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Illan with Baja Bariatrics? YES Would I go back to Mexico to be sleeved? YES! Am I happy with my decision? YES!

Dr. Illan is a very talented surgeon and his WHOLE team is amazing! I took a family member back in January to be sleeved and would recommend his team to anyone. While in Tijuana I met other patients from different doctors and noticed they didn't have someone there checking in to make sure their spouse/friend/family member had eaten or was ok. When out shopping with Omar I ran into the same people who had to take a cab and had no idea what to do or where to shop. The Baja Bariatric team goes OVER & BEYOND anything you can even think of during your stay. I've lost 101 lbs thus far and am beyond thrilled with my surgery and support I have received from Baja Bariatrics :)

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All I can say is OMG. You look great!

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good job. congratulations.

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Hi Sherry!

I was looking at Dr Illan's website and don't see information on their fee schedules and/or total costs in Mexico. Is there a different site to look at to see this?

I have insurance through CIGNA and bariatric surgery is not an "exclusion" but it's not a "rider" that my employer has on its plan, so I'm not certain what this means to me. I don't know if it's a definite "NO" or if it could be appealed.

Trying to look at other options but need some help getting info.

Thanks in advance for any info you may have & by the way - you look fantastic!

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I also used Baja & Dr. Illan & my expectations were also exceeded. I am a researcher & was going to spend twice as much on one of the "famed" /veteran Mexican surgeons if my research didn't lead me to feeling my safety & success wouldn't be as good or better with Dr. Illan. The whole team is very detail oriented & professional & they are determined that you come away happy about your experience, your choice of surgeon & Mexico in general. I was low BMI & have lost approximately 75% of my excess weight in 2.5 months (and all but 5lbs of that has been fat). My cholesterol has gone from 215-ish to 150 and I can't manage to get anything but a normal blood pressure reading no matter how many times I try.

One side note: I would definitely deem Dr. Illan the surgeon to use if you have a loved one who is spooked about your going to Mexico... the practice unofficially specializes in skyping & communicating with prospective patients & their loved ones before scheduling and they ALSO seem to have a sort of mission statement to flood each patient & his/her family member(s) with amazing personal attention & care once there.

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Hi Sherry!

I was looking at Dr Illan's website and don't see information on their fee schedules and/or total costs in Mexico. Is there a different site to look at to see this?

I have insurance through CIGNA and bariatric surgery is not an "exclusion" but it's not a "rider" that my employer has on its plan, so I'm not certain what this means to me. I don't know if it's a definite "NO" or if it could be appealed.

Trying to look at other options but need some help getting info.

Thanks in advance for any info you may have & by the way - you look fantastic!

Thanks! I feel fantastic :) You can email Omar at bajabariatrics@yahoo.com and he will email you back. They are not pushy at all and will answer any and all of your questions! Good luck! I LOVE my sleeve!!!

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Absolutely. Dr. Illan and his team completely transformed my life. I still say they offered the best medical care I've ever had in my life. I would feel comfortable recommending any of my loved ones to go to him and genuinely wish he did plastics so that I could go back myself!

Omar is also completely fantastic. In addition to taking superhuman care of his patients (seriously, I don't know how he manages to be so attentive to everyone at once), he noticed that the husband of a patient of a different doctor had nothing to eat and took that man out for food.

They completely go above and beyond in every way!

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I originally scheduled with another popular mexican surgeon but have since switched to have my surgery with Dr. Illan and Baja Bariatrics. The fact that Dr. Illan is also an ER trauma surgeon made me feel like I will be in good hands should any complication arise. I was also able to skype with the coordinator Omar and Dr. Illan to address questions I had about scar tissue and his stapling procedure (triple titanium staple line as well as sutures and bio glue) and I felt very comfortable with his answers. I can't wait to have my surgery in March!!!

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You will be so happy with your choice Tiff. I am almost 3 weeks out and had a fantastic experience! The doctors and omar are amazing! I havent felt ANY pain at all since surgery, except the gas pain for the first two days. Best of all Im not hungry and Im down 23lbs already. Best choice ive ever made for myself.

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Tiff, have you chosen a date yet? I may go in March for a Friday Surgery.

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Rredruby, 23 pounds, thats great! Thanks for sharing your experience, it gives me alot to look forward to!

Brandnewbrandy, im having surgery the 24th but arriving the day before. I cant fly all those hours without something to drink. I hope to see you there!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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