Hi!

I am very happy to have found this site! I have been researching the lap band for years and what has kept me from the surgery is the fact that there are no resources in my area to perform fills. I have finally decided to get the surgery and think I will do it in Mexico. It looks like either Dr. Ortiz or Rumbaut are good options, but I am definitely still in the selection process. My big question is how infrequently can I have fills & check ups? I am self-pay and flying to Mexico every few months is not an option. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I've been to both of them. Their prices are similar.

Rumbaut (my surgeon) operates in a state-of-the-art training hospital such as we are used to here. there are many surgeons of many specialties available 24/7.

Ortiz (used to do my fills) uses a nice, modern place, but it is essentially an alternative treatment place for cancer patients, with just a few doctors on the staff.

They are both proctors, which means Inamed thinks they are competent. But Rumbaut has placed twice as many bands as Ortiz has and is a band patient himself.

The adjustments issue thing is HIGHLY individual, and depends on how YOUR body adjusts and what other stuff you've got going on.

Sue

*who didn't mention which one is a nice, down-to-earth guy, and which one went through three costume changes at his own wedding, scheduled at the same time and in the same location as a major bariatric surgeons' convention, so that EVERYONE could watch his performance.

Thanks Sue, great information. Do you have an opinions on Dr. Kuri - I have seen his name mentioned a lot.

Also great. He does my fills now. And he has a new pretty hospital as well as his old one.

It's just that, as a big city girl, I am more at home in the larger hospitals such as Rumbaut (and I think Sanchez) use in Monterrey. In a way, it doesn't matter, because what I should really care about is what my doctor is doing. But I guess I operate under the fantasy notion that if there's a problem, there's a better chance I'll survive if there's an assortment of other physicians of other specialties nearby. Maybe I'm way off base, but it's just what makes me feel safe. And. Monterrey is a center of industry and education and Tijuana is a border town that got big.

All of these guys are competent. And Leo has yet another doctor in Tijuana, but I don't know him.

But ya know...you need to figure out SOME local backup. For example, I'm having the abdominoplasty thing done, so I think need to have the saline out. And I'll need it put back in after that surgery. And if you end up with any reflux or GERD symptoms, you may need someone who can empty the band nearby.

Have you asked around of others in your area?