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?

30 pounds in 6 weeks? I'll take that anyday!

Yes I agree it is coming off slow but that's what we want right slow and steady lol

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, Almanzwa 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?

I to have been looking toward Dr Garcia, Dr. Lopez n his wife Dr. Onsuna,but

how do u really know?u read the blogs n wonderwho really wrote them.its like the only ones that r real for sure r the blogs written by someone who did not have the best to say. I wish someone could tell us how to really chk. On a Dr. Instead of how great their experience was...Phil

I to have been looking toward Dr Garcia' date=' Dr. Lopez n his wife Dr. Onsuna,but

how do u really know?u read the blogs n wonderwho really wrote them.its like the only ones that r real for sure r the blogs written by someone who did not have the best to say. I wish someone could tell us how to really chk. On a Dr. Instead of how great their experience was...Phil

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Go to ready4achange.com that's is for Dr. Garcia. He & his staffi are awesome!! He uses a hospital...it is very clean and up to date!! He has not had a patient with a leak in over 3 years!! I had surgery there 3 weeks ago and would definitely do it all over again!

I am one week post op using Dr Garcia in Tijuana. I used the A Lighter Me company It was 4700 plus air fare. It was awesome. The company was great and Garcia did a great job. highly recommend them.

Awesome! I'm scheduled for 8/31!

Thank you for reading and replying. How was your experience with Dr. Garcia? Any issues, complications, ect? I am very interested in people's progress after they had the sleeve.

I used Dr. Garcia and had a great experience with him. When I was asking him about how they take care of complications he said he hadn't has a leak in 3 years. I'm not even 2 weeks out yet, but I'm doing well with my sleeve, no pain since day 3 and my incisions look great.

I was sleeved 7/9 with Dr Garcia.. I sent a deposit & brought a cashiers check with me. I brought the cashiers check to the hospital & had to ask someone what to do with it, no one asked for me it! The care I recvd was great, I was in no pain!

Anyway, I do have issues but I dont think it is anyhting done by Dr Garcia.. I think im in the 1% bracket who is just having issues with eating, drinking.. I have lost 24 lbs, but now seeing a GI doc for heartburn, acid reflux & have an EGD, esoph manometry scheduled for 8/29.

Hello i had my sleeve done by dr.almanza 10-31-11 and i would not change a thing. I loved the staff. It is in a VERY CLEAN location and the recovery house is great. I would much rather be there than in a motel i think that way some one is there with me at all times. As of today I am down 107lbs. I still have about 30 more to go. things have slowed way down for me but that happens when you get closer to goal. good luck

My surgery is 8/31 with Dr Garcia, what is your date? I sent my deposit via credit card, but I am taking the balance with me via cashiers check. As I understand it, I am supposed to send a fax of the cashiers check 1 week prior to my surgery date. Why are you paying upfront?

My date is sept 10th with Garcia, I wish you the best, We will do great with him!!

Talk to you when you are sleeved!!

Im going with Dr Garcia Oct 27. Im nervous, excited, scared, ready, and committed. im sure everyone here has felt, or is feeling the same way...I scheduled my surgery around the presidential election. Im very excited, scared, nervous and ready for that too! Im stoked to be able to recover while watching all the election coverage :-) I should probably refrain from yelling and throwing things at my TV, though: might bust a stitch or two....

Kat1 I've tried msging you but failed..I really want to know about your experience with Dr Garcia.

Tomorrow, I will be 2 weeks postop. I started this journey at 265 and today I was at 238. Dr. Garcia was awesome!

That's awesome I'm scheduled with Garcia 10/10 and I'm starting to get very nervous

Don't be nervous. It was really a good experience. Had I not gotten nauseus on Wed/Thursday, it would have been perfect. There was truly very little pain. In fact, I never had "pain", just discomfort. But I was up and walking a few minutes after I woke up in recovery. For me, the worst part of the whole thing was getting the IV.