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Has anyone had a revision done in Mexico? I had a lapband in the states in 2008 as a cash pay and am strongly considering a revision to a sleeve but can't afford the surgery here in the US and my insurance doesn't cover it. I know it is a more risky surgery to have a revision opposed to just the original surgery and want to get some feedback! If anyone has done a revision in Mexico who was your surgeon, what was the cost and how was your experience?

Thanks!

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I havent been sleeved yet and I used to be banded as well. Im not going to Mexico but I have been doing so much research for the past 2 years and I always read and watched so many videos on Dr Alvarez and I thought IF i was going to Mexico Id see him. have you heard of him?

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Hi, I also had my band done in mexico by Dr Ariel Ortiz in 09. I loved the healthcare that I received so much that I went back to get the gastric sleeve 3weeks ago.

This time I used Dr Illan at the Florence Hospital. I needed an affordable doctor who I also trusted and I can strongly recommend Dr. Illan and his team. I had Zero complications and was shopping & hanging out by day 3.

Omar is the coordinator & he goes above and beyond to be just like a "personal assistant" to you while your there! Just putting in my two cents because I also researched doctors and it can be mind numbing to figure out the right one for you ect ect.

As far as my sleeve goes , I can eat and drink anything at 3 weeks out & feel very healthy, over all. When I eat too much it reminds me of the "stuck feeling"w/ a band. I haven't thrown up at all (not even after surgery) and my favorite thing is that I can drink faster and actually gulp Water, which I couldn't ever do with the band!!!

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Hi, I also had my band done in Mexico by Dr Ariel Ortiz in 09. I loved the healthcare that I received so much that I went back to get the gastric sleeve 3weeks ago.

This time I used Dr Illan at the florence Hospital. I needed an affordable doctor who I also trusted and I can strongly recommend Dr. Illan and his team. I had Zero complications and was shopping & hanging out by day 3.

Omar is the coordinator & he goes above and beyond to be just like a "personal assistant" to you while your there! Just putting in my two cents because I also researched doctors and it can be mind numbing to figure out the right one for you ect ect.

As far as my sleeve goes , I can eat and drink anything at 3 weeks out & feel very healthy, over all. When I eat too much it reminds me of the "stuck feeling"w/ a band. I haven't thrown up at all (not even after surgery) and my favorite thing is that I can drink faster and actually gulp Water, which I couldn't ever do with the band!!!

Hi Maples,

I also had the lapband and later removed in 2010 due to complication. So in 4 years I have put back all the weight and some more. Now I am seriously considering sleeve as a weight loss option. I am thinking of going to mexico for a revision but still trying to figure out the best doctor. My big concern in leak and other complications which may arise later on due to being a revision surgery. Is your doctor able to care for his patients should some complications arise later on after the surgery?

Baby Girl

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I didn't have a revision. Just the sleeve. I was sleeved Sept 27, 2013 in Mexico by Dr. Alvarez. Best care ever. I'm down 121 pounds.

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Had a band to sleeve revision in Mexico on April 19, 2014. Wonderful experience. It costs 9 thousand. Here in the states, they wanted 8 thousand just to remove my band. You stay a a hotel in Eagle Pass and the hospital sends a driver to pick you up. She drives you across teh border to the hospital which is one mile away. I met with Dr. Alvarez and was blown away by his bedside manner. He said there was a 50/50 chance I would only be able to do the removal due to scar tissue from teh band. However, Dr. Spivak did my lapband and he is an excellent surgeon. Dr. Alvarex said that my chances went up tremendously. I went upstairs to my room and within 2 hours was in surgery. My surgery lasted about 2 hours with post-op. Surgery was on Saturday and went home on Monday. Dr. Alvarez came and checked on me three times a day and even when I got home he has emailed me.Great experience so far. Down 11.5 pounds today. Feel amazing.

Edited by hopeotto

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Surgery went great, band removed, hernia repaired, and sleeve done. I have minimal pain (only Tylenol at night) and no bruising. I've seen some post op pics that are pretty horrific. I think Dr. Ponce and his team are wonderful. I felt so good I came home two days early from Mexico. Trish, his coordinator was a lifesaver in the communications and transportation department as I went solo! She even took me to a pharmacy to by retin a crème and latisse for my lashes. lol. vain vain, but the savings were amazing. (my bf is convinced I'm putting bat guano on my face and eyes) I would recommend them to anyone.

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Hi BbGirl,

I was so depressed when I had to have my band removed. I gained 70lbs in 14 months. Believe me I enjoyed every bite of food but then knew I had no choice but to get the gastric sleeve.

I just felt really good about Dr Illan when I considered his experience, price & over all patient care. I also had a fantastic experience years ago with Dr Ariel Ortiz.

Thankfully, I haven't needed follow up care but I'm sure Dr Illan would FaceTime with me without question. He checked on me several times at the hospital & in the hotel, during my stay. He also doesn't do a ridiculous amount of surgeries per day & was a huge reason I chose him. Good luck & I just went with my gut feeling. Thanks :-)

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I had mine done by Dr. Ortiz. It cost me $5,200.00. The sleeve was $4,400.00 and the revision was $800.00. I'm down 25 pounds so far and feel fine.

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Hi Maples,

Thanks for ur response. I have sent you a private email as i am also in the process of getting gastric sleeve done. Just wanted to hear from people who have already been thru that phase and how i can better prepare myself. I hope you are okay with that.

BG

Hi BbGirl,

I was so depressed when I had to have my band removed. I gained 70lbs in 14 months. Believe me I enjoyed every bite of food but then knew I had no choice but to get the gastric sleeve.
I just felt really good about Dr Illan when I considered his experience, price & over all patient care. I also had a fantastic experience years ago with Dr Ariel Ortiz.
Thankfully, I haven't needed follow up care but I'm sure Dr Illan would FaceTime with me without question. He checked on me several times at the hospital & in the hotel, during my stay. He also doesn't do a ridiculous amount of surgeries per day & was a huge reason I chose him. Good luck & I just went with my gut feeling. Thanks :-)

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I go on 14th of July to Dr. Valenzuela and I am nervous. Hopefully it will be better than band, too many ways to cheat the band and never got restriction again after year one. Though great tool for the first year.

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Laura71,

I want Dr Ponce...but can't find the group in which he works with Trish. Who did you book through? Can you give me Trish's contact info?

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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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

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      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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