Just sleeved 2 days ago in Mexico I am at MI hospital. My doctor was Dr. Lopez and his wife Dr. Osana. Both great doctors very personable and no complications. Passed both leak tests and I am ready to go back to the hotel for two more days and recoop poolside and maybe do a little sightseeing, lol.

Oh and just another tidbit of info I was previously scheduled to get the lap band for a whopping 15000 dollars in Baltimore. I am so glad I went the route i did instead. Whatever will I do with the saved money? (boob lift, tummy tuck)

Oh and I didnt answer someones question Dr. Lopez's full name is Dr. Alejandro Lopez Ortega his wife is Dr. Jacqueline Osuna they work side by side in the operating room. Yes two surgeons for the price of one. They practice in Tijuania, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara (i think)

wow!! sounds like you are doing great!! I am so glad to hear that your experience with Mexico has been so good, after all I've read I'm not nervous about that at all and I can't wait! congrats on getting sleeved!

Oh and I didnt answer someones question Dr. Lopez's full name is Dr. Alejandro Lopez Ortega his wife is Dr. Jacqueline Osuna they work side by side in the operating room. Yes two surgeons for the price of one. They practice in Tijuania, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara (i think)

SkyJACK1 ... 1) Was it a full hospital instead of a clinic? 2) did you recover in a hospital or hotel/recovery house 3) Did they have a ICU & Bloodbank on site? I have been looking for so long... i really trying to narrow down now. thanks 4 your help

Hi Aloadoff,

I did not use Dr. Lopez, but did use Dr. Garcia which also operates out of Mi Doctor Hospital (whichis where SkyJACK1) had surgery. I just returned home this past Tues and my experience is pretty much exactly like SkyJACKS. My husband and I arrived in Tj on 8/2, stayed in the Marriott. Morning of 8/3 was taken by Marriott shuttle to Mi Doctor, had surgery that afternoon and stayed 2 nights there. The best care I have received in a long time here in the states. My hubby was very pleased and even felt comfortable leaving for an hour here and there to go out walking, get a burrito, etc. with no issues. Day 3 after 3 leak tests have been performed you go back to the Marriott to finish recovery. By this time, I am not taking pain meds any longer and just like SkyJACK said you literally are relaxing poolside. I felt like at this point, we were on vacation.

The day before we left, we took a taxi downtown to the open market and shopped for a few hours with some great friends we made there (wife was sleeved same day as myself). No problems, I was a bit tired...but no pain at all. Just sipped and walked, sipped and walked.

As for the hospital, it is a "Hospital" not a clinic. Yes, it is small but VERY clean and only 2 yrs old. There is an ICU and a Cardiology unit there. As a matter of fact, there was a cardiologist in the operating room as part of the surgical team during my surgery and the Anesthesiologist which is great was trained some here in the states.

Recovery is 2 nights in hospital and 2 nights in Marriott where you have full access to any doctor or coordinator at the hospital, I was told 24/7. When I left I received cell and email of everyone I had been seen by....nice to know they are not trying to perform surgery and just let you go.

Here is an article I found actually AFTER I got home, but I thought it was great and it feels good to know that Mi Doctor hosptial is really state of the art. This was just written last month,

http://www.equities.com/news/news-headline-story?dt=2012-07-03&val=237043&d=1&cat=headline

I would assume that all is the same, since using the same hospital and hotel just different surgeon. I paid $4,700 (special for Aug) plus $550 for airfare for my husband and I and this does include the stay at the Marriott all 3 nights. Hope this helps!

It seriously is very hard picking out a surgeon! Lol everyone has said great things about all different ones... Some are very expensive and some others aren't. I get confused because I wonder if I should pay the extra and go with a FACS doctor in a center of excellence, or just save the money and go with a well known good doctor that others are pleased with, just the credentials aren't the same .... Confused!!! Haha

It was a hospital called Mi Hospital. Not like a hospital in the US though, much smaller. They had an ICU and I am not sure about a bloodbank, didnt ask about that. My procedure took an hour. That whole day is kind of fuzzy although I did get up and walk a few times. i was dizzy so they recommended me stay in bed more. I never felt nauceous like most people feel. The next day I felt good so I took a shower. Whenever I felt gassy, which comes from all the gas they pump in your stomach you just walk and it gets rid of that feeling. Although I didnt look for long (I first learned about this procedure 3 weeks ago) I was obsessed with doing research on the doctors. I feel as though I choose the right doctor (Dr. Lopez and Osona) and I had no complications. Good Luck in your search.

Just wanted to give everyone an update I am leak free. I got back to my hotel today and relaxed poolside for a few hours. Then my husband and I hailed a cab and took a 3 hour tour wrapping things up at Tijuania beach. It is breathtaking. My husband got to induldge in the local eats and drinks. I was a bit jealous because I am a foodie although I was not hungry at all. I recommend mexico! I highly recommend Dr. Lopez and his wife Dr. Osana. I paid 4500 and 900 for our plane tickets. I have spent money here but you dont have to if you dont want to. Whatever any one has put in your head about coming to Tijuania is complete BS. it is a great city. People are exteremely nice and accomodating. They completely bend over backwards for you here. I went through the company A lighter me and Janese was my coordinator. By the way my doctor has visited me already today and will be back tommorow. I highly doubt you will get that kind of treatment in the US. My husband got a kidney transplant from Johns Hopkins 2 years ago and said the service here is comparable to the service at Hopkins. The only difference with the states is the doctors have way less experience and often encounter problems and leaks in baraiatric surgery. They have been doing it here for way longer.

Definitely agree! anything you hear about Tijuana being dangerous is absurd. Just like any city u were going to visit u wouldn't wander off into the unknown and Tijuana is no different. I felt safe and secure. The Marriott was a dream. Sleeved by Dr. Garcia at Mi Doctor and the care was exceptional!

If u are having any doubts about traveling to Mexico......Relax. It is a huge and personal decision but I have not regretted my decision yet. I will be 6 weeks post op tomorrow.....down 31 lbs!

I am using dr Lopez and wife on the 15th in poerto Vallarta. So glad you posted. Best wishes.

It is hard to decide. There are so many talented surgeons. All I can suggest is research as much as you can and go with your gut. I was torn between two, both have good reps, and woke up one morning positive about who I felt most comfortable with. Nothing toward the other surgeon. My heart was set on the one I chose. When I read stories like this about lying by the pool at the Marriot I get a little envious. I will be in a hospital until I go home. However, I still feel like I made the best choice for me and my body.

It's actually nice to have a choice. Under insurance you have to take whoever is contracted with your insurance. When I had emergency gall bladder surgery, I got the surgeon on call.

Remember, it's your health, mental comfort, and money. I took a piece of paper and put each surgeons name and pros and cons, It was easier once I decided what I didn't want: For me, San Diego is closer than Texas so cheaper flight and no having to change planes. I know I will just want to get home ASAP. Maybe I'm a snob, but the idea of a clinic in a strip mall concerned me, so he was out. And so on.., Then I just prayed about the last 2 choices and here I am, scheduled for 8/31. No pool but comforable with my choice :-)

I am scheduled with Dr. Garcia on 8/31. Good luck to both of us

Oh I have 3 small incisions and a drain hole. I fully expect to be in my bikini by next summer and looking good finally by next year

Hi there,first of all congratulations on ur surgery n best of luck .....I do have a question if u don't mind, I know about d three small incisions but what exactly is d drain hole that u mention.

They wash your insides after they get done the surgery and install a drain so that the water runs out and not in your body. Its really no big deal mine came out yesterday and is already starting to close. My husband had one with his kidney transplant 2 years ago and you cant even tell where it is any longer. it is a little weird when they pull it out though. Not real painful just strange feeling.

Just a update on my Mexican adventures. Today we hailed a cab and went to a little town called Puerto Nuevo. Absolutely beautiful right on the Ocean Cliffside. My husband had 3 lobsters with 4 sides rice, beans, soup and homemade tortillas and a Margarita for $15 dollars. I can hardly believe it but i was so satisfied with my lime popsickle. They say after surgery youre truly not interested in food and I didnt believe it, but so true. We then went to Rosarito Beach which was a real happening spot. My total trip was about 6-7 hours walked the whole time and I feel great. We leave tomorrow am but I have already started looking into to plastic surgery here so I can come back, lol.

I too was sleeved in TJ MX w/ Dr. Garcia on August 2, 2012. I had the most positive experience from the nurses to the doctors and everyone in between. My husband and I drove from TX and parked in an airport parking lot the day before and were picked up by Samuel who was just wonderful. The night before we had a blast wondering TJ and came across a nice new plaza that had all kinds of restaurants and a movie thearter.....we saw Batman in English w/ Spanish subtitles. Rested at the hotel, met w/ my coordinator Rosie and was picked up on 8/2 at 10:50am for surgery. Had an upper GI and Endoscopy (and received a CD for my PCP) and then around 1pm I had surgery. I had no gas pain at all (first time ever), so I did not walk b/c I was nauseaus and from previous surgeries, when I feel that way my BP is too low, so best to lay. The next day I got up and walked, showered, they changed my bandages and then slept on and off most of the day. August 4th we left the hopital and recovered at the hotel. I did not rest poolside as I enjoyed the bed way too much...slept on and off most of Saturday. I was having more drainage than I thought was normal, so I reached out to Rosey who got the doctor on the phone and told me since I was a revision (2 lap band surgeries) I would have more drainage and it should subside and it did by Sunday PM.

Our driver said we should really try to cross the border by 6am Monday, so Samuel picked us up at 5:55am and it took just one hour in the medical lane to cross (even though the wait was already at 4 hours). Then began our long drive home w/ a stop at our nephews house in Phoenix for 5 days! We just arrived home from this adventure last night. So all in all, I would go back again, probably will for some plastics and I highly recomment Dr. Garcia and Ready 4 a Change group. Everyone was great. Just an added note: my husband is Mexican and speaks fluent Spanish and English, that did help. Also, this is my 3rd surgery in Mexico. First in 2003 w/ Dr. Rodriquez in Acuna Cuidad and in 2007 w/ Dr. Rodriques in Acuna for a slippage in my band. The only reason I did not go back to Dr. Rod is because he now pracitices in Juarez and I have been told by close friends that live in El Paso not to travel there! I feel comfortable with my entire decision. My only complaint about the entire experience is some rooms in Mi Doctor hospital offer two beds, one for you one for your partners....my room had a broken reclinder and so my husband did not have a good nights sleep until we were back at the hotel. But if that's all I have to complain about, I'll take it.

On added note....my 40th birthday was the day of my surgery and my husband's birthday was Aug 5th....so it was a great b-day present to me!!!!