Has anyone been sleeved in Costa Rica or anywhere besides Mexico? I am self pay I can't afford surgery in the US but the violence in Mexico scares me. The posters here say it is safe but when I look it up I read there is violence all over.

Thanks for any help or advice.

that is i=one of the reasons....I have looking to have the surgery in th USA...will have to take a loan to do so.....all the best...

Mexico is huge country. Some surgeons have their surgeries in Cancun, Puerto Villarta, and other tourist areas. I live in Atlanta, was raised in NY, and frequently visit Jamaica, so I know that violence exists everywhere and the media exploits this.

I personally stuck with my surgeon in Tijuana regardless of the violence. I am not planning on going out unless I have to and its a short drive to cross the border. If there are 5-6 good surgeons that handles about 30-40 surgeries a month and I haven't heard one complaint about the violence in the 9 months I have been lurking the boards, then I am ok.

Do your research. I would like to have my surgery in the US but the surgeons that I prefer to have are expensive. A loan is an option, but its not mine..

I had my surgery in September in Tijuana Mexico and it was very, very, very safe. Don't listen to all the bad that you hear. Some of the other patients went sight seeing, shopping, walked to walmart and had no problems at all. Go to Mexico you will be fine!

thanks so much.... I too, have been reading so many posts and I have also spoken to people.... many have had wonderful successes.... Ijust finished school and now I will have to take a medical loan....I have found some good surgeons in the USA.....and hope that they would be amenable to working out a payment plan.....I was thinking about going to Mexico however, at this juncture....I will interview some of the physicians in the USA.....I wish you well and good health....

I had my surgery on September 21 in Puerto Vallarta. It was very safe. I also plan on having my reconstructive surgery in Costa Rica when the time comes.

Here's a thought about the violence in Mexico, how much violence is in America?? I'm married to a cop and I would say that it's probably about the same, but you don't go to those bad areas where you live. You won't be in the bad areas in Mexico. That would be bad for business....

Really, if you think about it, Chicago would be a far worse place to have your surgery. They just put out a PSA with kids saying, "Don't shoot, I want to live!". I went to Tijuana and felt very safe in the area where they kept us. We walked quite a few blocks down the street to the mall, the hotel was gorgeous, and there was a Starbucks across the street. We even got used to the language barrier pretty quickly. You are either with a coordinator or medical transport...my husband was a little embarrassed that all of his fears so quickly dissipated once we got there. He was afraid I'd come back without my kidneys! Just remember, these places are like any big city...your guides will make sure to keep you in the safe areas. It's not in their best interest for patients to get robbed, etc.

I had my surgery in Tijuana in September too.. I NEVER felt scared or unsafe at all. I had an awesome experience and would do it again in a second!

Has anyone been sleeved in Costa Rica or anywhere besides Mexico? I am self pay I can't afford surgery in the US but the violence in Mexico scares me. The posters here say it is safe but when I look it up I read there is violence all over.

Thanks for any help or advice.

I had surgery in Mexico and never felt unsafe at all. Crossing the border was easy, you stop for the guard to view your passport and move on. The hospital was safe, I walked to a restaurant with my husband and sleeve sister, had no issues at all. Piedras Negras is a safe place, safer than most large US cities. Watch your local news any day and hear about the violence that goes on here, it is not just in Mexico.