Hello everyone, I was away for a couple of days, got to enjoy a nice long weekend with my family. I have been reading more and more and for some reason (and I hope It's a good one) Tijuana always seems to come in to the conversation.The only bad thing is that there are too many it's confusing so I guess I have a lot of research to do since the cost for the surgery in Mexico is within my budget.

Is mexico the place for surgery or what,

where is everybody?

i had surgery in tijuana. i had no problems. i lost 105 lbs. feel good. i went to dr. daniel huacuz. i think he is really great. you cant get better care anywhere. there are lots of doctors in tj. you can check around. but i think my doc is the best. call him . you can check out his website and call , the price is very good. the service and hospital are both top shelf. good luck and hope you have great success like me.

Hello everyone, I was away for a couple of days, got to enjoy a nice long weekend with my family. I have been reading more and more and for some reason (and I hope It's a good one) Tijuana always seems to come in to the conversation.The only bad thing is that there are too many it's confusing so I guess I have a lot of research to do since the cost for the surgery in Mexico is within my budget.

HOPE YOU HAD A NICE WEEKEND, I'M ALSO LOOKING IN TO A COUPLE OR DOCTORS IN TIJUANA, ANY INPUT???? THANKS!!! SUSAN B.

I was banded 7-16-07 in Tijuana by Dr. Ortiz. It was a fantastic experience. He runs a first class operation and it was great. I feel great and am losing lbs. daily. Cost wise he is middle of the road but I feel it was worth every cent.

Is Mexico the place for surgery or what,

where is everybody?

That is the million doller question on here isn't it. Everyone is going to feel one way or another, so you have to go through all the posts and make a decision.

I banded with Dr.Joya in porta varata, mexico for two reasons, he had no neg feed back anywhere on the internet, here or other sites and he was the cheepest, not to mention awesome credentials. It wasn't all about the money but it kinda was. I found three docs I could afford and looked into all three, Dr Joya came up with no bad feed back and was the lowest price. I had a great experience and would suggest him to anyone, infact I think my mom is going next month.

Does that help?

jmej

I have done A LOT of looking around myself as I have a "lower" BMI and US insurance companies weren't going for it...so just let me say, "this is what I have come up with"

* the docs (most of them) in Mexico do outstanding work

* arrange where your fills and who your f/u will be after your surgery if you wont return to Mexico each time

* bad outcomes happen in Mexico just like they do in the states, but have a plan to receive treatment if you are "one of those" that has a run of bad luck

there is a TON of helpful info on this site...by using the search function you can search the docs name or mexico and you will come up with lots of info, I think I read that half of this site has been banded in mexico!

<p><p><p>HI I JUST READ YOUR REPLY AND AM ALSO A PATIENT OF DR. HUACUZ. BUT I'VE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED FOR A VERY LONG TIME .<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/cry.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Think" smilieid="15" class="inlineimg" /> I KNOW 6 PEOPLE THAT GOT THE LAP BAND W/ HIM AND ARE ALL VERY VERY DIAPPOINTED !!!! SO I WON'T RECOMEND HIM FOR THE SURGERY AT ALL! I SO WISH THAT I WOULD OF GONE W/ DR.ORTIZ FROM THE BEGINNING AND NOW AM RECIEVING THE AFTER CARE THROUGH ORTIZ'S CLINC,SO I'M A LOT HAPPIER WITH EVERYTHING NOW.<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" /> I LOST 70 LBS. &amp; HAVE 40-50 TO GO ! HOPE I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ...</p><img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/whoo.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Whoo" smilieid="339" class="inlineimg" /></p></p>

I am satisfied with my experience in Tijauana. You will find people here who love their physicians and others who have nothing good to say. The city itself is dirty, smelly, and not particularly friendly, however the hospital itself and staff were modern, clean, curteous, and professional. One month out I am not sorry I went there--it was half the cost and I am losing weight the same as everyone else.

<p><p>JUST RESPONDING ONCE AGAIN TO THESE POSTS...HAVE NOTHING AGAINST T.J. AT ALL ! JUST HAVE HAD A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM AGAINST DR. THAT DON'T HAVE THE EDIECT THAT SHOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH EVERY PATIENT (IN THE CASE MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE HAD WITH OUR DR. (HUACUZ) IN THE LAST SEVERAL OF MONTHS . IT'S JUST VERY SAD TO BELIEVE AND SET HI EXPECTATIONS AFTER SEVERAL OF MONTHS OF RESEARCH AND MANY LONG INTENCE HOURS OF RULING OUT CHOICES TO WHOME TO CHOOSE FOR THE SURGERY THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE. WELL ,WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO IS THAT WE BELIEVE AND OUR DR. HAS FAILED MANY OF US....AND I WON'T GET INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ,BUT I HAVE CONCREAT EVIDENCE THAT MANY THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY HAVE HAD COMPLICATIONS THAT WERE CAUSED FROM MALPRACTICE ON HIS BEHALFAND FURTHER MORE,ARE AND HAVE BEEN PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER WAY....FROM COMPLICATIONS!!! SO, I GUESS BEING THAT IT'S NOT ONLY ME ,BUT MORE THAT WERE TURNED AWAY AND NEGLECTED FROM THE PROPER CARE ,AS WE AS AS HIS PAITIENCE WERE INTILED OF.I GUESS ALL THAT I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS, THAT I HAPPILY BEING SEEN AS A PAIENT OF DR. ORTIZ AND HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER AND MORE AT EASE. (IT IS MY HEALTH AT RISK, IAND I TREASURE IT VERY DEARLY!!! )I HAPPILY CAN SAY THAT MY WEIGHT CONTINUES TO COME OFF SLOWLY AS IT SHOULD AND MY TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS IS 70/DAY OF SURGERY WEIGHING @ 268 LBS. 5'7" ON FEB.23 2006 . GOOD LUCK TO ALL :whoo:

Hi all,

I too was banded in TJ on august 15th by Dr Ortiz. It was fine, mostly met my expectations, and I am recovering back home up in Canada.SOme things you don't really get if you go with a Mx doctor though is immediate follow up care. I've heard that docs here will call the patient a few days later to check on them - that hasn't happened. I think that there is more that could be done to support patients post op and hopefully the Mx docs will add that to their scope of practice. however, maybe that's what you forfeit when you save the money by going down there.

I chose Ortiz because he has done over 4000 of these ops, does 5 or so a day and has done them for many years. He trains other doctors in the technique. I opted for someone who is technically expert at the procedure, and cared less about bedside manner ( One patient on my day didn't even meet him!) which was fine.

It is a highly competitive market down in Tijuana and as you get ready to commit to one doc or another , narrow it down. I have the perception that their prices may be a bit Fluid to get the business. I had another doc's rep offer to lower the price twice in the week after I had made contact, but while I was still researching....I had in the meantime already committed to Ortiz, in part because he could fit me in on a date that would work with my schedule.

Ortiz's practice is filled with some docs that really seemed to care, and some great nurses. He has set up a competent and squeaky clean center.

that's my feedback. Good luck!

If you are going to Mexico it is all about the $$$$$ I had looked every where for information and decided on Dr. Ortiz and have not regeted it once. He has a top notch practice

I had a great experience in TJ and my follow up care has been great too!

I read a lot of good things about DR. Gonzaea in TJ. I emailed them and a doctor called me right back. Your BMI has to be 33 or above. I've filled out the medical forms and am going to set up a date to have the surgery. End of Sept or early Oct. Price is 7,500. Frpm Tucson AZ I can get a cheap easy flight to San Diago. I will also get my fills an follow up in TJ

Hello all! thank you all for your replies to this thread here is my experience that I wrote on the doctor Gonzalez thread, everything went great!

I'm back!!!

Sorry I didn't post sooner but I left home only a couple of days and everything just went crazy. I had a great experience with everything, the little details are not even worth mentioning. All the doctors, Laura, the hotel and the surgical facility all were great. I'm speechless. I read about other people posting and I'm sure, they are exagerating! Not so, Christine everything was just as you had described it. I thank all of you for your referrals I feel so lucky that I found this forum otherwise who knows where I would have gone for my lap band. The day after surgery I did not believe it, I felt as if nothing had happened. Well let me tell everyone: Go to doctor Gonzalez and doctor Valenzuela. Calls and emails daily since I got back home, asking about my flight back, my pain, my incisions, my diet I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! I'm happy to tears. And I'm losing weight!!!!!!!!!!

The nurses were awesome, a couple have a little bit of a problem with their English, but they knew what I needed. Laura was ready to answer my calls (and did) 24/7. When do these people rest? I don't know but I am very grateful

. Lap-bandit (I got your PM, thanks!), do not worry for a second, you are going to be in the greatest care with the greatest group of professionals.

Thanks again everyone and I'll be sure to keep you posted!

I am going to Dr. Ortiz in TJ Surgery scheduled for 9/5 Check out his site. I feel very confident that I have made a good choice.

Lap Band Surgery - Obesity Control Center If you have any questions they are great to talk to. Good luck

Nance