I'm hoping to have surgery in August in Tijuana and I'm debating between 2 doctors (below). I'm ~300lbs and I've had no prior weight loss surgeries (this is not a conversion).

1) Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela via Mexico Bariatric Center with Christy as coordinator.

2) Dr. Alejandro López Ortega ("Dr. Lopez") via alighterme.com with Janese as coordinator.

Any opinions / suggestions / experiences would be much appreciated.

Thank you guys!

Dr. Lopez

I had Valenzuela with Christy coordinating and had a fantastic experience. Highly recommend Dr. Valenzuela and the entire team (dr Cabrera will be assisting with Dr Garcia observing and doing much of the follow-up with you.. and I LOVED the anestesiologist. He took time to talk with me before going in for the surgery and he answered all my questions) Honestly though, I don't think you can make a "wrong" choice! Both doctors are well-trained and caring surgeons... and I believe both trained under Dr. Corvala.. I know Dr Valenzuela did and I'm pretty sure Lopez did too.

Dr. Lopez

Thanks guys. I pulled the trigger and scheduled with Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela. I liked what I read about both doctors equally but she was more prompt with her responses to my medical specific questions and is a little cheaper.

Great choice. Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela and Dr. Ismal Carbera-Garcia are awesome! I am biased because they were my surgeons. Dr. Valenzuela is also a trauma surgeon along with being a bariatric surgeon. She worked in San Francisco and Dr. Cabarera (sp)-Garcia worked in Fresno for a while. They are are the top surgeons in Mexico...per the "Top Mexican Surgeons" that I saw. You will be in great hands and the Anesthesiologist is AWESOME and very sweet. Gosh, I don't recall his name..guess that's because his administration of anesthesia was smooth and had a great sleep! Oh, I have two things you may be interested in: my Mexico Trip Tips and Sleeve Bible(s). If you're interested, PM me with your email address, and I'll send them to you. Take care and good luck! Jen

I've actually switched to Dr. Lopez. He has more experience & is a member of some societies that give me comfort. Still having surgery on the 6th of August.

I had surgery with Dr. Lopez on June 17th. I thought his whole team was wonderful. Before surgery, I was visited by 4 doctors who all went over my history with me. I had minimal pain and the follow-up care was great. The A Lighter Me team in Mexico was very good as well...nice people. I am down 29lbs. Best of luck to you!

I had surgery with Dr. Lopez on June 17th. I thought his whole team was wonderful. Before surgery' date=' I was visited by 4 doctors who all went over my history with me. I had minimal pain and the follow-up care was great. The A Lighter Me team in Mexico was very good as well...nice people. I am down 29lbs. Best of luck to you! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Thanks! That is great to hear. Did they prepare you for the post-diet (including supplements info)?

Thanks! That is great to hear. Did they prepare you for the post-diet (including supplements info)?

When Dr. Lopez visited me the last evening before I went home, he talked to me about taking vitamins, diet, and making sure I got enough protein. My coordinator sent me the post-op diet instructions before my surgery.

Thanks! That is great to hear. Did they prepare you for the post-diet (including supplements info)?

If you don't get the information you are looking for, I have Mexico Trip Tips and Sleeve Bible(s). Good luck.

What hospitals do Dr. Lopez and Valenzuela work out of?

Dr. Louisana Valenzuela & Dr. Ismael Carbera Garcia are out of MiDoctor's Hospital, TJ, Mexico. Nice hospital/great surgeons. Yes, I'm biased.

Dr. Louisana Valenzuela & Dr. Ismael Carbera Garcia are out of MiDoctor's Hospital, TJ, Mexico. Nice hospital/great surgeons. Yes, I'm biased.

Dr. Lopez and Janese via www.alighterme.com is by far the better choice. I originally had my surgery scheduled with Christy at the MBC with Dr. Valenzuela. To make a long story short, that I think I've already posted about before, it did not go very well. I did not have a good experience with that group at all and I felt very wronged by them. So I contacted Alighterme the very same night and had my surgery set up for the following week. I met Janese and our driver, Abraham, at the airport and she was like a long lost friend I had known for years. (I originally was working with Ronda, but I got to work with both ladies). I had a fantastic journey that couldn't have gone more textbook and it's now been 7 days since my surgery. Also, I need to mention that when I was at the hospital I met a 65 yr old lady who was there to have her surgery done by Valenzuela and paid upfront for it, plus her airfare. She went through all of that just to be turned down when she got to Mexico because of her low BMI. How did this go unnoticed? How did that doctor and coordinator Christy over look this little detail and put this poor woman through all that unnecessary travel, spent money (she's out her down payment of $750.00, plus airfare and hotel stay) and stress? We were all in shock about that. I can't believe this woman was ever over weight enough to be told that she was accepted for surgery and that she should pay them money, get on a plane from the states and get all bruised up from the pre-op blood work for nothing. That blows my mind! Very, very sloppy, shameful and unprofessional way of doing business. So that's two big reasons I have from personal experience as to why I would never recommend anyone to go with the MBC. They are just shady in my opinion.

@ Jiggly puff, I have a few questions. Regarding the 65 y/o woman, what was her BMI? How tall was she and how much did she weigh. Be careful regarding rumor, opinion, and hearsay, due to these being the lowest forms of information and does not mean it is a fact. What was her BMI when she applied for the surgery? Did she lose weight prior to the surgery IE pre-op diet? Did her BMI change after she applied for surgery and prior to arriving? These are key factors. You see, I went from BMI 35 to 33 and notified them immediately. I was cleared for the surgery again prior to flying. "Something's wrong with this picture" that you've described. When you "met this woman in the hospital", was she going to have surgery by another physician? It sounds like the woman wanted the surgery really bad and when she arrived, for safety reasons, the surgeon (s) would not operate. This is not a bad thing, this is a competent deal. How do you know she wasn't pissed because she wanted it so bad and then told no. It is very clear in the paperwork what the guidelines are. Oh, and FYI, she will be refunded her money if the surgery did not occur and not due to her backing out because of changing her mind. I know this FIRST HAND because I was one of her patients and received the paperwork. So, I'm curious on your answers, then it will either prompt me with further questions or give me more information to comment further. I believe there's more to this that you are either not providing or the woman wasn't telling.