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Hello! I'm new here. I've been looking into having VSG surgery this summer. My insurance will not cover any WLS so I'm looking into Mexico. I've researched Dr. Rodriguez with Belite Weight Loss, Dr. Ariel Ortiz with OCC and Dr. Alvarez. I realize there will be good and bad opinions about each one. Tell me your choice and if you were happy with any of theses doctors. Thanks!!

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Dr alvarez did mine

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Hello! I'm new here. I've been looking into having VSG surgery this summer. My insurance will not cover any WLS so I'm looking into Mexico. I've researched Dr. Rodriguez with Belite Weight Loss' date=' Dr. Ariel Ortiz with OCC and Dr. Alvarez. I realize there will be good and bad opinions about each one. Tell me your choice and if you were happy with any of theses doctors. Thanks!![/quote']

I am scheduled with Dr. Ortiz @OCC - 7/1.

I just heard so many good things about Dr. Ortiz. His staff has been very helpful and patient with all my concerns and questions. He has a bunch of videos on you tube and a very good website.

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Make sure when you are researching that you know a head of time that a lot of these doctors do not operate in an actual hospital so make sure you research the place of operation also.

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I chose Dr. Kelly and am schedule for June 10th. I work for a company that makes surgical medical devices. I researched the docs who use those tools first, but could not afford the hospital stay. So, I asked the surgeons:

1. Does the hospital have a blood bank and crash carts in the rooms

2. What type of tools they use. How often do they replace them. Staples misfire...some brands more than others. It was astonishing that some were reluctant to answer the question!

3. Credentials. I insist on have a surgeon who is a FACS because that is not easy to obtain.

4. How many surgeries performed with percentage of complication rate. If they dance around this subject, RUN.

I actually took my finalists to our engineers and surgeons. Dr. Kelly has professional credibility among the surgeons in the States. That mattered to me. It means he's actively involved in his profession.

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I chose Dr. Kelly and am schedule for June 10th. I work for a company that makes surgical medical devices. I researched the docs who use those tools first' date=' but could not afford the hospital stay. So, I asked the surgeons:

1. Does the hospital have a blood bank and crash carts in the rooms

2. What type of tools they use. How often do they replace them. Staples misfire...some brands more than others. It was astonishing that some were reluctant to answer the question!

3. Credentials. I insist on have a surgeon who is a FACS because that is not easy to obtain.

4. How many surgeries performed with percentage of complication rate. If they dance around this subject, RUN.

I actually took my finalists to our engineers and surgeons. Dr. Kelly has professional credibility among the surgeons in the States. That mattered to me. It means he's actively involved in his profession.[/quote']

Thank you so much for sharing your research. I also chose Dr. Kelly, my surgery is on July 5th. Your research makes me even more confident in my decision. Thank you.

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Thank you so much for sharing your research. I also chose Dr. Kelly, my surgery is on July 5th. Your research makes me even more confident in my decision. Thank you.

I'm trying to get my surgery scheduled for July 4th with Dr. Kelly!!

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I'm trying to get my surgery scheduled for July 4th with Dr. Kelly!!

Excellent. I'm very please with my experience. I stopped taking pain meds while in the hospital. I feel good. No nausea, vomiting or trouble drinking Water.

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I used Dr Kelly also. Had mine done May 30th. I stopped the pain meds on the 1st full day after. He visited me a few times at the hotel. I got all of my paperwork. I was very pleased. I went direct....Florence hospital, leak test at Angeles, stayed at the Lucerna. I am doing fine.

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
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    • BeanitoDiego

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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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