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I live in Oviedo and have just decided to pursue a sleeve. Does anyone know of any good surgeons? Or, more importantly - does anyone know of any bad surgeons - the ones to stay away from?

Thanks.

Hi Sherreis. I also live in Oviedo. I had my sleeve done in Mexico by Dr. Quinones on July 9th of this year. I was so pleased with my experience and would gladly share any knowledge with you. If you are traveling outside of the US for your surgery, I do not recommend Dr. Alvarez in Mexico as I have spoken with many dissatisfied patients of his. If you are staying in the US for surgery and are lucky enough to have insurance cover it, I have heard fantastic things about Celebration Health. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat!

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Hi Sherreis. I also live in Oviedo. I had my sleeve done in Mexico by Dr. Quinones on July 9th of this year. I was so pleased with my experience and would gladly share any knowledge with you. If you are traveling outside of the US for your surgery, I do not recommend Dr. Alvarez in Mexico as I have spoken with many dissatisfied patients of his. If you are staying in the US for surgery and are lucky enough to have insurance cover it, I have heard fantastic things about Celebration Health. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat!

Thanks for the prompt reply. I will be having this covered by insurance hopefully. I should meet all the criteria for medical necessity. I have started looking at Celebration and also at Dr. Beltre who has an office in Altamonte Springs

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Hello! I was originally with Dr. Beltre in Altamonte Springs www.saynotoobesity.com who was going to do my sleeve, but when my insurance (Cigna) denied it and Denied it again after the first appeal, I took my friend advice and booked with Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana Mexico! Dr. Beltre is very good and he has excellent bedside manners. He completed a minor procedure on my back and my war wound healed beautiful without any issues! I would prefer him. I also live near Oviedo and Casselberry area. Hope this helps :)

Hi! I'm in Oviedo and am getting sleeved July 9th in Mexico. I would to have a local support grouoto connect with for my journey!

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Thanks for the prompt reply. I will be having this covered by insurance hopefully. I should meet all the criteria for medical necessity. I have started looking at Celebration and also at Dr. Beltre who has an office in Altamonte Springs

I had a consult with Dr. Beltre several years ago when I started researching WLS, but before I found out my insurance wouldn't cover it. I thought he was very kind and knowledgeable. He and his staff answered a lot of questions for me. I wish my insurance would have covered it, but I am happy to have found another option. Doing well at 3 months post op as of today! 52 pounds down! I don't think you can go wrong with either Dr. Beltre or Celebration!

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I went to Tijuana - and used Dr Cabrera with MBC - loved the whole experience... Im doing very well.... However IF I had had the surgery here in Florida I would have gone to Dr Kim at Celebration - I have several friends that went with him. But for me it wasn't an option - I didn't have the health problems allowing it covered by insurance... I did it cause diets didn't work - and my knees were really bad. Im down over 60lbs now... and feeling better every day!

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Thanks for all the responses. I am amazed by how many of you have travelled to Mexico for your surgeries. I had no idea about that as an option for people. I have also looked at the charges for that and it almost comes close to what my copay will be with my yukky health insurance coverage with a high deductible. If I had started this earlier in the year it wouldn't be so high.

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Mexico was even better than my insurance would have been even if it did cover bariatric surgery. I have a $7500 deductible on my insurance. My surgery in Mexico INCLUDING airfare for 2 people and all my meds to take home, food for my husband and tips for transportation, etc ended up being $5000. The care I received was top notch! I don't regret it for a minute!

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I had mine done by Dr. Kim. Absolutely an incredible experience. No pain from surgery, the hospital staff was top notch and my recovery was incredibly easy. I was back to work - part time with a ride - in three days. Back full time, driving myself in a week. No pain meds what so ever - not even Tylenol. My only complaint was the after appointments. The appt at 1 month, I was in the waiting room for 2 hours. I was incredibly pissed off. The appointments I went to after that, I told them I had to be out the door in 1 hour for another appointment and I needed to be seen at my scheduled time. Miraculously, they got me in quick.

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Wow!! Congratulations on your surgery, recovery, and your journey! I can't wait to go! I hope and pray that my journey will be an success and that I will be able to finally start a family with my fiance and no longer have health problems! Please keep us posted on your success :)

Mexico was even better than my insurance would have been even if it did cover bariatric surgery. I have a $7500 deductible on my insurance. My surgery in Mexico INCLUDING airfare for 2 people and all my meds to take home, food for my husband and tips for transportation, etc ended up being $5000. The care I received was top notch! I don't regret it for a minute!

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At first, I was looking at Dr. Kim, but I changed my mind after I saw 17000.00 for surgery. I then went to Dr. Beltre in Altamonte, but my insurance rejected the claim for non coverage. So, I am now going with Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana Mexico


I had mine done by Dr. Kim. Absolutely an incredible experience. No pain from surgery, the hospital staff was top notch and my recovery was incredibly easy. I was back to work - part time with a ride - in three days. Back full time, driving myself in a week. No pain meds what so ever - not even Tylenol. My only complaint was the after appointments. The appt at 1 month, I was in the waiting room for 2 hours. I was incredibly pissed off. The appointments I went to after that, I told them I had to be out the door in 1 hour for another appointment and I needed to be seen at my scheduled time. Miraculously, they got me in quick.

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Hello!!!

I hope that all is well! Okay great! We are neighbors :) When is your surgery? Best of luck to you on your journey.

Hello, I live in Casselberry I'm on my journey with Orlando Health

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Okay!! great that is right around the corner! Please keep me updated as well on your stats! I am trying not to be anxious, but I am a little, I am just trying to knock off at least 10more pounds before the surgery!

Hello neighbor, I ' m still on my 6 mos diet per my insurance , probably in Feb 15 I would love to know more keep in touch

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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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.

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