had 2 leak tests while I was in surgery ane the following morning I was taken back down for a 3d leak test which was a contrast type test. There was also a 4th leak test which involved my drinking some blue substance which had there been a leak would have been detected in the drain. Saturday evening my IV came out and I was drinking liquids with no problems. I was not a big fan of the apple juice in the hospital so Dr C went and bought me some Gatorade. I was really touched by this gesture and when I did not really like the Grape Gatorade he came back with some lemonade type Vitamin water. He was kind and gracious and wanted to make sure I had a liquid I would like drinking. I had no pain while drinking at all which was a pleasant suprise.

Friday and Saturday he saw me at least 3 times each day. Sunday morning after confirming there we no leaks he removed the drain and I was off to the hotel.

For me this was a great option since I was bored and restless in the hospital. It was a lovely hospital and the staff was great I just wanted out and since I was doing so well he saw no problem with this.

He carried my suitcase to the hotel across the street and it too was lovely, more of resort type hotel.

Dr C made sure I was comfortable even advising the staff to bring me ice regularly since I do not like drinking warm liquids. I took no pain meds after I left the hospital and had virtually no pain.

Later that evening when he came to see me for the 3d or 4th time I talked to him about me returning home before the 3 days I could have stayed were up. Since I had no pain and was drinking like a champ and could even take my oral meds with no problem he said I could leave on Monday. He stayed with me while I called the airlines to change my fiight and then set up the transportation to take me to the airport the following day. He even came the following day to make sure I was picked up on time and to make sure the driver brought a step stool thing so I could get in to the van more easily.

I have had no problems post op and this is the easiest recovery from surgery I have ever had.

I have been able to eat and drink with no problems and have had O post op problems. Dr C emailed and spoke to me several times in the weeks after my surgery and I still keep in touch with him via email.

My total cost was $8600 which included everything except RT plane fare.

I can only speak from my own experience but I found him to be experienced, very qualified and professional. On a personal level I found him to be kind and caring.

Forgive for not describing specifically enough for you. Clearly if I had NO problems post op I did not have a leak, stricture, infection or ANY other problem or complication which DOES speak to the skill of the surgeon.

We can play tit for tat endlessly. The bottom line is I had a good experience with this surgeon and I will continue to post about it.

This board is about an open forum for our PERSONAL experiences with our surgery. You can continue to talk about YOUR experience with your surgeon and I can continue to share mine.

Again, you can argue with me but you cannot argue with my results.

We are going in circles again. I never claimed you did not have a good experience and you can write it 1000 times and it does not matter. Nobody is arguing with your results.

You know, I think you battle the world so much you make assumptions that everyone is battling everything you say. It isn't so.

Congratulations on your weight loss but I would say the credit for that goes to you and not the surgeon. As we all know, a sleeve gives us a smaller stomach and you can fill a small stomach with 300 good calories or 3000 bad calories. I know many people who had RNY a year or more ago, lost to or near goal, and today are back to where they were pre-surgery. Is this because their surgeon was not skilled or because they ate themselves back to obesity?

Same name but totally different surgeon so far as I know.

As far as I know, they are the same guy.

Might want to check out your posts for veracity before posting things like this.

Ditto.

Additionally my most recent internet check (this morning) indicates it is a well know and highly rated clinic (albeit alternative medicine).

That's not what my internet search shows.

As for denying Dr. Contreras worked for Betancourt, you are the one who posted this:

I have no idea if Dr C worked for them or not.

and this:

1) He was NOT working for Betancourt when I had my surgery. I have no idea when he did and only have your word and your unreliable source for the fact that he did. I have no idea if he really did, or when he did or why he is no longer there.

In my book, that's denial. Particularly as you don't just have one person's word for it. A simple internet search would bring up many accounts of people who used him while he was at Betancourt. It's not some big secret so there is no reason to continue to insist that it's just some unsubstantiated rumor.

In my book, that's denial. Particularly as you don't just have one person's word for it. A simple internet search would bring up many accounts of people who used him while he was at Betancourt. It's not some big secret so there is no reason to continue to insist that it's just some unsubstantiated rumor.

Mac... don't you know that personal experience doesn't count? It's what we WANT to be truth that matters, nothing else. ;o)

I never said Dr C did not work for Betancourt, I have said, repeatedly that he no longer does. I am not sure how old the info you continue to put out there about him and Betancourt is or how recent the info about patients having had bad expererience with Dr C is, I, for one, would like to a link to some of these easily found internet posts. Please enlighten and educate me. I woud love to see some "proof" of what you so readily post about.

I am going to stop this endless bickering now and I look forward to seeing any posts, internets sites, links etc that both Wasa and Mac have posted about.

I never said Dr C did not work for Betancourt, I have said, repeatedly that he no longer does. I am not sure how old the info you continue to put out there about him and Betancourt is or how recent the info about patients having had bad expererience with Dr C is, I, for one, would like to a link to some of these easily found internet posts. Please enlighten and educate me. I woud love to see some "proof" of what you so readily post about.

I am going to stop this endless bickering now and I look forward to seeing any posts, internets sites, links etc that both Wasa and Mac have posted about.

Liveinphx, do you have *anything* to say about sleeves, surgery, support for newbies, anything other than your doctor and your hostility issues?

Liveinphx, do you have *anything* to say about sleeves, surgery, support for newbies, anything other than your doctor and your hostility issues?

Given that this thread is about our doctors and surgery it is what I have continue to discuss on this thread. I did post my story on that board and I just posted my "how did I do it" story. Thanks for reminding me to do that.

Given that this thread is about our doctors and surgery it is what I have continue to discuss on this thread. I did post my story on that board and I just posted my "how did I do it" story. Thanks for reminding me to do that.

Yes, it would be nice to see you posting about any topics relating to the sleeve. Advice to noobs, something, anything regarding the forum topic.

I'm glad to see you post something about your journey under your latest ID.

Obviously you are misinformed or have no idea what you are talking about. There ARE 2 Dr. Francisco Contreras's but they are NOT related to each other and they do NOT even know each other. The other Dr. Contreras is a cancer doc with a good reputation as a good dr.

I know these things because I am a previous lapband patient o fDr. Contreras and I asked him about the other dr once. Dr. Contreras is one of the best doctors I've ever had and due to a car accident, I've had MANY dr.'s and many surgeries over the years.

So shut your pie hole until you can talk about something you are educated in!