I'm planning to have the Mini Gastric Bypass in March in either Tijuana or Juarez. I'm now researching, looking for the best surgeon to perform my procedure.

I like what I've seen and read about Dr. Jose Rodriguez (BeLiteWeight is his US coordinator). He works out of a full service hospital (Hospital Angeles in Tijuana and Star Medica in Juarez). Patients spend their entire stay in the hospital, not in a hotel. He's a US Certified Bariatric Surgeon and has studied in the US and Europe. He has a long list of other credentials on the BLW website, and they seem to be excellent.

I'd love to hear any input on either Dr. Rodriguez or BeLiteWeight (good or bad). Has anyone dealt with BeLiteWeight or had Dr. Rodriguez do their surgery? What was your experience like?

Another strong candidate is Dr. Juan Corvala with Hospital Angeles in Tijuana. I'm still in the researching surgeons phase so I'm open to suggestions. Can you recommend any other bariatric surgeons in Tijuana or Juarez?

Well Okiebon,

Let's share research since we are contemplating the same surgeons.

In a nutshell, both surgeons are excellent.

Dr. Corvala is world reknowned, FACS lecturer, trained many surgeons in lap bands, gastric plication and the Endoflip. He is published in international journals. Many Mexcian surgeons (Garcia, Cabrera, Lopez, Osuna, Valenzuela etc... ) were trained by him at Hosp Angeles fellowship.

He was a visiting professor and taught laparacopic gall bladder surgery at Yale. His credentials are impeccable. I just don't see that many reviews on him. H

Supposedly Dr. Rodriguez currently performs more surgical procedures, great results and is a proctor for Covidien. For whatever reason, I have a great deal of confidence in his ability. Last week, I was leaning towards him, this week not so sure.

I will contact both surgeons and want to discuss some of the peri and post op protocols they use.

I have gathered some of this info already which I believe is very important.

I'm not a medical professional, so I may have a different research scope than yours, but we both appear to be looking for the same thing - a knowledgable, experienced surgeon who will provide safe quality care and lasting results. I believe both of these doctors can do that. I'm not too concerned about their coordinators, reps, or whatever they're called. I can find my own way there and my own way home if I have to. I just need to find the surgeon I feel will be best for me.

I would prefer a longer hospital stay, as opposed to being released and sent to a hotel to fend for myself after one day. It's just personal preference, but I want to be where the doctors and the operating rooms are if a problem develops. Both of these doctors offer this.

I want my surgery done in a full service hospital with trauma doctors, blood bank and testing/scanning equipment available in a blink. Both of these doctors offer this.

I want a surgeon who works out of the hospital he operates in, a hospital he knows his way around and one where the nurses and staff know him and how he works. These doctors do this.

I want a doctor who has a surgical 'team' that's worked together and knows what is expected of them. I don't want one who flits from hospital A to B to C to D and has a strange crew at each one. These two doctors can provide this.

I want a doctor with proven experience in multiple types of bariatric procedures, so that he can adapt my surgery quickly if problems develop. Again, both of these doctors offer this.

I want a lot, and I could go on for pages, but this gives you a general idea of the areas I've had in mind when researching doctors.

Thank you, you've helped me confirm for myself that I've made two good selections.

Edited November 6, 201411 yr by Okiebon

I just realized I didn't even address the education and continuing pursuit of training that I feel is so important for surgeons. Honestly, there so many important factors to consider - many of them very personalized.

Ha ha! Yes! Dr. Elmo is as nice as he seems and that is exactly the team of Dr's I had. You'll be on a first name basis with all of them by the time you come home because they'll visit you a lot in your room. The anesthesiologist was great, too. A woman. They are all so fast it's over before you know what's happening.

I'm so excited! I don't know how I'll be able to wait until March.

There are differences in that area between these surgeons.

Agreed.

Too bad we can't go the same date. I plan on,June or July.

Well if I can't resolve my schedule at work, we may just be there at the same time! Any chance you could move yours up?

I had Dr Rod in Juarez 8/11/14. Could not be happier. Highly recommend. I had the sleeve Monday afternoon and was back to work Friday in Florida - pain free and complication free.

I sent you a message this morning.

I've spent the past few days here reading tons of posts from over the last few years - so much great information available here! I wish I'd done more reading before posting. It was very eye opening in a lot of ways.

It's made me change my opinion on the importance of the Coordinator role. For many patients (and their support companions), the coordinator is the go-to contact in case of problems during the hotel stay, relieves the burden of having to arrange transportation or make other decisions one may not feel like making after surgery, and provides support in numerous other ways. I'll be traveling alone and having a supportive coordinator in place after surgery would be very reassuring to me. Finding one that is supportive and responsive to my needs NOW will make me feel more confident that they'll be supportive and responsive to my needs after surgery.

I knew that there were many good surgeons to choose from in Mexico but I thought that I'd be able to do my research and pick the 'perfect' one. Ha! I realize now that we all have different personal criteria for what makes up the best surgeon, valid criteria that's given me more a lot more to think about and add to my list. Criteria that I'd never even thought of before. So, while the things that were important to me in my choice of a surgeon are still important to me, I've added many other things to my list to be factored in to the final decision as well.

It's been a comfort to find this forum full of people willing to share their choices, experiences and results. Many thanks to all of you!

Edited November 9, 201411 yr by Okiebon

i have been going back and forth for several months, since learning of Dr. Aceves passing....

my gut is telling me Dr. Rodriguez, so i am hoping it will work out for me to go in January

the coordinator has been helpful, not pushy...and i appreciate that. i look forward to getting this over with!

I agree - the coordinator I've been working with hasn't been pushy, either.

I also agree - I'm ready for the surgery to be over with! I want to feel better and ache less so I can start enjoying life.

I hope January works out for you, best wishes!

I am scheduled with Dr. Rodriguez at Hospital Angeles on December 12th. I'm feeling very confident in my decision, as he and the hospital both have credentials that make me feel comfortable. Additionally, he has performed over 500 single incision sleeve Gastrectomies, which is what I'm having done, which is all the better!

I am scheduled with Dr. Rodriguez at Hospital Angeles on December 12th. I'm feeling very confident in my decision, as he and the hospital both have credentials that make me feel comfortable. Additionally, he has performed over 500 single incision sleeve Gastrectomies, which is what I'm having done, which is all the better!

What a terrific Christmas present to yourself! I'd love to hear how everything goes, and what you think of the doctors and the hospital. Are you going by yourself or will you have a companion? I plan to go by myself, but I'm a little nervous about it.

Best wishes!

What a terrific Christmas present to yourself! I'd love to hear how everything goes, and what you think of the doctors and the hospital. Are you going by yourself or will you have a companion? I plan to go by myself, but I'm a little nervous about it.

Best wishes!

Okiebon - I was glad I went alone. 4 days in a hospital room with someone with only one English TV station is a long time. Plus, I moved around a lot from the bed to the lounger to the guest futon thing. It will be fine.:-)

Okiebon - I was glad I went alone. 4 days in a hospital room with someone with only one English TV station is a long time. Plus, I moved around a lot from the bed to the lounger to the guest futon thing. It will be fine.:-)

When you put it like that, I definitely want to go alone.

You picked an excellent surgeon. Also, Hosp Angeles is by far the top hospital in TJ.

it is a real full service hospital with modern equipment.

I thought Dr Rod recently completed training for single incision several months ago.

I am still on the fence between Dr Rod and Dr Corvala at the same hospital. I look forward to your feedback after your successful surgery.

Best of luck!

I'm not sure when he did his training on single incision surgery. I thought about having mine done as a single incision, but I already have the scars from my gall bladder removal so I figured why bother.

My surgery date is still a little ways out, but I'm keeping myself entertained by trying samples of different protein powders and drinks, researching vitamins and other supplements, and making lists and checking them twice. Time has never moved so slowly!

Congrats on making a great choice.

Thank you, Rocky1. It was quite a process getting to this decision, but I feel really good and prepared. I will provide a good and detailed report on how it all goes.