HELP! I have been reviewing surgeons and various facilities and now am a little confused. I have looked into A Lighter Me who works with Dr. Lopez and Dr. Garcia. I have been contacted by their coordinator Louise. I also looked at Dr. Almanza and have been contacted by Sandy and then Melissa. On the A Lighter Me website, Melissa is mentioned as a coordinator. Does Melissa work for both surgeons? Also, Almanza is listed as operating out of Jeruselum hospital (which is really a clinic) but Melissa contacted me and signed her email from Mt. Zion. When I checked Mt Zion's website, it is actually Jerusulem hospital. I have also seen past posts where Dr. Almanza operated Emmanuel Hospital.

Do you see why I am getting confused? I am just looking for a surgeon who is experienced, has low infection and leak rates, has good reviews and uses a hospital. Can anyone help me sort through this and is Almanza a safe surgeon?

Well I would like to stay in the US but it is looking slim on my chances. You all are making it much easier for me to got to Mexico, so thank you. I was hoping to do Kelly or Ponce but open to suggestions. Garcia, Alvarez, Aceves. As bad as I hate it, price is a factor. I'm looking to stay less than 6000 with safest physician and location with shortest stay safely possible.

Dr. Ponce is 5500.00

Umm, you might want to prepare yourself, based on US standards, the INT is not really a hospital. It's more like a surgury center. Not that you have anything to be worried about, the Angeles Hospital is only a couple blocks away and Dr Ponce is quite capable Trish is heaven sent. I had my surgury there on 6-23 and it's been great, no pain, I've already lost 35lbs, & I've had no problems with the foodsive tried.

I can say you are in good hands, just don't want you to expect the INT to be more than what it is.

While INT nor any of the TJ hospitals compare to the states, I have been to INT hospital and it has a icu, recovery rooms where you spend 2 nights and a full time nursing staff. They do there own lab work and leak checks there. Clinic's usually don't have all this. I believe Angeles is the hospital most like the states, but more expensive then the rest. All the facilities were very clean.

Right now Dr. Ponce is $5500. all included but air fare. My surgery date is July 23. Just contact WLS. Speak to Trish.

How much does it cost for the sleeve in Mexico? Do you have follow up care with another surgeon in the states?

Right now Dr. Ponce is $5500. all included but air fare. My surgery date is July 23. Just contact WLS. Speak to Trish. I am using my GP for follow up.

Hmmmm, Thin Soon, did you notice the last four posts say the same thing? I've got nothing against Dr Ponce de Leon, actually he did my surgury and I am actually considering sending my daughter to him (how's that for a recommendation), however, I hope you are just an excited future sleeves and not a shill. Just saying it looks suspicious when someone quotes a surgeons price 4 times in a row.

I went with dr. Almanza and was satisfied. My only suggestion to you would be to go alone so you can stay at the recovery house. I am already planning on going back for mommy makeover.

I hear ya!! I keep finding more and more information' date=' now I am looking at Dr.Garcia. I have read good things about Dr. Almanza the only consideration I have is the clinic vs hospital........

Cheers

Gail

PS hoping to be sleeved in June.[/quote']

Don't be worried about the facilities! I just had my sleeve done there on June 7th and am very pleased with the entire experience. I am also planning on going back for the mommy makeover.

I would like to hear form people that had surgery from Dr. Hector Perez! please anybody out there... I need some input on this surgeon because im planing my surgery in Cancun.

I had surgery on Monday the 25th with Dr.Garcia. Everything went well. The staff at the hospital were nice. My room was really clean but there was old blood on one of the side rails which I pointed out and they cleaned immediately. My only beef is that I didn't see anyone wash their hands before they came into my room. The nurses do wear gloves when doing dressing changes. My bed was pretty uncomfortable but what hospital bed isn't. Dr. Garcia was just a doll. He is so sweet and take the time to explain things to you. I was also seen by a general practitioner MD and the anesthesiologist. They pulled my drain today and I left the hospital after two days and am now at the Marriott which is ultra comfortable. I slept 3 hours in the comfy bed when I got there. One of the things that freaks me out is the drain incsion. The other two incisions are sutured shut but the drain incision is just a hole. The doctor said it would heal and they don't sew it shut because it has been open a few days. I know you can't sew an incision shut past a certain time but it kind of freaks me out. What if I am showering and washing the inclsions with soap and Water like they instructed and the soapy water gets into the hole? Won't it get infected?

Any advide by anyone who has gone trough this helps.

Hmmmm, Thin Soon, did you notice the last four posts say the same thing? I've got nothing against Dr Ponce de Leon, actually he did my surgury and I am actually considering sending my daughter to him (how's that for a recommendation), however, I hope you are just an excited future sleeves and not a shill. Just saying it looks suspicious when someone quotes a surgeons price 4 times in a row.

Sorry Junior for the extra posts...I'm new to posting. I'm going to be sleeved on July 23. with Dr ponce. I originally was going with Dr. Kelly, then thought about Dr. Garcia. (whom I believe is very good) I went with Dr. Ponce Since he has trained a lot of the other surgeons, done gastric surgeries on other docotrs and you can't find anything negative regarding him I just want everyone to know about him.

Hmmmm, Thin Soon, did you notice the last four posts say the same thing? I've got nothing against Dr Ponce de Leon, actually he did my surgury and I am actually considering sending my daughter to him (how's that for a recommendation), however, I hope you are just an excited future sleeves and not a shill. Just saying it looks suspicious when someone quotes a surgeons price 4 times in a row.

PS they asked and I answered...lol

I went with dr. Almanza and was satisfied. My only suggestion to you would be to go alone so you can stay at the recovery house. I am already planning on going back for mommy makeover.

Does Dr Almanza do plastic surgery also? That will be my next step finding a plastic surgeon for next year. Hopefully exercise will keep my skin tightened

Does Dr Almanza do plastic surgery also? That will be my next step finding a plastic surgeon for next year. Hopefully exercise will keep my skin tightened

IDK about Dr. Almanza, probably not, I don't see that he would have any time to mess with plastics since he is known to be the highest volume WLS provider (it's not uncommon for him to have 5 surgeries in a day).

But you can talk to Trish, she knows a couple cosmetic surgeons. There is also a plastics office in the INT.

IDK about Dr. Almanza' date=' probably not, I don't see that he would have any time to mess with plastics since he is known to be the highest volume WLS provider (it's not uncommon for him to have 5 surgeries in a day).

But you can talk to Trish, she knows a couple cosmetic surgeons. There is also a plastics office in the INT.[/quote']

There is a plastic surgeon at Jerusalem that works with dr Almanza - I believe it's Dr. Lara.

I had my surgery done by Dr. Almanza- best experience in a medical setting I've ever had.

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I went to Dr. Almanza . I wasn't too impressed with facility , staff was amazing Jerusalem is owned by two partnering brothers it was mt Zion before , the coordinators are not on site . Everyone I'm my group that went had great surgery .... I had no leakage problems ( almanza orders 2 test prior to u leaving ) I'm down 85 pounds in 2 months . His staff is amazing . Very organized , just very small hospital it is like a clinic . Almanza also offers a discount for a "mommy makeover " after bariatric surgery .

DR.MEBARAK PhD

Kat1, did you say you have had your surgery with Dr Garcia?