OK. So I have been reading blogs on gastricsleeve.com, obesityhelp.com and ofcourse this site. After reading all the blogs I wanted to change surgeons. I have already paid $500 deposit. I emailed the coordinator yesterday. Called twice today and emailed again a few moments ago tonight but no one is getting back to me. Usually the coordinator is super nice and prompt w/ responses. Anyone have any issues w/ coordinators responding to you ? That makes me a little nervous actually.

Who's the coordinator? Mine is off and she sent me an email yesterday telling me should would be out until late Sunday. Her name is Alma.

Mine is Linda. She usually responds to me within a few minutes to a few hours. I asked to swtich from Dr. Garcia to Dr. Kelly.

If you don't mind me asking - what made you want to change from Dr. Garcia to Dr. Kelly? I'm currently trying to decide on a surgeon myself.

Thanks!

@ snoah, I was thinking the same thing.. why the switch from Dr. Garcia to Dr. Kelly. I've been researching Mexico's doctors for a while now and had narrowed it down to those to... and maybe Dr. Aceves...

I've contacted Dr. Kelly's office a few days ago, received a generic email saying that someone should get back to me soon to discuss the process.

Let me start by saying that Linda graciously got back to me late last night. Said she has been very busy the past two days and promised to call me back today.

Now to answer your question...I initially decided to go w/ Dr. Zapata in Monterrey till I found out his price is $8,700. I then wanted to go w/ Dr. Kelly but my coordinator explained that Dr. Garcia was a really good surgeon (I have no doubt he is based on his reviews). I decided to do a little research and get back to her. I researched Dr. Garcia and read somewhere that he worked alongside Dr. Kelly. I was sold on that. So booked w/ him and paid my deposit.

Now after further research I have learned that he didn't really work alongside Dr. Kelly (found info on obesityhelp.com). Not sure what is true. So I have decided to go w/ Dr. Kelly just based on the fact that he has more experience and is a F.A.C.S But I think both are good surgeons.

@Jeweladdo.. thanks for the information. I received an email from Sandy at alighterme.com, advising me that one of the coordinators would be in touch soon.

I can't wait! I've done a TON of research and I agree that both surgeons have great track records, but I think I'd like to schedule with Dr. Kelly.. You just can't argue about his credentials.. what's the next step for you?

I saw some posts on gastricsleeve.com saying that the coordinators at alighterme are no longer booking for Dr Kelly. Now they are not giving a specific reason why. I would highly recommend him from my experience I am still in close contact with Trish which was my coordinator and she still books for Dr Kelly. I have her Facebook link as my signature and would suggest you give her a call her # is (661)886-4617. Good luck and God bless.

^{I had to switch from Dr. Kelly to Dr. Garcia, I was working with Trish but she wasn't sure if I could use my FSA card to pay for the surgery. I contacted A Lighter Me and they told me I could use my card, but they did not give Dr. Kelly as an option for my surgeon.}

I,m trying to decide between Dr. Kelly and Dr garcia but if i cant use my fsa i may have to use garcia to

@Tmom, thanks for the information. I will contact Trish and go from there...

Same thing happened to me. I am checking with Dr. Kelly's new coordinator (Not sure if it is Trish running this group or not) to see if they take FSA MasterCard, can fill out my FMLA and short-term disability paperwork, and also get me the letter of medical necessity and detailed bill for the hospital stay in USD$ to submit for my FSA.

I was told that there were "incidents" with three of Kelly's patients that made A Lighter Me drop him (and start pushing Dr. Garcia). I dont know what is true and what isnt at this point. I honestly just cant see a top surgeon that was just inducted into FACS screwing up or causing harm to his patients with carelessness. It just doesnt make sense to me. It sounds more like a pissing contest with the coordinators honestly.

All in all, it is going to come down to me being able to use my FSA. Since I am a band revision case, I have emailed with some of Dr. Garcia's patients and they speak very highly of him. I have also researched and spoken with Dr. Rodriguez's (BeLiteWeight.com) patients and they speak very highly of him also and he is very experienced too just a little more expensive ($6800) than Dr. Garcia ($5500).

Sorry, but what is FSA?

Flexible Spending Account.... Your employer has to offer it.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969.pdf

@Seannie...I am waiting till I speak to my coordinator Linda. Both Linda and Ms. Sandy are such nice people to talk to. Linda returned my call today but I missed her call because I was working. I haven't heard anything official from Linda that she cannot book me w/ Dr. Kelly so I am going to wait to hear from her. I LOVE the way the people at A Lighter Me operate and would LOVE to use Dr. Kelly through them. Keeping my fingers crossed.

On another note...not to sound horrid but has anyone noticed that most of our fellow sleevers that get new stomachs in Mexico usually don't have a lot of complications. Usually my fellow sleevers w/ complications have surgeons in the US. Anyone else notice that ?

@ShoeLover...When did you contact ALighterMe ? I paid my deposit about 10 days ago and I had the option of Dr. Kelly and/or Dr. Garcia among others. Interesting. But yeah I completely understand about the FSA.