I am going to have to do this self pay and I've seen quite a few of you had the surgery there. I have to tell you - I'm terrified of doing that. It scares me to death but I would like to have some information from you and your experiences if you don't mind sharing.

if you do a search on mexican doctors in this forum, you will find a buttload of information! great stuff!

I had my surgery in Mexico. I would do it again in a heart beat. It was no big deal. They are super nice to the patients. Just do your research. You will find a doc with a lot of experience and will feel fine about going. Talk to some of his former patients. They will give you the contact info.

And read a lot of these posts. That will help you with your decision as well.

Good luck. There is a lot to read. :-)

My doc in Denver offers an alternative to Mexico. His price is $9950. Here's the link to his website...

http://lapbandrockies.com/

I used Dr. Ortiz, who is a world renouned surgeon. He has done over 4000 and has trained many of the doctors in the US on the procedure. If you go go my journal, I have saved all I found when doing me own search. The whole experience was great!

I am going to have to do this self pay and I've seen quite a few of you had the surgery there. I have to tell you - I'm terrified of doing that. It scares me to death but I would like to have some information from you and your experiences if you don't mind sharing.

I had a great experience at the OCA Hospital in Monterrey Mexico with Dr. Javier De La Garza. Check out their web sites.

I too had a great experience with OCA hospital and Dr De La Garza. The hospital is very modern and elegant. I am a nurse and have worked in OR, I was very impressed with the way they run their OR. They are very neat, orderly and seem so much more professional that in the states. All their equipment was new. The OR team was actually my favorite, they were very personable, talkative, made me feel more calm, actually I was very nervous. I was fine until I was wheeled into the OR, started thinking "what the hell am I doing?" The anesthesiologist was great and the assistant surgeon was very nice...he actually trained a few years in Boston... I believe his name was Jonathan. I have traveled extensively through Mexico, been to Monterrey about 7 or 8 times, had never stepped foot into a Mexican hospital, but I was very impressed! They will take wonderful care of you...have no fears.

Just my 2 cents but If you do go to Mexico, choice a hospital not a clinic!

At least for me that was the hardest thing about the trip, the culture shock of the clinic.

I would do it all over, mexico was great. Dr. was great

I did it in Mexico, everything was fine! Those docs have done a lot, my doc there has done 3000 of them or so... I have been back to TJ for a fill and it was fast and easy and under fluoroscope. Dr. Kuri was about business, it was fast. Good Luck!

I was also banded by Dr. de la Garzia. OCA Hospital is very clean and everyone is very friendly. I traveled for the original surgery with a friend, but a second trip I made myself. I felt very safe traveling alone. I would recommend Dr. de la Garzia to anyone.

Valarie

DOB 9-20-06

Dr. de la Garzia

Monterrey, Mexico

I also had my band put on my Dr. Javier de la Garza at OCA Hospital. It is the prettiest hospital, I have ever been in. I would definitely recommend it. The aftercare program is great too!

Mexico is not anything like what people say. You definitely want to chose a hospital rather than a clinic and that is why I went to Monterrey rather than TJ. But that was just by choice. I would do it over in a heart beat.

Cyndilou what doctors are you looking at so far?

I also had my band put on my Dr. Javier de la Garza at OCA Hospital. It is the prettiest hospital, I have ever been in. I would definitely recommend it. The aftercare program is great too!

Mexico is not anything like what people say. You definitely want to chose a hospital rather than a clinic and that is why I went to Monterrey rather than TJ. But that was just by choice. I would do it over in a heart beat.

Cyndilou what doctors are you looking at so far?

Molliebeth, At Oca Hospital, did you work with Veronica? How about Annmarie and Belighter company, did you sign up through them? I did, just wondering. I'm doing all my after care in San Jose Ca. close to where I live. Did DeLaGarza have you do a pre-diet? What a awesome doc and very handsome!!

If I had it to do all over again I would choose the same Dr. I used in Mexico. I was treated like a guest. Not one negative thing to say.

If you check out Dr. Ortiz' patients here, you will find a vast group of happy patients. Actually, we are not just happy, but ecstatic! It was a wonderful experience and I agree that I was treated like a highly favored guest.

But I DO disagree over the hospital vs. clinic advice. Dr. Ortiz' surgical clinic is modern, clean, upscale, and has a fully trained staff to take care of all needs. There is a doctor on the floor with recovering patients 24 hours a day (even through the night). I would NOT choose to be cared for in a hospital due to the risk of pneumonia, other communicable diseases, and security issues. Even the BEST plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills operate in their surgical clinics, not hospitals. I had eye surgery in a surgical clinic here in the U.S. If the knowledge, skill, equipment, and accessability is there, you will be fine. I have had INCREDIBLY HORRIBLE hospital experiences here in the states! Even in life-threatening circumstances. Dr. Ortiz is conscientious and will not let his patients down. He makes sure that all bases are covered and that you have the best care possible.

Good luck, and don't be scared. Dr. Ortiz told me I could back out at any time. So I went there with that idea. As I crossed the border I wondered what I was doing. But as soon as I took ONE step into the clinic, I KNEW I was doing the right thing!!

I'm going to Dr. Kuri in TJ Mexico in the morning , and getting my band on wed...No worries here.. Ted