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Highly recommended Beverly Hills surgeon or Mexico?



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I am cash pay. I went for the initial consult to the Beverly Hills board certified doc who explained his history and what he surgically does to prevent complications, why choose him with his excellent record. I was convinced. However, once I heard the price, $19k, I wondered whether it would be worth the risk to do this in Mexico. Where it is apparently much much less.

But the risks. Patients aren't protected there by the threat of lawsuits etc. Is the extra $10k worth it to keep me safe? I have small children and I'm a single mom. What do you all think? I want to get sleeved in July. Thanks.

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There are a ton of people here who have had their surgery in Mexico. If I had to self-pay I would definitely talk to them and see what they think.

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Thanks for responding. How much do the Mexican docs check their work, test the stitches, do staples as well as hand stitching? The most common thing to go wrong that the surgeon can have any fault in at all would be the sewing, right?

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Don't go to Mexico if you do not have to. I am sure they are competent. However, I choose this clinic based on the mds experience and the fact it is in the US. Any malpractice issues in Mexico would be a serious problem. Highly recommend looking at Dr. Hoehn and staff. Private hospital aswell.

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Dr. Illan in Tijuana. He loves what he does and cares about his patients. You will stay two nights in the hospital and one night in a local hotel before you are "discharged". Once you get home, he is always available by email, phone or Skype. I am three months post-op and have had ZERO complications. Going back next month as my sister's companion.

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I had a great experience with Dr. Illan in Mexico. Complications can happen anywhere and aren't always the fault of the doctor. If I could have afforded surgery closer to home I would have done it though, just because it would be easier to get follow up care.

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Do you have insurance? I have a fantastic surgeon at UCLA and it is one of the best clinics in the country.


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So much to think about. Dr Illan in Mexico seems to have nothing but positive reviews. I'll look at Vegas and UCLA too. The doctor I consulted said he reduced the chances of leaking to almost nonexistent by stitching in addition to the staples and now it seems that most doctors do both. I'm not sure what advantage I get from doing it with this doctor if that isn't one.

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I forgot to respond, no, we have a health share which is reviewing my medical need for weight loss surgery but probably won't cover it. I expect them not to. So I am cash pay. The difference between here and Mexico is so great and Mexico is not very far from here (Los Angeles). I just need it done in July so I can have two weeks off.

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The UCLA bariatric clinic has no history of leaks. If insurance will cover even half of it, I seriously recommend UCLA. However, even if insurance covers it, they all require 3-6 months of supervised weight loss. FEP, which is for federal employees is 3 months but I think most are 6. So that might leave Mexico as your only option if you need it next month. As long as you thoroughly research the clinic, people get great results in Mexico. I'd start the process asap because I bet the good Mexican clinics have waiting periods.


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I highly recommend Dr. Ramos Kelly in Tijuana. He has done some of his medical training in the US, including at USC and as a trauma surgeon at LA County Hospital. I had surgery in April 2017 and have had no complications. He visited me twice a day in the hospital and then each day in the TJ hotel I stayed at after leaving the hospital. I'm in So Cal and took the train to San Diego where Dr. Kelly's driver picked me up. It was a great experience and I'm losing weight! I couldn't be happier with my decision!

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    • 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.
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