Please give me advice on going there. I have to pay outta pocket so Mexico sounds better but i am really scared about it... Any advice please.

I am having surgery in Mexico May 10th, with Dr. Ponce De Leon. I know many people who have had surgery with him and other Mexican surgeons. I will just say do your homework well. Find all you can about the surgeon, there are wonderful surgeons there and most are more experienced than the ones in the USA because they have been doing the sleeve longer. Surgery with my doctor cost $5500 USD, it includes everything, hospital, food, transportation and such. Except you have to pay your own plane ticket to get there to San Diego Airport and then they pick you up. If someone comes with you they have a small bed for them in the hospital and they stay with you in the hotel, all they have to pay is their plane and food. Do your homework, there are some surgeons I would not go to and some clinics I would not be comfortable with, its why you should do your own research and do not take anyone persons opinion as your sole source of information. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me.

read my blog.... I happened to have the most wonderful experience...I was sleeved in Mexically on Feb 27, 2012 and Dr. Aceves is the one who performed my miracle sleeving...

I arrived on a Saturday to have blood work, EKG, and x-rays...many people in the lab...hours to wait...NOPE in came the Yolonda calvery....she swept we into a room and brought everything to me! Outta there in 20 minutes.

We arrived Monday at 7 a.m., promptly was given a gown and the docs all came in to give us their speel...They gave me a pill to help nerves...wow I don't really think I had an ounce of nervousness, but after that pill none developed either.

I went into surgery at 1 p.m. and well back to my room and by 5 p.m. was up walking the hallways and roaming the 3rd and 4th floor in the hospital....LOL

I had ZERO pain, even though I had prepared for much pain I had NONE!....now that was a wow for me.... I had a bit of nausea 3 times and the nurses were there to shoot me up with something and immediately the nausea was GONE!

The doc came it to check on me many times troughout the day and Yolanda and Blanca too....the nursing staff was awesome....

I do believe this hospital gives it's patients the royalty treatment...I was very much so impressed...better, cleaner, than any USA hospital I have been in.

I was thinking about mexico but after doing much research and thinking that mexico wasn't for me...i stumbled upon a doc that was doing it for 8000...His "special" price is now over but i'm sure there are many in the US that do it if you don't want to go to mexico. It's all a personal preference. Just do your home work. (ps , i know theres a doc in vegas that does it....if you need the link you can message me and i can dig it up for you. )

I should add on, *doc in vegas does it for a good bit less than the others i found. theres always financing if you don't have ALL of the cash.

Congrats on your decision!! I just had my surgery on April 16th with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana and I feel fabulous!! His center is called Obesity Control Center and it's a state of the art facility that has been given the honor of being an "International Center of Excellence". He's been featured on Oprah, The Doctors and has even been named one of the top 15 Bariatric surgeons by Newsweek Magazine. When I first started researching WLS it was 7-8 years ago but the timing just wasn't right with work, personal relationships, etc.... I finally started to research again and after looking at other Doctors in Mexico (I'm was self pay too) I went right back to Dr. Ortiz. There are other surgeons to choose from and I implore you to do your research and due diligence before making your final selection. When choosing a surgeon you should focus on experience, facility, comfort for you and any guests, etc... and not just on price. I paid $6995 and that included all transportation from San Diego, 4 nights hotel stay at the Marriott in Tijuana for my mother and transportation back to San Diego. There are 6 private suites in his center that are very comfortable and you even have your own Direct TV.....PLUS you are surrounded by nothing but folks just like YOU and not in a hospital where God knows what types of diseases, infections, etc... are present. That was a HUGE deal for me. Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez speak perfect English and have an incredible bedside manner. My surgery was on Monday morning and I was discharged on Tuesday around noon. I was back at the hotel laying by the pool and getting some sun and on day 3 I was out shopping for 3-4 hours. Dr. Ortiz has an agreement with the Marriott and they will bring you broth, popsicles, etc.. all included in your price. Your guest (if you bring one) will be very well taken care of.

I honestly believe that a good pre-op diet accompanied by a positive attitude truly helped me come out of this surgery with flying colors. A lot of this journey, especially in the beginning is all mental. Once you decide on a surgeon get into a ZONE and stay there!! Reach out for support (the forums are great) and find folks that are getting their surgeries around the same time. It really does help!

I am definitely an advocate for Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center... He has changed my life and I will be forever grateful! His website Obesity Control Center > Lap Band Surgery in Mexico is very informative and he even has his own YouTube channel where you can watch videos of testimonials, surgeries. etc...

You are going to get a lot of responses from others promoting other surgeons.. Everyone's experience is different so be prepared to research, research RESEARCH!!!!

Feel free to contact me directly if you have any other questions!!

All The Best!!!

Emily

Thanks alot to everyone that has posted and i have been lookin nto this alot its kinda taken over my life and mind....lol. Barrdboll: Thanks for ur comments I have a close friend that went to Dr. Ortiz and had a good experience to with him and there so u have eased my mind alot to hear more great things about him and his staff.... Thanks everyone for all the help.