After much research, I picked a surgeon and am booked! Thank you everyone who helped me out. A special shout out to zmdh39 who wrote volumes educating me about how to pick a surgeon.

There were 3 surgeons I was seriously considering. Any one of them would have been acceptable to me. I also liked every coordinator I spoke with.

Each of us has a 'click factor' that just makes you feel a surgeon is right for you.

For me, that 'click factor' was Dr. Illan. Here is why:

> He graduated in the top of his class with honors. The university he went to is widely regarded as the leading university in the spanish speaking world including Spain and Portugal. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico) (Yes, I am using wikipedia as a source but I saw it other places too).

> He is the Chief of Emergency/Trauma surgery at a large hospital: https://www.facebook.com/pages/IMSS-Hospital-General-Regional-No1/164876160265331

He works at the ER hospital M-F from 7 to 2 pm. As chief, he does the hard stuff like gunshots etc. On days he has 3 bariatric surgeries booked, he has someone cover him at the ER hospital and does not go in. He only does 3 or 4 bariatric surgeries max a day. In other words, he is not exhausted nor doing an assembly line.

(A side note: There are a lot of mentions in various places of him being an 'assistant' to Dr. Ramos Kelly. Dr. Ramos has lost privileges from several hospitals for various rumored reasons. I asked about this association. Dr. Illan wasn't an 'assistant' like he was learning from Dr. Kelly. Since Dr.Illan is also a trauma/ER surgeon, the other bariatric surgeons like having him with them - it makes things that much safer in their own operating rooms So he has assisted many surgeons around Tijuana).

> He has 2 other surgeons in the room assisting him (so a total of 3 surgeons), plus 2 scrub nurses and a technician. He does the surgery himself - no ghost surgeons or students.

> He closes with 3 levels. 1. He does the 3 staple on each side thing using Johnson and Johnson with covidian staples (all surgeons I have researched do this). 2. He then sews a line from top to bottom behind the staple line (many do this but some just do the junctures where the staple cartridges were reloaded, and some don't at all). 3. Then he coats the staples with bio -glue (very few do this extra step).

He closes the outside incisions with sutures on the inside and glue on the outside.

> He does 3 leak tests (2 during surgery and 1 the day you check out of the hospital).

> Complication rate 1 in 500, leak rate 0 and infection rate 0. Talked with a patient who was standing with Omar getting ready to return to the USA where she works as a surgical scrub nurse. She said his sterile technique was excellent, and the OR has excellent technology. She said that the OR was, quite frankly, better than the OR she works out of in the USA.

> He tells you in advance of any extra pricing like hernia repair that might be needed.

> His coordinator, Omar, gets rave reviews as being very helpful and taking people around to shop and sight see etc. That's a bonus for my travel companion so she won't be bored, nor wandering around Tijuana on her own. Omar is well known for going waaaay above what many expect from their coordinator.

Tip: Just so you know, most people tip their coordinators regardless which surgeon they go to. I have heard that the usual tip is $100.00 (some tip more and some tip less) paid at the end of the trip. People also say to bring about $100.00 extra in small bills for incidentals and minor tipping of bell hops, housekeeping, waiters, room service, the wheelchair/cart person at the airport if you get one post op, the driver to and from the airport, etc.

> The package is 4,600 all inclusive: 5 nights (pre-op you stay in the hospital if you arrive in the evening), 2 more nights in the Florence hospital, 2 nights in the Lucerna hotel. The hospital has a bed for your companion -not a cot or a lazy boy. Companion pays for their own meals (as is standard).

> He does not require an advance deposit. Omar, the coordinator, just asks you to send a photo of the money order once you have it to make sure the doctor's name is spelled right. You just pay when you get there.

Very important tip: Plan on taking the money order or cash because the Mexican government adds a 16% surcharge to credit cards. That would mean paying an additional $736.00! That doesn't even include your own bank's charges.

> Dr. Illan will do a skype conference with you to answer any questions you might have. His name is pronounced Iyyan or EEyan

> He has a thriving and supportive facebook community of current, former and future patients willing to answer questions. Feel free to contact me here to get my name there (I change the display name for fun sometimes). You can find the facebook page here: Team Illan https://www.facebook.com/groups/138579759635044/

*I am editing this post as I learn more information.

Edited June 29, 201412 yr by Travelmego

I am thinking about booking with him. How are your results? Your experiences there, etc?

After much research, I picked a surgeon and am booked! Thank you everyone who helped me out. A special shout out to zmdh39 who wrote volumes educating me about how to pick a surgeon.

There were 3 surgeons I was seriously considering. Any one of them would have been acceptable to me. I also liked every coordinator I spoke with.

Each of us has a 'click factor' that just makes you feel a surgeon is right for you.

For me, that 'click factor' was Dr. Illan. Here is why:

> He graduated in the top of his class with honors. The university he went to is widely regarded as the leading university in the spanish speaking world including Spain and Portugal. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico) (Yes, I am using wikipedia as a source but I saw it other places too).

> He is the Chief of Emergency/Trauma surgery at a large hospital: https://www.facebook.com/pages/IMSS-Hospital-General-Regional-No1/164876160265331

He works at the ER hospital M-F from 7 to 2 pm. As chief, he does the hard stuff like gunshots etc. On days he has 3 bariatric surgeries booked, he has someone cover him at the ER hospital and does not go in. He only does 3 or 4 bariatric surgeries max a day. In other words, he is not exhausted nor doing an assembly line.

(A side note: There are a lot of mentions in various places of him being an 'assistant' to Dr. Ramos Kelly. Dr. Ramos has lost privileges from several hospitals for various rumored reasons. I asked about this association. Dr. Illan wasn't an 'assistant' like he was learning from Dr. Kelly. Since Dr.Illan is also a trauma/ER surgeon, the other bariatric surgeons like having him with them - it makes things that much safer in their own operating rooms So he has assisted many surgeons around Tijuana).

> He has 2 other surgeons in the room assisting him (so a total of 3 surgeons), plus 2 scrub nurses and a technician. He does the surgery himself - no ghost surgeons or students.

> He closes with 3 levels. 1. He does the 3 staple on each side thing using Johnson and Johnson with covidian staples (all surgeons I have researched do this). 2. He then sews a line from top to bottom behind the staple line (many do this but some just do the junctures where the staple cartridges were reloaded, and some don't at all). 3. Then he coats the staples with bio -glue (very few do this extra step).

He closes the outside incisions with sutures on the inside and glue on the outside.

> He does 3 leak tests (2 during surgery and 1 the day you check out of the hospital).

> Complication rate 1 in 500, leak rate 0 and infection rate 0. Talked with a patient who was standing with Omar getting ready to return to the USA where she works as a surgical scrub nurse. She said his sterile technique was excellent, and the OR has excellent technology. She said that the OR was, quite frankly, better than the OR she works out of in the USA.

> He tells you in advance of any extra pricing like hernia repair that might be needed.

> His coordinator, Omar, gets rave reviews as being very helpful and taking people around to shop and sight see etc. That's a bonus for my travel companion so she won't be bored, nor wandering around Tijuana on her own. Omar is well known for going waaaay above what many expect from their coordinator.

Tip: Just so you know, most people tip their coordinators regardless which surgeon they go to. I have heard that the usual tip is $100.00 (some tip more and some tip less) paid at the end of the trip. People also say to bring about $100.00 extra in small bills for incidentals and minor tipping of bell hops, housekeeping, waiters, room service, the wheelchair/cart person at the airport if you get one post op, the driver to and from the airport, etc.

> The package is 4,600 all inclusive: 5 nights (pre-op you stay in the hospital if you arrive in the evening), 2 more nights in the florence hospital, 2 nights in the Lucerna hotel. The hospital has a bed for your companion -not a cot or a lazy boy. Companion pays for their own meals (as is standard).

> He does not require an advance deposit. Omar, the coordinator, just asks you to send a photo of the money order once you have it to make sure the doctor's name is spelled right. You just pay when you get there.

Very important tip: Plan on taking the money order or cash because the Mexican government adds a 16% surcharge to credit cards. That would mean paying an additional $736.00! That doesn't even include your own bank's charges.

> Dr. Illan will do a skype conference with you to answer any questions you might have. His name is pronounced Iyyan or EEyan

> He has a thriving and supportive facebook community of current, former and future patients willing to answer questions. Feel free to contact me here to get my name there (I change the display name for fun sometimes). You can find the facebook page here: Team Illan https://www.facebook.com/groups/138579759635044/

*I am editing this post as I learn more information.

I haven't had surgery yet but will report back after I do. In the meantime, I suggest checking out the facebook group Team Illan to talk with a lot of former and future patients of his.

I had my surgery on May 14th with Dr. Illan. I am now 2 months post op today. I have not been this healthy and energetic in 20 years. I have now lost over 50 lbs, and have been very physically active. I exercise daily including things like aqua aerobics, tennis, kayaking, walking, running, strength training, and swimming. My incisions are all healed up, still quite pink, but no uglier than my stretch marks from having children. I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Illan, the entire Baja Bariatrics team, and the florence hospital and staff. I highly recommend them, and if you have any questions you can find me on Team Illan as Tammy Ivana-Bethin. I do not come on this forum often, as I am too busy and truely love my Team Illan support, that's where I will be. And Happy, thanks for sharing this Thread, I hope it helps many people join our losers bench!

My little scar where he took my stomach out is barely noticeable. It was much smaller than I thought it would be. I showed a friend and she couldn't belief that was where my stomach came out! I had a mole between my boobs removed recently and it looks about the same as that. The other incisions look like day old scratches. Pretty bright but not like wounds at all. I will be two months next week and I am shooting for 30 lost post op. But more that the amount of weight lost which will be what it is, is the rapid healing. I have had almost zero complications. I overate once, ate mustard too early, and threw up immediately after surgery. That is about it! I am very confident that I have an excellent sleeve.

Regardless of what is being said on another thread all of you will be super impressed with Dr. Illan as a surgeon and a doctor. Do not be afraid of Omar. He is an awesome coordinator and is really a kind soul. Your relationship with anyone else is what YOU make of it. Please ask me any questions you may have. I am 9 months out.