Hi PHX Banders!

My husband just gave me the thumbs up to get lap-band in Mexico (due to self pay and cost). I am so excited but I want to make sure I pick the right doc. Any advice? Then, of course I have concerns about fills too. Should I go with a doctor in Mexicali or Tijuana? Help?

Thanks, Michelle

P.S BTW -- I am 39, 5'6", 230ish. I have 2 kids at home 15 & 6 yrs old) My 6 yr old has Cerebral Palsy. So I guess convenience is somewhat important due to my kids.

Welcome Illfeelqtagain! I'm in N. Glendale too. I'm going to Dr. Blackstone and my surgery date is Jan 10th! Very excited! I'm not familar with Mexico, but there many great posts here. Do a search for Mexico Doctors or look up WASABUBBLEBUT. She is also from AZ, an RN, familar with Mexico docs and has been very successful with her band. She will be very informative.

Best of luck to you on your journey. This is a great place for information & support.

Hi- my husband and I live 15 miles west of Surprise. We were both banded in October in Tijuana by Dr. Ortiz. We have been very pleased with the clinic there, and also get dental work done at his clinic. We plan on driving back to Tijuana for our fills--about a 5 hour drive for us. Mexicali is closer, however, and there are also Arizonans that drive there for fills.

Thanks luvsrocks! Good Luck to you next week. Please keep in touch, k? I think the Buddy System is a good thing. :scared: Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

Hi Snowbird! Thank you for your reply. I was actually considering Dr Ortis and getting my fills from Fill Centers USA at Desert Ridge (heard they have a new location there). I'm so glad the two of you had great experiences. Where did you stay? Isn't there a choice of a couple of places in Tijuana? I'd love to pick your brains a bit more if you don't mind. :scared:

Dr. Aceves is in Mexicali, about 3 hours from Goodyear, AZ. We go there as a group for fills. You are welcome to join us next time we go so that you can check out the doc, the staff, and the facility if you wish.

It's nice having your surgeon driving distance. We can go there in the AM and return that afternoon if we wish.

I was happy with my care at Dr. Ortiz in TJ. I am just outside of LV near the dam so either choice was OK for me. I flew on Southwest to San Diego airport and they took care of the rest (transportation, hotel, pre-op, etc. all in the same 2 night visit).

Best of luck to you. WaBB's link in her sig is awesome for research. I used it to make my decision last year.

I just had surgery on Dec 29 in Mexicali. Dr Aceves is great! I'm a nurse and I would go back there again in a heartbeat! No complaints!

I also went to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. Very professional and a very clean hospital!!! Notice I said hospital!! Not an office, but the real thing!! Everyone there was very nice and accommodating. I am going back this weekend for my first fill. Fills are free for life except for $75.00 to the hospital for the fluoroscope. Have an AZ Dr. beat that price! Good luck on your surgery and I am sure you will be as happy with the surgeon you choose.

I had surgery with Dr. Ortiz back in April and it was a wonderful experience. I've gone back twice for fills and have always had great treatment with them. I live in Surprise and the day I had surgery one of the other gals also using Dr. Ortiz was from Surprise also. So she has been my lapband buddy ever since. What a small world!

Hey, QT, sorry for the delay in replying. We were up in Washington visiting my daughter (also a bandster) and are in San Diego right now, getting ready to head down to TJ for our second fills.

We stayed at the Lucerna Hotel for our surgery. The cost of the hotel is included in Dr Ortiz's fee. If you bring someone with you, they can continue to stay at the Lucerna while you are at the clinic--that's also included in Dr. O's fee. We went down last year with my daughter, and then went back for our own bands in October. When we go for fills, we have an RV and drive it over to San Diego or Chula Vista and stay in it there overnight.

If you want to PM me with any questions or ask them here, I will try to check in more often. We will be back home in Arizona Friday night, so my life should settle down a bit then.

Hi, Jazzy. Sounds like we can start up our own Surprise support group, or at least a West Valley one. We are snowbirds and head up to Washington for summers, but are usually around Arizona from September through May.