After an emotionally exhausting week due to battling my insurance company (they won), and being absolutely certain there was no way I would qualify for financing, I just got approval from CaptialOne Healthcare Financing, and now I am just giddy!!! A bit scared too though! Even though I have read so many positive things on this forum about being banded in Mexico, I'm still a little nervous. I'm working on getting all my documentation, etc together and I am planning to go to Dr Rumbault in Monterrey. I'll be going alone, not because I dont want my family to know about it, I just don't want them to know until after it's done because I don't want anyone trying to talk me out of it. Its not the surgery part I'm scared about though, it's the Mexico part, although i'm really not sure why. I guess I just need some reassurance that I'll be well taken care of.

My thanks to everyone who has said such positive things about Mexico, Dr Rumbault, and their banding experience in general...I wouldn't have made this decision without all your input!!!

My thanks to everyone who has said such positive things about Mexico, Dr Rumbault, and their banding experience in general...I wouldn't have made this decision without all your input!!!

You will be fine! The whole team is wonderful.

And re: the passport issue. My understanding is that has been suspended because they are so far behind in processing passport applications. Definitely check with the airline/travel agency before going, though.

You'll do great. I honestly believe that the two best docs in Mexico are Rumbaut and Aceves. They both have the best track records on infection, erosion, and slips, they both work out of a hospital instead of a clinic, they both have extensive experience, they are both well respected in Mexico, they both do a great job. You'll be fine!

BTW, Dr. R is also banded himself, that's a HUGE plus in my book.

Dr. Gonzalez in TJ

I just had it done the on 9/13/07. No passport needed.

They are very, very nice people, NO problems. Excellent care.

After surgery, Dr Valenzuela and Dr. Gonzalez checked on me 4-5 time to see if everything was OK. Dr. in USA don't do that.

You made a very good choise.

I would go there again, nothing but good things to say.

If you are FLYING in & out of Mexico, a passport is required ... however, if you are traveling by car (or walking) across then you only need a valid form of ID ... but beginning in January 2008 we will be required to have a passport whether we fly, drive or walk across the border.

I was banded by Dr Kuri in Tijuana ... it was a GREAT experience! The hospital is brand new, state-of-the-art. The cost was $7500. Lapbandsurgery.com is his site.

I even went back down there a couple weeks ago for my first fill ... was back & forth across the border in an hour!

Blooeyez is correct about the passport info! I had my surgery done by Dr. Huacuz (found him on group lapband trip to mexico Group Lapband Trip to Mexico) HE was great. This site is great, too. You go with a couple of other people getting banded as a group. So you are alone, but not really. Prices are average. I paid total $8,000. The Doc is a hottie too!! Good Luck!! Oh yeah, the worst part of the trip was comming back across the boarder. We had to wait in a massive line of traffic and all these people were walking through the lines selling all kinds of yummies!! I missed out on having real Mexican made Churros. Sigh.......and they were just waving them in my face!! Those bastards. LOL

I was banded by Dr Ortiz in TJ. 9/14/07. Great experince. When I told my mother I was going to TJ to have it done she freaked. But I let her read all of the boards and info on the web and she cooled off. My best friend was a differnt story. He told me he thought Mex. was a dump, and could not belive any one would go there for a med procedure. My ins. would not pay for it and I was self pay. The money was partly why i went to Mex.,but it was mostly that they would do the surgery so much faster. Their was not a 10 to 12 week wait. It was like a 4 week wait.