Dr. Alejandro López Ortega or Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela ?

[sugarpop 17]

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!

[Jesser 295]

Dr. Lopez

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

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.

[Faith41 118]

Dr. Lopez

[sugarpop 17]

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.

[AngelNP 40]

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

[sugarpop 17]

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.

[mrs.petethecat 62]

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!

[sugarpop 17]

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)?

[mrs.petethecat 62]

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.

[AngelNP 40]

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.

[becksnky 25]

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

[AngelNP 40]

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

[AngelNP 40]

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

[Jiggly Puff 53]

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.