Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

If you went to mexico for your gastric sleeve surgery, who was your doctor and how much did it cost?



Recommended Posts

If you had surgery in Mexico I would like to know what doctor did you use and how much did it cost?

Also if your surgery put sutures over the staples to make sure it doesn't leak?

Would you rate your overall exsperiance 0 being very bad to 10 being very good. I ask because today is the day that I make my choice and pay my deposit. Thank you all :) This site is great! I'm learning so much and I thank you for that :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good Morning,

I went to TJ Mexico and my Dr. Was Dr. Almanza on July 31st. Was 4300.00 plus the round trip ticket to San Diego. I'm very happy with the results and Dr. Almanza and his staff were amazing . I highly recommend them . Good Luck and best wishes. :-)

bodyweight.png?ts=1413472147

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Rocky1 I know. I was going to go with Dr Almanza until I did alot of research and found so much bad reviews. So many severe complications from alot of people. NO! NOT THE DR FOR ME! people still chose to go to him even with all those very bad reviews. I love my life and I refuse to put it in his hands!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

And yes they still email-call and text me from different numbers trying to get me to pay the $250 dollar non refundable deposit fee too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm in the final decision-making process like you, Rocky1. I've been leaning toward Dr. alejandro lopez lately, and spoke with two of his coordinators yesterday. I was assured that he uses Ethicon staples, sutures over them, and provides follow up care, regardless of the tourism company.

In addition to Hospital MI Doctor, he now uses Hospital Vida, a brand new free-standing surgery center with a well-equipped ICU. While it isn't JCI accredited, it is ACMBS approved. One of the coordinators, who is a registered nurse, had her surgery in Tijuana with Dr. Valenzuela. She said she requested that in the event of any severe complications during surgery (like a PE), that they ambulance her to Scripps in San Diego as soon as she was stable enough to transport. She recommended that I provide the same instructions in an unlikely event such as that.

I really like Mexicali Bariatrics, Hospital Almater, coordinator Nina Eguia, and Dr. Wilhelmy, but he doesn't do the single incision technique. I hope I don't live to regret my obsessive desire to avoid scars, but I do feel confident that Dr. Lopez will do a good job. I'm also going to follow your lead and start working to find a local Bariatric surgeon who will provide me with follow up care, as that makes the most sense logistically.

I hope you come to a peaceful and happy decision, and have a very successful outcome. I'll be following your progress and wishing you all the best!

Edited by OCSlim

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you, Rocky1. Coming from you, that is very reassuring, as I know how seriously and meticulously you have researched everything!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had surgery with Dr. Wilhelmy in Mexicali and paid around 8500 dlls. I wanted a real hospital, certified, experienced surgeon and basically I had already been there with my mom a year before when she got her sleeve and saw the level of care she got. I had never had medical care remotely similar to what I had at Almater Hospital. I knew tI could save money elsewhere but I wanted the best and feel I got more than I actually paid for.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had the "regular incisions" and not the "single incision" but they don't even do stitches on your skin. They literally "glue" you.:-). It's great! I'm 2 months out and you'd really have to look hard to see any evidence of a scar. If you can't or don't get single incision, don't worry. You won't be maimed.:-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had the "regular incisions" and not the "single incision" but they don't even do stitches on your skin. They literally "glue" you.:-). It's great! I'm 2 months out and you'd really have to look hard to see any evidence of a scar. If you can't or don't get single incision, don't worry. You won't be maimed.:-)

That is very encouraging to hear, Suzamundo! Who did your surgery?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery in Tijuana Mexico on October the first. My surgeon was Sergio Ver boonen. At the obesity goodbye center his staff was amazing and I got a copy of my surgery on dvd . He does over sew the staples.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had surgery with Dr. Wilhelmy in Mexicali, Mexico. I live close to Mexicali and can tell you he is the very best here. The hospital, the staff , the experience of so many years just makes a high difference. He does not do the single incision does the regular sleeve but the incisions are so tiny, nothing to be worried about.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@SarahSmile did Dr Almanza sew over the staples to help prevent leakage? Alot of people from Louisiana has went to him to get their surgery done.

I do not know about sewing over the staples, but was checked for leakage before I left and was given the x-rays to take home.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×