Hi. After some research, I'm basically sold on the procedure, but need some help narrowing down the best surgeons and facilities. I'm going to be a self-pay patient but price is not my priority. I want the best surgeon and team. I live in southern CA so am close to resources in Mexico, Orange County, San Diego, Palm Springs, or Los Angeles.

Who would you recommend and why?

I've read numerous recommendations for Dr. Ariel Ortiz, but the thought of Tijuana scares me to death. Many have said the facilities are top notch and the hotel is 5 star, but the photos don't look 5 star to me. 3 stars maybe with a big pool. I would never go anywhere near Tijuana for any purpose, so I cannot imagine having a medical procedure there. don't want to be blinded by college trips to the scummy bars on Revolucion, but quite honestly, I associate the city with filth, stench, crazy taxi drivers, poverty, panhandling, crime, preschoolers selling gum, etc.

Another option would be Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, but I saw that their physicians have not done anywhere near as many Lap Bands as Dr. Ortiz. They've done tons of gastric bypass surgeries, but that is not what I want. The reviews are not as consistently glowing as those for Dr. Ortiz, but the aftercare program seems to be more structured.

Ideas? Thanks. Kelli

OLD (previously-)banded person here. When I first started looking, Quebbeman had done about 30 bands and Cedars was the only other local option. To me, everyone else is still a "newbie" at this.

Even other surgeons mention that Quebbeman is arrogant...pot-kettle? (I haven't met him, but I even found his office staff to be arrogant. And I'm USED TO Newport-Beach-caliber-arrogance, where he used to do all his surgeries.) I have found Cedars to be a monumental bureaucracy but once you get through the phone games and the who-calls-whom-back BS, the people have been very nice. I've never met Dr. Billy, but he is the MOST responsive US doctor I have encountered locally (although--obviously--Pleatman and Curry are responsive, even to the patients of other surgeons and pre-ops), and Billy's staff is very kind, as well. Like most wls practitioners, most of the locals do more than one procedure.

LET ME OPINE HERE, BASED ON YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Yes, you need a skilled surgeon, no doubt about it. Fifty band placements would be my absolute low-end cut-off. However, the band--unlike the other WLS-types--is mostly about the aftercare. (I'm currently seven months out from the "huge, life-threatening, organ-rearranging" DS surgery. I've seen my surgeon maybe three times since he pulled the drains a week post-op. With the band, by seven months out, I had already had about five adjustments and I had many more after that.) SOME people get the band and walk away, needing nothing more. MOST need several adjustments. SOME need many adjustments. A good surgeon can figure out which is which, so it's all about the aftercare. There are many surgeons who can properly place the band...but then they have NO IDEA what to do with the patient and her problems post-op.

(Also, just my personal observation, but I think surgeons go into to a surgical specialty because they like doing their magic on people who leave them alone while they do it, having a follow-up to make sure it worked, and then moving on. At the risk of being rude to any surgeon reading this, I suspect that having the patient out cold is a job perq... The "counseling" part of LapBand follow up is NOT something most surgeons have trained in...probably because it just doesn't appeal to most of them. Submarine captains and aircraft fighter squadron leaders are good at what THEY do but would probably not do well exchanging jobs.)

Now, about hospitals. Yes, both Kuri and Ortiz NOW practice in lovely hospitals...or so I'm told and I believe the people who are telling me. But, from what I've read, there is NOTHING in Tijuana that even vaguely resembles the many teaching--and other--hospitals we have at our disposal here. (That is why I went to Monterrey. I got Rumbaut's experience and a teaching hospital. Someone wrote that the hospital Rumbaut uses is where a US president who became ill or injured in that part of the world would be taken. But I haven't checked out that claim.)

I had one guy in Brea who wouldn't do an adjustment without endoscopy. (ka-CHING.) At UC Irvine, the surgeon and staff were very comprehensive in everything but what I needed. That is, as I described the difficulty and the weird sensations, all they offered was that I come to a support group meeting so that I could hear from others how the living with the band felt. (This was after I'd HAD the band for three years and had been "successful" and then started having strange sensations and regaining all the weight. I KNEW how the band was supposed to feel. It HAD felt that way and then it started feeling DIFFERENT than that...and they--except for an on-the-ball-radiologist--could not diagnose the esophageal dysmotility I was having.

Ya know...if I were doing this again (which I would not, but that's not what you asked)...and if I lived where you do...I'd probably go to Rumbaut (in Monterrey) again for his experience and the quality of the hospital and to Kuri (in Tijuana) for follow-up. The back and forth across the border is a PITA, but from your location, it's do-able. And Kuri almost never leaves town, so he is available for your emergencies. But I would call Dr. Billy first and see what the price difference would REALLY be.

Good luck,

Sue

Thanks Sue. I hear you on the aftercare... and the differences between counseling patients and dealing with those who are out cold. Given everything I've heard about Rumbaut, the thought of working with him intrigues me somewhat, but I don't know that I want to fly anywhere for surgery when there are local options.

I contacted my insurance company to figure out whether or not that will be an option. Regardless of funding, I really just want to be smart about this...

How are you doing with the DS?

Thanks for taking the time to write... Kelli

Hi there, Just a quick plug for Dr. Ortiz. When I was banded this Thursday there were 4 nurses and a doctor there getting the procedure. I had a wonderful experience and would take my own family there. Best of luck to you with whoever you choose, Eve

hello, Im new to this site & Have scheduled my surgery inTJ, Mexico with Dr.Pedro Kuri does anyone know anything about him.

Thanks,

Russbud

RUSSBUD

HOW MUCH IS THE COST, BECAUSE IVE BEEN SEARCHING THE WEB FOR BEST OPTIONS IT SEEMS LIKE THE BEST ONE COSTWISE IS DR. Alvarez IN COAHUILA.

Thanks to all of you for the feedback... I made a consult appt with Dr. Carson Liu in west Los Angeles. I may also make an appt with Dr. Billy. I'm also still considering making an appt with Dr. Ortiz despite my trepidation re. Tijuana. I "can" pay $8500 or whatever in TJ and I "can" pay $25,000 here if I have to. My primary focus is wanting the best. I do wonder if I'm crazy to pay $25,000 here for a surgeon who has done 10% the number of surgeries as one in Mexico.

I'm eager to get started on this process and appreciating how supportive folks have been on the forum.

Best,

Kelli

Wanna Be Bandster - fall 06

Southern CA

I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BE SO EXPENSIVE, I JUST TALKED TO A PATIENT COORDINATOR FOR DR. Alvarez, IN MEXICO AND ROUND TRIP AIR TO SAN ANOTNIO TX, ALL FEES, POST OP TEST AND A 2 NIGHT STAY IN A LUXURY HOTEL 7500.00 DLLS, THATS NOT BAD HUH I THINK ILL CHECK THAT OPTION OUT WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Dr. Liu is actually in several places but he does the surgery in a couple of different surgery centers. Two of them being Midway Hospital in West L.A. and the O-Band Surgery Center in Westwood, Ca. I had my original surgery done with Dr. Liu and his team on 3/11/03 and would not make any other choice. At the time he was at Century City Hospital, which is now closed. I had dealt with other surgeons and I would not go with anyone else. I know someone mentioned a surgeon they would go into surgery with but would not invite them into their home for a bbq. I would not only invite Carson Liu into my home but I would invite him along on our family vacation!! If I had my choice now, I would use the O-Band center and deal with his Program Director, Gedion Ismael. You walk in there anxious and nervous and walk out of there after meeting Gedion and Carson and feel like you have your whole life ahead of you and that there are people that care about you. I can't put into words how much they mean to me and how much of my life they have given back to me. I was in a major car accident 6 months after being banded. I had lost about 60 pounds. Well, I gained all of my weight back, PLUS!, when I saw a picture of myself and realized what had happened to me about 15 months later. I called Gedion, got in to Dr. Liu, was in surgery the next day where he realized my port had cracked right in half and he had to replace it. It happened in the accident. Dr. Liu didn't look at me as though he was disappointed in me for gaining the weight back. He simply said "Let's get back on track and try again". He was very encouraging, the whole staff was and they all continue to be. If youh ave ANY questions, feel more than free to ask me about them. :clap2:

Best of luck with whomever you choose. I think they are all really good surgeons. I used Dr. Rodolfo Sanchez in Monterrey Mexico. I can't say enough good things about him, his staff, the beautiful city of Monterrey or the hospital. NOt one bad thing.

They pick you up at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it. They drive you straight to the guesthouse and it is gorgeous. You have a huge bedroom, bathroom, fridge, TV w/dvd and vcr and phone and recliner in your room. Fridge is fully stocked with broths, jellos, juices, and waters. They have a computer for your use with internet, phone to call the states with no charge and driver to take you shopping or out to eat.

Dr. Sanchez is the sweetest doctor I've EVER met. He's a doll. Dr. Rodrigus or however you spell it works for Dr. Sanchez. Dr. Sanchez has done over 6600 band surgeries as well.

They're email is Ready4Achange.com, go there and they have all of the pricing. Mine was 8500.00 and that included everything.

Thanks to all of you for your input. I am having surgery with Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey on 8/10. I was feeling at peace with my decision but am becoming more nervous as the date gets closer. I start liquids next week and will be in Mexico for my 35th birthday. :faint:

Kelli

I was just banded by Dr Ortiz in Tiajuana MX on July 27th & my experience has been extremely positive.

The hotel (the Lucerna) is very comfortable---granite & tile everywhere, great food in the restaurants (that "Last Meal" is a very important meal to enjoy!), and a very professional & attentive staff.

EVERYONE at Dr. Ortiz's office, no exception, is caring, considerate, & most importantly, very experienced & very skilled. (& Dr. Ortiz & Martinez are very easy on the eyes, if I may say so....:dance: LOL) His staff is so very caring....even his mom gets involved! She acts as a liason & shuttle driver to get patients from the border to the hotel & from the hotel to the surgical facility & back. I had surgery on Thursday & went home two days later (Saturday)---with 5-hour stop at the San Diego Zoo...walked around all day with no trouble at all. I paid $8500 for my procedure & would do it again.

My trip wasn't too bad since I live in Orange CA which is only a 2 hour drive one way. They are close enough for me to get my fills there which is great because they only use fluoroscopy.

I would choose Dr. Ortiz again & again (hopefully there won't be a need for "again & again"!)