Cancun - need doctor recommendations and info

[abmc 5]

Thank you for such a wonderful, informative post! I thought, from the website that there was the option of having it at the hospital or the clinic. My husband is not going to be too pleased that it's not an actual hospital. Is the clinic in a "Strip Mall"? My plan is to go to Dr. Perez and bring my husband but your post made me a little more scared than I already was! Ugh. I wish I could have it in the States but I am self pay. I am doing it! But maybe I will try to learn a little Spanish between now and January so I can communicate with the nurses.

[jan8j 30]

I had surgery with Dr Perez on 6/28.My surgical experience was pretty much the same as others, hardly any gas pain. GasX strips came in handy when a combination of gas/diarrhea set in after I started eating ice/drinking blue dye. I went to Clinica Victoria. If you are expecting it to be exactly like a US hospital, you might not like it. My philosophy was to go with the flow and that worked out fine. I did have my wonderful and supportive husband with me--which really helped. He has lived abroad and traveled in Mexico, so he helped with the go with the flow attitude! I had no communications problems with nurses. A few did not speak English, but it wasn't an issue. They knew what they were doing. I don't know why it would be imperative for everyone in the operating room to speak English. They aren't going to be talking to you--just sayin'! They need to know what they are doing and be able to communicate with each other. I had a great experience and highly recommend Dr Perez.

[jan8j 30]

abmc, I just noticed your question about Clinica Victoria. I wouldn't call it a strip mall, but it was on a street where there were attached stores next door, so other people might. It is an ACTUAL hospital, though and very clean! I believe they may deliver babies there, although I didn't see any or hear any and they also specialize in gastric-type surgeries. I felt I was in good hands before I went and I still feel the same way. It will help if you have a go with the flow attitude and realize that it will not be just like the States. I had some waiting, but I have read that others in the US had longer waiting than I did. I got there at about 8 on Friday morning and I think I walked to surgery at about noon. I was only awake in the operating room for about a minute. I remember they had me lay on the table and since it had 2 channels for your legs, I thought it felt pretty comforting. Weird thought, maybe! They take your temperature with a thermometer under the arm, but it works. I always felt like everyone was very competent and friendly. The clinic was noisy in the mornings and I was really glad to leave, but it was still a good place. Vanessa will be the coordinator there and she will help you with anything you need. She works for the Clinic, not Ready 4 a Change. Have your husband check out 100% Natural for meals, a few doors away. My husband loved it and I heard someone else's husband did too. There was another woman there and she was alone. She was very nervous too, but she survived! Abraham, the driver is great. And the hotel is breathtaking. I wrote another post about some of my experiences, look for Reflections from Cancun.

[sherry24184 253]

how much was your surgery with Dr. Perez? I'm self pay and have found some dr's in NC for around $15k. Thanks!

[jan8j 30]

My surgery with DR Perez was 5450. Your cost will vary if you have a BMI of higher than 40. I think the Ready 4 a Change site has the prices. Alma was my coordinator. If you contact them, they will be happy to answer any questions you have. I highly recommend Dr Perez and Ready 4 a Change. You have to go to Clinica Victoria, which was fine for me, but if you want a big US-style hospital, you might not like it.

[LesIsMore 22]

My surgery with DR Perez was 5450. Your cost will vary if you have a BMI of higher than 40. I think the Ready 4 a Change site has the prices. alma was my coordinator. If you contact them' date=' they will be happy to answer any questions you have. I highly recommend Dr Perez and Ready 4 a Change. You have to go to Clinica Victoria, which was fine for me, but if you want a big US-style hospital, you might not like it.[/quote']

It's also closer for us that's on the east coast and less time on an airplane. Any problems traveling back home? I worry about having to live in an airplane bathroom for 2-3 hrs.

[jan8j 30]

I was worried about the bathroom problem on the plane, too, but I never had to go on the trip home. I was flying to San Antonio. I had a problem with a combination of gas and a little diarrhea. I had some light days pads with me and I carried lots of GasX so every time I felt like I might have gas, I took one and that stopped it. You probably won't have been drinking much, so you may not have to pee much! I would recommend taking thin maxi pads, just for peace of mind if nothing else. You might check out my post on Reflections of Cancun. I talked about the hotel, clinic, and other things in Cancun. Good luck to you. You will be happy you did it!!

[Francieb 15]

I am going to Tijuana July 2nd and bring sleeved by dr Ariel Ortiz. Total without airfare I'd 6,500 and his center is a bariatic center of excellence. I can't wait!

p

How are you?

[sherry24184 253]

I'm so ready to start this journey. I found a Dr in NC that can do the surgery for around $13,500 once all is said and done. But the price in MX is more in line with what I could actually "afford". Very hard to make the decision to go to another country to do this.

[Jesser 295]

I'm so ready to start this journey. I found a Dr in NC that can do the surgery for around 13' date='500 once all is said and done. But the price in MX is more in line with what I could actually "afford". Very hard to make the decision to go to another country to do this.[/quote']

I completely understand. I have serious anxiety and its been over a year now since I've researched this surgery, and I can say that I'm finally ok with going to Mexico for this. I've read too many positive reviews I'm still extremely nervous, but I have to do it!!

[stephanie1678 80]

I'm so ready to start this journey. I found a Dr in NC that can do the surgery for around $13,500 once all is said and done. But the price in MX is more in line with what I could actually "afford". Very hard to make the decision to go to another country to do this.

Don't focus so much on the price or the country, but focus more on experience and technique/complication rate of your chosen surgeon.

Who has done more sleeves (you want a surgeon who has done at least 300 sleeves, as research has proven over and over again that complications decline drastically after 300 sleeves)? What size bougee does the surgeon use? What is his complication rate? Leaks should be as close to 0% as possible. Then choose a surgeon based on that information. Most surgeons in Mexico have way more experience with sleeves than US doctors (especially those in border towns). That will help decrease your chance of complications drastically.

My local surgeon in Utah has done 35 sleeves, yet is in a bariatric center of excellence (giving you the impression you get a really good doctor, which might be true for other procedures, but not for the sleeve). He also uses a size 46F boogie (not oversewn either!!), something I absolutely did not want. It took me 5 seconds after finding this out to cancel my surgery consult with him (had absolutely NOTHING to do with price at all). Upon researching further, I found that the 2 surgeons I was comfortable with in Mexico had WAY more experience, WAY less complications, and had better techniques than most surgeons in the US.

At that point it became a no-brainer. I chose the surgeon that was the best fit for me, and scheduled my date.

When you research US doctors, ask how many sleeves s/he has done (not just all bariatric surgeries, but sleeves in particular!). My surgeon of choice in Mexico has done thousands with close to a zero percent leak rate.

[abmc 5]

Jan8J and all the other posters; Thank you so much for your input. I am torn between Cancun (Perez) and Puerta Vallarta (Joya). I am going to take the advice of the poster who said to ask about how many sleeves the surgeon has done, what is the leak rate, and also what size boogie. Great great advice and thank you so much. I am nervous about the Clinic in Cancun, and the new hospital in Puerta Vallarta looks so much more state of the art, but it is 1k more expensive. I am emailing both doctors now with these new questions.

[LesIsMore 22]

Jan8J and all the other posters; Thank you so much for your input. I am torn between Cancun (Perez) and Puerta Vallarta (Joya). I am going to take the advice of the poster who said to ask about how many sleeves the surgeon has done' date=' what is the leak rate, and also what size boogie. Great great advice and thank you so much. I am nervous about the Clinic in Cancun, and the new hospital in Puerta Vallarta looks so much more state of the art, but it is 1k more expensive. I am emailing both doctors now with these new questions. [/quote']

Please let us know what you find out.