So, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Maybe tell me what you would do.

Would you go to a Dr. that has a good reputation, good on price, but doesn't work in a hospital, and you don't really know what kind of service you would get from the coordinators because you have read mixed reviews (not that they are doing your surgery, but they do effect your experience)

Or would you...

Go to a Dr. With a impeccable reputation, stay in a hospital, but pay double what you would have with the other Dr. This dr has been doing the surgery for many more years so you feel a bit more at ease with him.

So, would you go with the one Dr. Who is half the cost? Chances are things may go all smooth and you would save like 4 grand! Or, would you go with the pricier Dr. But with a Doc that's done it longer and in a hospital.

You definitely won't regret going to Aceves. I had a wonderful experience there in December!

I still don't have the money to have my surgery I'm saving and saving though. My car needs repaired, and it seems like one thing after another keeps happening. I applied for a loan and was denied. I hope that I can save up enough to have the surgery sometime this year... Hopefully by summer. But I just don't know

How do they handle potential emergencies, do they have the facilities readily available on hand? The track record for leaks, ect. Doctors reputation.

Keep saving

I think peace of mind has a lot to do with it and are very important.

Stress and anxiety are not good for the body or soul. If one choice makes anxious and another calms us down then it is worth the extra expense.

Just make sure you're not buying swamp land in Florida or oceanfront property in Arizona. I don't think Dr. Aceves or Dr. Lopez qualify as either. But one may offer a "perk" that tips the scales and makes it worth the cost.

Amanda Rae

I still don't have the money to have my surgery <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I'm saving and saving though. My car needs repaired' date=' and it seems like one thing after another keeps happening. I applied for a loan and was denied. I hope that I can save up enough to have the surgery sometime this year... Hopefully by summer. But I just don't know <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I hear you on that one. I was desperate and wanted the surgery NOW so money was an afterthought. I did a no-fee cash advance on my credit card that I have with a local credit union.

Good luck!

I was told that the Mi Doctor Hospital is actually a clinic. Not an actual hospital. One of the coordinators said that the word hospital is used loosely down there. I'm sure Mi Doctor is perfectly fine' date=' but I've thought for the longest time it was an actual hospital.[/quote']

I just returned from TJ last night had surgery on Monday at Mi Doctor. It is not like a new large city American hospital is but same feel as a small rural american hospital. It was clean, good equipment, experienced doctors and nurses that came within seconds of being called instead of minutes like some of the larger hospitals. It felt at ease the whole time.

Jesser' date=' I've followed your journey somewhat, and i think you should think about satisfaction rate and cost. With anything I buy, I don't go with the dirt cheap wannabe & I don't go with the top of the line best of the best either, and I didn't in this situation. (Well except for my blender, but it didnt set us back 10k either )

These are the prices I've seen.

4,500 Almanza

4,700 (about to go up in may) Garcia

5,500 pdl

7,500 ortiz at OCC

8,900 Alvarez and Aceves

These are the ones I'm aware of and I could be off on prices.

Basically, the more expensive choices are in big fancy hospitals and a lot of the cost is going toward that, not quality of surgeon necessarily. I think it'd be neat to have that be my experience, but honestly I don't want to wait Long enough to save that much and I don't think it's necessary. I'd rather buy my daughter braces, etc.

I have 6 children who need me. Not just one very special person that I love more than life itself, but SIX. This is not a decision that I made in haste.

I haven't heard an oz. of negative about the surgeon I chose. None. Maybe a bit of old news about mi doctor, but it was so minor and the issue has been fixed. I've read over and over about happy patients, my surgeons bed side manner, my coordinators etc. and I'm positive that I'm in good hands.

Honestly, yes, this is a very important life decisio,n but were not playing Russian roulette here. All of the surgeons I've read about are good surgeons, & it really boils down to your gut feeling and your heart.

For me personally, I was had it narrowed down to two surgeons. dr. Ponce de leon and dr. Fernando Garcia. This was when I had heard that garcias price was raising by 500 which at the time would put them only 300.00 less than pdl. I still chose Garcia. It just felt right. I watched the videos of both if them over and over an just let my heart speak for me. Garcia or was. And THEN I found out thy aren't raising their prices until may. BONUS!!! Lol

Pdl taught Garcia, Almanza and I believe kelly some techniques and for some that makes the feel safer going with pdl. Or me, I feel that that means they had a great teacher, not a crummy one. GREAT!

Shrug

Are you still able to go in march?[/quote']

Dr Garcia was my doctor at mi doctor on Monday. I just got home last night and

Could not have been happier about my decision.

He and his staff were great and the cost was affordable. If I could have paid $7-8k I'd have just stayed in US.

It's so great that, regardless of surgeon, people are having such great VSG experiences in Mexico. I'm hopeful that the stigma of having this surgery Mexico will lift soon and seem quite normal to those not already in the know.

I just returned from Tiuana and had my surgery done through A Ligher me, Great experience, I had my own personal nurse and stayed in MI Doctor Hospital for 2 days and then the Marriott for an additional nights. plus the 1st night I flew in. I had extreme scar tissue on my abdomen due to past surgerys and thank god I found Dr Alejandro Lopez who specializes in high risk cases. It's been 5 days and I feel GREAT! Just a bit sore and bloated. The patient coordenator Janese at a Ligter me called through the whole process and is still calling to see how I am doing. Quite impressive!!

I just returned from Tiuana and had my surgery done through A Ligher me' date=' Great experience, I had my own personal nurse and stayed in MI Doctor Hospital for 2 days and then the Marriott for an additional nights. plus the 1st night I flew in. I had extreme scar tissue on my abdomen due to past surgerys and thank god I found Dr alejandro lopez who specializes in high risk cases. It's been 5 days and I feel GREAT! Just a bit sore and bloated. The patient coordenator Janese at a Ligter me called through the whole process and is still calling to see how I am doing. Quite impressive!![/quote']

I'm glad you had such a good experience. I've read nothing but great things about Dr. Lopez and his wife Dr. Osuna.

Amanda Rae

I still don't have the money to have my surgery I'm saving and saving though. My car needs repaired, and it seems like one thing after another keeps happening. I applied for a loan and was denied. I hope that I can save up enough to have the surgery sometime this year... Hopefully by summer. But I just don't know

Why dont you do the payment plan thing? And you can still save money and be losing weight at the same time. :0)

I've noticed a few people talking about hospitals with ICU's. I remember reading a post about a lady's journey and a hospital with an ICU was one of her criteria. As she was walking the floor after surgery she walked past the ICU and it wasn't what she expected at all! I wish I could remember where I read the post. Just be careful with American (or perhaps Canadian) expectations. What is an ICU, OR or recovery room in the US may or may not be the same in another country. It could be better, near the same or not quite what you envisioned. I've chosen a Center of Excellence and the bathrooms are down the hall, not in the individual's room. Strange, not what I would expect, not bad, just different.

I've noticed a few people talking about hospitals with ICU's. I remember reading a post about a lady's journey and a hospital with an ICU was one of her criteria. As she was walking the floor after surgery she walked past the ICU and it wasn't what she expected at all! I wish I could remember where I read the post. Just be careful with American (or perhaps Canadian) expectations. What is an ICU' date=' OR or recovery room in the US may or may not be the same in another country. It could be better, near the same or not quite what you envisioned. I've chosen a Center of Excellence and the bathrooms are down the hall, not in the individual's room. Strange, not what I would expect, not bad, just different.[/quote']

That's right! I was also told that the word "Hospital" is used very loosely in Mx. They can say it's a hospital when it's actually a clinic- hence the Hospital Jerusalem. For the longest I thought that was actually a hospital! It can be very misleading. Basically, I want to go to a place where if there's an unforeseen emergency during my surgery, they can handle it right there. Not transfer me over somewhere because it might be too late by then.

That's right! I was also told that the word "Hospital" is used very loosely in Mx. They can say it's a hospital when it's actually a clinic- hence the Hospital Jerusalem. For the longest I thought that was actually a hospital! It can be very misleading. Basically, I want to go to a place where if there's an unforeseen emergency during my surgery, they can handle it right there. Not transfer me over somewhere because it might be too late by then.

That was my criteria, too. No transfers in the event of a complication or emergency and the leak testing could be done on site.

~Kat

Are you going with Dr. Kelly?