I am planning on getting Gastric Sleeve done in Mexico. I am having a hard time picking the doctor. Can anyone recomand a list

of good doctors whom they had their sleeve done? Thanks.

In having mine done May 8 with dr Ariel Ortiz @ the OCC in Tijuana after much research. Best of luck !!!!

I have done lots of research and have three friends who have used Dr Fernando Garcia in Tijuana. I am scheduled for July 1, 2014

Dr.Illan with Baja Bariatrics. Me and my daughter were sleeved with him and it was an amazing journey! Never would I have dreamed I'd go to mexico for surgery much less take my daughter 7 months later. Feel free to look at my pics and email bajabariatrics.com for more information BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE! Good luck!

Thank you all for the list of names of doctors. I have also heard some good reviews for some of those doctors mentioned above. I have a few questions about after care. Also, if there is concern with leaks or any other major complications with the sleeve are you able to go back to the doctor to get it fixed?

I'm an Ariel Ortiz fan, had a great experience.

Ditto on Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez at Obesity Control Center. Everyone at OCC takes great care of you and I have no surgical complications. Love my sleeve.

I was sleeved on Friday 4/25 by Fernando Garcia I'm feeling great I'm at home already since I live just across the border so I decided not to use the hotel stay. I had a good experience no gas pain at all the staff was nice I have no complaints.

Dr illan is professional and knowledgable. He and his patient coordinator Omar are really quick about getting back to you with any post-op questions. He's a respected trauma surgeon, so I can't really picture him deliberately messing up a surgery like the doctor in Susan's post. I guess time will tell, but i am happy so far.

Dr. Pompa is the best surgeon out there. I had my surgery mar 27. And I am down 51 pounds. That includes pre op. She is wonderful and so is her team.

I believe if you have had complications from a past lap band (or still have one with which you are having issues) the field of surgeons you should look at is narrower. For a straight, new sleeve, I think there are 8-10 practices that are well revered for their different strengths, etc.

As far as follow-up goes, my surgeon's patient relations manager (Omar) has indicated I can head back and do a quick couple of nights in the extended stay apartments in the same block as Florence Hospital if I am concerned about anything and/or want to seek out some modest-priced follow-up testing. Dr. Illan is super approachable and accessible and my impression is that he enjoys follow-up interactions because he's gratified to see how well his patients are doing and how (generally) positive things are for them. He's also a somewhat younger mid-career physician who is a rare combination: A surgical "hotshot" who seems to be respected by his peers and more senior mentors AND an unpretentious, easygoing non-egotistical personality to boot. His advertising is almost 100% word of mouth, so I also think he views each patient interaction as an opportunity to build his practice and cement a relationship. I am hoping to take a couple of loved ones down for their own sleeve surgeries in the coming months and (crazy as it sounds) I hope I get them there while he is still in this somewhat junior era because I'm sure when he's a full FELLOW in the American College of Surgeons (FACS) sometime soon, his prices will have to go up and my dear ones won't get the great deal that I did !

Good luck as you research and learn the lay of the land. I honestly think there are a number of excellent choices.

All the best,

RHW

RHW - what was Florence Hospital like? I read in a post somewhere that it isn't a real hospital - meaning fully equipped with icu, bloodbank, etc. Can you please tell me what it was like?

Travelmego, there is a good blood supply there because my dear spouse specifically checked that out (down to the price per pint that I would be charged, lol). I wrote down a name of where I would be transferred if I had an elaborate & intense condition after surgery, but I have to find my notes. And there is an ICU. One of the docs from Dr. ILLAN's team sleeps in the hospital 7 nights/week. I will come back & fully describe hospital later, but Florence reminded me of a small town hospital (like an 8-10,000 person town with that has a graduating HS class of 150each year, lol). Best wishes!