I paid my deposit with Dr Illian for November and Ive had a few links sent to me by concerned family etc... that there advising no travel to areas in Mexico and Tijuana is on the list due to an to uprise in Violence w gangs shooting in the streets . How was your experience? I'm getting stressed out

I went to Mexico and my friends/ family voiced the same concerns. I didn't go to Tijuana though, I was in Juarez. But i felt relatively safe. I wasn't in the streets by myself at all. I was picked up by a shuttle driver in El Paso and driven directly to the hospital. Good luck, I think that you should go through with it, if you feel ok with it.

I went to Tijuana in May and had my surgery with Dr. Corvala at Hospital Angeles. I felt very safe in the hospital and my husband stayed in my room the entire time (there was a futon type bed).
We entered and exited Mexico in the "medical tourism" lane at the border crossing. There were several places to eat across from the hospital, but other than that my husband was not real comfortable outside the hospital. Not necessarily unsafe, just not comfortable.
Dr. Corvala's office provided our driver from San Diego airport to the hospital and back across the border to go home

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I had surgery on 8/7 with Dr. Illan in Tijuana. I too was worried about gang activity and safety. I can say that we experienced no violence or gang activity at all. We did see a heavy policy presence,...Some with assault rifles. This made me feel safe. My companion walked the streets during the daytime with our valet to go to restaurants. I walked to the store across the street from the hospital after I was discharged. Everyone was really nice.

Lots of people actually jog the streets. I would watch them from my hospital room window. I never heard gunfire or saw anything that looked suspicious. After we checked into the hotel, we went shopping in the shopping district. Everyone wanted to sell us something of course. The locals seem to genuinely like Americans. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Your valets will take good care of you and your companion.

As an aside, Oasis of Hope Hospital is along the border, and you don't have to take any back streets to get there. It is also in a higher class area. There are brand new homes being built nearby from the 200s. The Pueblo Amigo Hotel and Casino is right across from the border crossing area.

I paid my deposit with Dr Illian for November and Ive had a few links sent to me by concerned family etc... that there advising no travel to areas in Mexico and Tijuana is on the list due to an to uprise in Violence w gangs shooting in the streets . How was your experience? I'm getting stressed out

I don't think there's anything to be worried about as long as you're street smart. If there are any issues I would like to think they would notify those who have booked their dates. I paid my deposit also for October 30th.

I was just there this past May and my dh and I felt very safe. We walked around near the Pueblo Amigo hotel where we stayed and did not feel uncomfortable at all. The valets take real good care of you so you don't even have to go out alone if you don't want to.

13 hours ago, DropWt4Life said:

I had surgery on 8/7 with Dr. Illan in Tijuana. I too was worried about gang activity and safety. I can say that we experienced no violence or gang activity at all. We did see a heavy policy presence,...Some with assault rifles. This made me feel safe. My companion walked the streets during the daytime with our valet to go to restaurants. I walked to the store across the street from the hospital after I was discharged. Everyone was really nice.

Lots of people actually jog the streets. I would watch them from my hospital room window. I never heard gunfire or saw anything that looked suspicious. After we checked into the hotel, we went shopping in the shopping district. Everyone wanted to sell us something of course. The locals seem to genuinely like Americans. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Your valets will take good care of you and your companion.

As an aside, Oasis of Hope Hospital is along the border, and you don't have to take any back streets to get there. It is also in a higher class area. There are brand new homes being built nearby from the 200s. The Pueblo Amigo Hotel and Casino is right across from the border crossing area.

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your experience, my surgery is on Sept 7 with Dr. Illan also and I am getting jitters. I'm also going by myself so I'm concerned about that. Is there any advice you would have for me? Anything that you wish you would have brought with you or packed? Sounds like you were up and able to walk around shortly after surgery, did you have very much pain? Do I need to bring food or anything like that? I feel I have so many questions so I appreciate any advice you may be able to offer.

Thank-you

18 hours ago, JTHmom said:

I paid my deposit with Dr Illian for November and Ive had a few links sent to me by concerned family etc... that there advising no travel to areas in Mexico and Tijuana is on the list due to an to uprise in Violence w gangs shooting in the streets . How was your experience? I'm getting stressed out

I just returned from Tijuana yesterday. Honestly, I don't think that Tijuana is the best vacation get a way location. However, when you travel for surgey they keep you pretty confined to safe areas. If you were traveling for vacation, I'd say pick somewhere else. However, especially with the doctor you chose they will keep you in safe areas. Good luck to you,

19 hours ago, JTHmom said:

I paid my deposit with Dr Illian for November and Ive had a few links sent to me by concerned family etc... that there advising no travel to areas in Mexico and Tijuana is on the list due to an to uprise in Violence w gangs shooting in the streets . How was your experience? I'm getting stressed out

My parents had the same concerns about me having the VSG in Mexico, but ended up going with me there to be my support team because my husband couldn't take the time off of work, and they had a fantastic time. Tijuana actually has some surprisingly lovely areas. It reminded me of cities in Spain. I don't know which hotel or facility Dr. Illian uses, but it seems that most surgeons popular with Americans choose ones in safer, more upscale areas. We stayed at the Marriott, which was peaceful and safe. My surgery was at the CER clinic, a relatively short drive away. The clinic was much nicer than ones I've been to in Los Angeles. The Marriott handled all the ground transportation for my family, which also reduced the risk of being taken advantage of by a taxi driver. They took my parents to and from the clinic every day, and to a nearby shopping center that has an Applebee's, Starbucks, and other places familiar to Americans. The one time we took a taxi it was one the hotel had arranged for us, to go to the touristy area to shop. Our experience in Mexico was entirely positive. I hope yours will be as well.

thank you For the info I really appreciate it

I was with Dr, Illan and the Oasis of hope on 8/10/17. It was one of the best experiences of my life.... Tell your family and friends this is not a nose job or breast implants.... your making a last ditch effort to save your life... I actually had friends and family tell me I was okay being obese because they were use to it and it made them comfortable ???

Take half of everything you packed and throw it back on the bed ... you don't need it..

I went alone and I have heard a lot of ladies saying how empowering it is to go alone.. So you're only taking care of yourself , not someone else. And like everyone else says with all the valets and drivers you are never alone...

Edited August 27, 20178 yr by Mike LaVelle

There are many places in the US like Baltimore, Chicago and Detroit that are statistically way more dangerous than Tijuana. I went alone in July and was fine. You are never left alone to "wander around in the streets". A driver takes you to your destination and when I went out with my group for a bite to eat and some shopping we were with our valet in a busy shopping area where there were a lot of tourists doing the same. You'll be fine. I honestly find some of these travel warnings put out by the state dept ridiculous. BTW... I traveled again to Mexico about a week ago for vacation and was perfectly fine... because I used common sense and stayed at my resort and didn't venture out to unknown areas.

Edited September 1, 20178 yr by CarmellaX

On 8/24/2017 at 7:48 PM, Funwithpooh72 said:

I went to Mexico and my friends/ family voiced the same concerns. I didn't go to Tijuana though, I was in Juarez. But i felt relatively safe. I wasn't in the streets by myself at all. I was picked up by a shuttle driver in El Paso and driven directly to the hospital. Good luck, I think that you should go through with it, if you feel ok with it.

Same here. My friend didn't want to leave, so we just ordered from the hospital menu for him. It didn't look unsafe outside, but he refused to leave, maybe because he didn't know the language.

On 8/24/2017 at 9:36 PM, DropWt4Life said:

Everyone wanted to sell us something of course. The locals seem to genuinely like Americans.

They think all Americans are rich. Maybe by their standards even those on welfare are doing well. And yes, they all want to sell us something. As we were waiting to cross the border, just on the Mexican side where traffic was a parking lot, tons of people were walking between the cars with their wares. We sat there for 45 minutes before getting our turn.

Edited September 10, 20178 yr by MyBariatricLife

I went to Tijuana in May and had my surgery with Dr. Corvala at Hospital Angeles. I felt very safe in the hospital and my husband stayed in my room the entire time (there was a futon type bed).
We entered and exited Mexico in the "medical tourism" lane at the border crossing. There were several places to eat across from the hospital, but other than that my husband was not real comfortable outside the hospital. Not necessarily unsafe, just not comfortable.
Dr. Corvala's office provided our driver from San Diego airport to the hospital and back across the border to go home

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using BariatricPal mobile app

How are you feeling and what do you think of Corvala . I am scheduled for October 24. Where did you get your prescriptions filled at the hospital or down the street. (Dont wanna go down street alone)Also do you tip the driver from the airport to the hospital.

I am feeling great. I highly recommend Dr.Corvala and my dr. here in the US looked at my surgery records (I asked Dr. Corvala's office to email them to me) and said everything looked fine. I got my meds at the hospital pharmacy, it was just easier. I tipped the driver $20 from airport to hospital, and $30 from hospital back to airport because it took forever to go through the border crossing.

Good luck on your surgery.