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

Mexico surgery, maybe? Aftercare/fills E. TN?



Recommended Posts

My insurance has an exclusion for all obesity treatment so I've been looking into going to Mexico to have the surgery. Does anyone know of any Dr.'s in the East TN area that are willing to give aftercare, fills, etc. to someone who had their surgery in Mexico?

Thanks,

PS

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Go to fillcentersusa online and you can search their site for close doctors by zip code. That is a company that specializes in lapband fills for people who are banded in Mexico or for patients who move and need someone to do their fills. Your doctor in Mexico should set you up with a close fill doctor after surgery. Ask them, too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

HI,

I researched and choose a doctor 35 minutes from me but have to pay a 2000 up front fee. I tried the USA fill center deal and my appt was cancelled after I had driven 2.5 hours to reach the place. However, some folks do have success with the USA fill center.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have had good luck with fill centers in Florida, especially in St Petersburg. The thing about them is the pricing is set and it is reasonable. After the startup fee of I think 300.00 the fills are 155.00. Good luck in your search.

btw which Dr are you thinking of seeing in Mexico?

JC

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you, I can tell you I thank God I found out about Dr Ortiz. I went to a seminar a hometown Dr was holding about the lapband his name is Dr. Grossbard. He was not only trained by Dr Ortiz but banded by him as well. This gave him an edge on the competition in my eyes. My insurance company stopped paying for bariatric procedures so when faced with paying for it myself Dr Ortiz became my natural choice.

The staff is top notch at OCC. The whoke process was pretty darn smooth. There were a couple of logistical issues that did not amount to anything for me.

If you are considering Dr. Ortiz lookup user NoWorry on this forum or on the Obesity Control Center Forum Lap Band Forum (Powered by Invision Power Board) this person wrote a journal that was extremly accurate. You will get a pretty good idea of the whole experiance. Just keep in mind that NoWorry is a bit sensitive to the unknown the things that were issues for him/her I experianced and easily brushed off.

btw I saw a new Fill Dr (Nurse Practitioner) in St. Petersburg last week and she asked who did my band. When I told her Dr Ortiz she smiled and said " oh good, he does great work".

JC

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I live in East TN, in Chattanooga. My dr, Dr Ponce, has an office in Chattanooga and in Dalton, GA...about 20 mins away. He's been great, I don't know anything about if he does after care for those who have gone out of country...but he is great, so it wouldn't hurt to give them a call and ask.

Gastric Band Institute - Chattanooga, Tennessee - The LAPBAND® Procedure

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had surgery in Mexico and go back there for my fills they are free and it is so easy to get from the San Diego airport to the border, I walk across and am back before the day is over and even have flown home that night. The cabs cost a total of $10.00, and airfare is cheap if you keep your eyes open for deals. Southwest..........

Good Luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had Dr. Zapata/Dr. Sanchez in Monterrey. They've done more than 7000 lapbands now and have been doing them since 95. I use Dr. Curry in Cincinatti Ohio and he charges 300.00 for the first fill and then just 150.00 after that and will do your first fill in 4 weeks if needed and then every 2 weeks until you get proper restriction. I just love him and my Mexico experience was fabulous and I've sent 13 people to him so far that live near me and we're all doing wonderful. Pm me if I can be of any help. Good luck.

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

    • 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!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 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

    ×