I have seen many a discussion about this but they where old posts. I have been trying to find current information on how to directly contact his direct office to make an appointment. I have tried 2 different suggested websites: ramoskelly.com and wlsclinic.com and both of these took me back to a lighter me. I have gotten some info from "sandy" and then from the wlsclinic i got an email from a Linda, here is what she said copied and pasted from my email:

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"Thank you so much for your interest in A Lighter Me!

I am happy to help you as Dr Kelly has hired our company to represent him exclusively. Trish is no longer with his company, and so we are contracted to work for Dr Kelly and will be more than happy to assist you as we not only have representatives available to you, but we have one in Tijuana as well that will be there by your side when you arrive there for surgery.

Dr Kelly performs all of his procedures out of a full service Hospital that has an ICU, ER, and even a cancer wing on the 2^nd floor. Your pre-op labs are performed there as well. The Hospital is called Mi Doctor Hospital and the website for you to see pictures of the Hospital, etc is broth. This is so you will not be charged any extra for that while you are there in the Hotel. The website to see the Hotel is www.hotelpuebloamigo.com.

Dr Kelly will trim your stomach down 85%, and he staples, sutures, and glues your stomach sealed shut. He runs a leak test while you are in the operating room, and another is taken through your drains, and the 3^rd is done prior to going home. This ensures that you will be going home leak free. He also will glue and steri-strip your sutures on the outside, so that you will not need to follow up once home with stitches removal etc.

You are placed on a pre-op diet 2 weeks before your surgery, and this is important to follow as it helps not only cleanse your system, but shrinks your organs in preparation for surgery.

I have attached a Health History form for you to fill out when you have the chance, as it helps the Doctor know all about you.

Please let me know if you have any other questions as I will be more than happy to assist you! Please feel free to contact me if you would like as I will be happy to answer any of your questions. My number is 877-765-8446 x33."

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I am almost positve that the info about the surgery is true. Is TRISH really not there anymore?? Has anyone been their as of recent?

Is that the cost, does it vary from each person from a lighter me? Is that the same hotel everyone else stayed at after the hospital?

Most importantly, I would just like to contact trish (if she is still there) or dr. kelly to arrange this all with there office, and give them the money straight..

thanks

silenceshhh

My husband and I both had VGS on December 8th with Dr. Kelly. We went through "A LighterMe" and worked with Linda who is herself a WLS patient. Our experience with Linda was great from start to finish. She patiently answered all my questions as quickly as I asked them, several times calling me to speak person to person versus email. Any info she had given me was totally spot on, and there were no surprises.

Regarding the actual experience...again no surprises except for finding out how sincere and caring all of the staff were, from Hector and Adrienne our wonderful driver-team, to every single staff person we came in contact with...what a stellar group. Only one or two of the overnight nurses were not fluent in English and we did fine with non-verbal communication. From our arrival at Pueblo Amigo Hotel, to next morning's trip to hospital (MiDoctorHospital), pre-op tests, surgery, 2 nights in hospital, then back to hotel for 2 nights...we were continually surrounded by competant, caring and kind people. The hotel and the hospital were both modern and immaculate. We also were introduced to Sara as Dr. Kelly's coordinator. She made sure we had everything we needed for our 2 postop hotel days, including Water, juice, gatorade and lots of followup information...she even made a special trip, without us asking, to bring us 'coupons' so we could get chicken broth from the hotel restaurant despite any language barrier with the waiters. Over the course of 2 days, we went down to the lobby restaurant and had the world's best chicken broth...no chips, no tortillas on the side, nothing in the broth...yum!

Dr. Kelly himself? What a gentleman...kind, concerned, devoted to bariatrics and to his patients. He came to our hotel room on a Sunday morning, spending an hour there answering our questions and discussing life in general.

Sorry this is so long...but despite our (and our friends/relatives) fears of "surgery in Tijuana, it could not have been a more positive and wonderful experience. My husband's BCBS of FL work contract has a 'weight loss surgery' exclusion, so we had to pay for both of us out of pocket. Money well spent...

@Nancy... Thank you so much for posting your experience! I am working with Linda also and she has been wonderful over the last few months with all my questions and concerns! (so has Dr. Kelly!)

I am scheduled for 2/22/12 and have been waiting to hear from someone that has been to the new hospital/hotel for Dr. Kelly.

Congrats to you and your husband! I can't wait to join you on the losers bench!

As I understand it, Dr Kelly has reconsidered changing hospitals because the new one doesn't have an ICU.

When we spoke with Dr. Kelly on Dec 11 at our hotel, prior to our leaving TJ, he did mention that he wasn't yet sure on if he would be staying with that hospital or not.... From my patient point-of-view, the Mi Doctor Hospital was great, but I don't have any experience with the previous hospital he used. I suppose if I had needed the ICU, I would not have thought it was so nice....thankfully no need.

@Afro Cyster - did you fly into San Diego? I know Hector was picking up another patient as he dropped hubby and me off early on Dec 12 at airport..what a great bunch of people...hope you are doing great!

As I understand it, Dr Kelly has reconsidered changing hospitals because the new one doesn't have an ICU.

If you do not mind me asking, how do you know this? I plan on being sleeved by Dr. Kelly in the near future.

thank you