I just read a great post by 'wasabubblebutt' regarding Mexico doctors. I wanted to let anybody know, who is interested, that I was banded by Dr. Lopez in TJ, Mexico. If anybody has any questions regarding this doctor, his side-kick doctors, price, pre-op diet, post-op diet, hospital care, transportation, staff, flouroscopy, or anything else regarding my experience, please do not hesitate to ask right here. Or you can privately email me and I will answer your questions.

I want people to feel like they are making the right decision by having surgery outside of the US and with a doctor they can trust.

The main problem with Boards like this one and by that I am talking about all the others as well is that Promoters, co-ordinators, surgery schedulers ect are on these boards. About 20% of all the posts are made by these employees of the Drs. The presence of these "bottom feeders" has completely contaminated this medium. I say this because I have been around long enough to see it. I mean take a close look at the advertisements around edges of this board. These cost alot of money every month. The sole purpose is to reach newbies. A newbie will see the ad and think "hey these guys must be good they are on this board". Then the posts. Man can't you see they how surgeons are held up high by certain posts or the cordinators. I see that Joann has been mentioned here. I know her personallyI also know that there are a number of websites that are in effect the same site because they all lead to her or Beliteweight which are the same thing. Now thats sick. What we need is a site that does no advertising at alland does not allow folks to promote or attack any surgeon. Also stops private messaging. In a perfect world huh?

The main problem with Boards like this one and by that I am talking about all the others as well is that Promoters, co-ordinators, surgery schedulers ect are on these boards. About 20% of all the posts are made by these employees of the Drs. The presence of these "bottom feeders" has completely contaminated this medium. I say this because I have been around long enough to see it. I mean take a close look at the advertisements around edges of this board. These cost alot of money every month. The sole purpose is to reach newbies. A newbie will see the ad and think "hey these guys must be good they are on this board". Then the posts. Man can't you see they how surgeons are held up high by certain posts or the cordinators. I see that Joann has been mentioned here. I know her personallyI also know that there are a number of websites that are in effect the same site because they all lead to her or BeLiteWeight which are the same thing. Now thats sick. What we need is a site that does no advertising at alland does not allow folks to promote or attack any surgeon. Also stops private messaging. In a perfect world huh?

One more thing about ads found here. If you see an ad that says "get information" or "find a surgeon here" or "tries to make you think they have info that is open an available is not true remember I mentioned some promoters actually have several websites designed to send visitors to surgeons that THEY WORK FOR! I wish we could not allow any advertising at all!! No promoters at all!!! Also we would just give support to each other and not mention our surgeon of choice..... I am sure to get angry responses for this post but I am getting sick of the hidden tactics.JMHO!:thumbup:

My Spanglish is perfect! I know exactly what Corvala said. In any event "want2beme" The Angeles Hospital does not go by US Standards! You can be sued by saying things like that. If the hospital was the same then why is it so much cheaper? Look I have been around this stuff for 6 years not six months. I travel to Mx weekly, I meet these Drs. often and I can tell you the ones that are doing mega surgeries are making most of the complications aslo the ones that are very lo in fee as well. Do real research and you will see..

Well, I guess you know better than me if you are in that hospital every week. Why do you work with them if you don't respect them and trash them on this website?

Dr Lopez did my band last July, and everything went smoothly. The biggest reason, in my mind, that he is so much less expensive than US doctors is that he and Hospital Angeles doesn't have to pay so much for malpractice insurance. Also, the standards in Mexico are not the same in the US. For example, building codes are different, staffing the hospital is cheaper, medications are regulated differently, it's Tijuana, for heaven's sake, etc. I didn't have to endure 6 months of physician-supervised dieting with regular visits, my psych evaluation and "nutrition counseling" lasted 15 minutes. It all adds up. Plus, Dr. Lopez profits from the sheer number of bands he places. Sure, he's not the most personable of surgeons, but I got what I paid for. The problem is finding affordable after-care in the US, but at 7 months and counting, I'd do it again.

PS. I live and work in Wisconsin, and have no affiliation with BeLiteWeight, Dr. Lopez, or any other bariatric group, however I am a nurse. As you can see, I post quite a bit, mostly on the Lucky 7's board.

What we need is a site that does no advertising at alland does not allow folks to promote or attack any surgeon. Also stops private messaging. In a perfect world huh?

But if people didn't post their experiences with their doctors, how would newbies like me know who to avoid?

Great point!!! However, nobody seems to listen! How ANYBODY would choose Dr Lopez after ALL the negetive posts is beyond me. There are several really good doctors in Mexico with little to no complications. Why not choose one of them?

If I was picking a surgeon....and I read what is written about Dr Lopez, GOOD and BAD, I would run the oposite direction. It is wonderful that he has had some happy patients but that all goes out the window when you read about the horror stories. I choose to believe people when they come here and spill their guts and tell these emotional stories. It is insulting when you relive your pain and someone assumes you are lying just to bash the dr. Argh!

There are several Drs who charge the same price as Lopez. It can't be a price issue. Go to TJ, have Lap band surgery, be happy and healthy, JUST PICK A GOOD DOCTOR!!!!

Well, I guess you know better than me if you are in that hospital every week. Why do you work with them if you don't respect them and trash them on this website?

Want2beme, I do know better than you. Why do I work with them? Haven't you had to work with people you may not like or respect?

When you see the depth of pain and suffering caused by these "Doctor dejor's" you would try to say something to those that are possibly going down the same road. The solution would be to not have all these guys advertising all over this site. It seems support has become good business for some...

I know of a "doctor" that places bands for 3200.00 and its an outpatient setting!!! If someone wants the lowest fee this is the guy.

Lets see how many "shoppers" get back to me on this.

Great point!!! However, nobody seems to listen! How ANYBODY would choose Dr Lopez after ALL the negetive posts is beyond me. There are several really good doctors in Mexico with little to no complications. Why not choose one of them?

If I was picking a surgeon....and I read what is written about Dr Lopez, GOOD and BAD, I would run the oposite direction. It is wonderful that he has had some happy patients but that all goes out the window when you read about the horror stories. I choose to believe people when they come here and spill their guts and tell these emotional stories. It is insulting when you relive your pain and someone assumes you are lying just to bash the dr. Argh!

There are several Drs who charge the same price as Lopez. It can't be a price issue. Go to TJ, have Lap band surgery, be happy and healthy, JUST PICK A GOOD DOCTOR!!!!

So which Dr's would you recommend in Mexico? :thumbup:

So which Dr's would you recommend in Mexico? :thumbup:

I did over 6 months worth of research before I decided to have my surgery with Dr Lopez Corvalla. I read good and bad things about Dr Lopez before my surgery. The good out weighted the bad and when I spoke with a local Dr and he had attended Dr Lopez Corvalla's training (he trains American Dr's) made me feel better. Dr. Lopez Corvalla was a great Dr when I went to see him. They have alway replied to me regarding any issues or concerns I have had related to my band afterwards. Just because some people had a bad experience with him does not mean all his patient do. There are lots of complications and risk we take when we opt for this surgery. I had a good experience and that is what I am here telling about it. Why is it okay to vocalize all the bad but not the good? Where is the fairness in that?

One of the scariest parts of trying to find a doctor in Mexico is not knowing who to "trust." It's hard to know who is a "real" person, and who is just working for the doctor. I wish there was some lie detector test so we would all know whose posts we can trust! But we all need to exercise caution in health care, whether it's here or in Mexico.

I'm currently scheduled for lap band with Dr. Ariel Ortiz on April 18. Am I 100% sure? Of course not. For now I have a deposit down while I try to work through a little more of my ambivalence. I went back and forth between him and one doc in Monterrey. I just thought I'd feel more comfortable being closer to San Diego (even though I'm in Chicago!). Also, my husband is a physician and last night he had a phone consult with Dr. Ortiz. (Ok, I must admit I really didn't think he would even call.) And since I'm being such a skeptic, I made my husband ask a lot of very technical questions, most of which I didn't understand. My husband was very impressed.

I have a sister in Southern California, and she is going to visit the clinic next week, just to make sure their website is accurate.

If anyone is interested, I'll keep you posted.

Just because some people had a bad experience with him does not mean all his patient do. There are lots of complications and risk we take when we opt for this surgery.

And just because some of his patients have a good experience, that doesn't make him a good surgeon.

All doctors have patients who have complications -- slips, erosions, even some infections. But not all doctors are equal. If I have a choice, I'm going to go with the doctor with better than average stats, not the one with the worse than average stats.

I do not work for Dr. Lopez or any other doctor. btw.

I met with several bariatric docs here in California prior to my surgery as well. I chose Dr. Lopez based on the information I gathered.

I didn't want this thread to become a bitch sess, but it looks like that's what it's turned into.

Sorry about the content on this thread. If anybody wants info on this doc, I'll tell you, just email me privately.

Thx.

I was just banded by Dr. Lopez on Feb 29. I was so nervous about leaving the states to have surgery. I want to say that I would recommend Dr Lopez to anyone that wanted to have the lap band. It was an awesome experience. The hospital was so clean, the staff was so nice and spoke decent english, and the surgery went great. Dr Lopez came to my room 3 times after the surgery to check and see how I was doing. I got home yesterday on Sunday. I am a little sore but feel great. I am glad I can say that I am now a bandster. I lost 15 pounds on my preop diet and I have lost 2 pounds since surgery.:biggrin2:

I do not work for Dr. Lopez or any other doctor. btw.

I met with several bariatric docs here in California prior to my surgery as well. I chose Dr. Lopez based on the information I gathered.

I didn't want this thread to become a bitch sess, but it looks like that's what it's turned into.

Sorry about the content on this thread. If anybody wants info on this doc, I'll tell you, just email me privately.

Thx.

I appreciate your comments so far. I am interested in what you found out when you checked out the surgeons.

I too did my homework. I found out about dr. verboonen and his Obesity Goodbye clinic. He uses his whole family. I found several patients that were pissed off by the way they were treated after banding!!

I know of Dr. Corvala also. He is a good surgeon but thats as far as his care goes. I actually over heard him while riding in the same elevator with him at the Bandsters bash. He said " These damn patients. All I want to do is surgery I am sick of their (patients) constant questions"!

One of the first to do band placement in Northern Mexico works in a very low end hospital in TJ.

I like the surgeons that are Fellows of The American College of Surgeons. (FACS). This is a designation of membership in a organization that supercedes local requirements and standards. The one that I know of is Dr. Mascareno in TJ. I went and met him on a surprise visit and found him very professional and not interested in becoming the next Mega Surgeon. JMHO:smile:

I don't know, I have to say that anyone that goes to the effort of putting a doc's web site address in their sig is suspect to me. However, I trust very few people here as I agree with you, more and more patient coordinators are posting, posing as patients, not telling anyone they work for doctors, it's getting wayyy out of hand here.

Dr.s of GETBANDEDNOW.COM 380-175

Success is part the surgeon

part your education

part your dr.s support team if any..

I don't even KNOW my doctor's website address, I have to look it up if someone asks for it. I am not sure why anyone would advertise a web address while claiming to go to TJ weekly to meet with these doctors if they did not work for the doctors. So, who DO you work for? Just the one in your sig link? Or more?

We've caught coordinators before with more IDs than they have a change of underwear. We we catch them they just abandon their IDs and come up with a whole bunch more.

F.A.C.S.: For the most part I agree with you but that does not promise a skilled surgeon. One of the worst surgeons in Mexico has FACS behind his name (for now). And JFTR, Mascareno is not the only FACS surgeon in TJ. If you are going to push a doc on your sig link at least be honest about other surgeons in TJ that are also FACS.

And speaking of your surgeons....

Basic Package P/U and Return to AirportYes 3 nights in 4-Star HotelYes Pre-Op TestsYes Post-Op Surgery MedsYes Free Fills for LifeYes Total Complete Fee$8,500.00

Notice free fills for life, right? Check this out, same web site different page:

The adjustments are free to our patients. The Clinic charges us 200.00 U.S. dollars for the use of the Flouroscopy equipment.

Non Patients fee is 275.00 US Dollars only. Reciepts will be available.

Now, if they were working out of an actual hospital I can see the HOSPITAL charging for fluoro, but they are using their OWN equipment, THEY are charging $200 and claiming the act of poking you with a needle is free.

Also, they claim throughout the site that they use a hospital, it's not a hospital. It's a clinic. They claim it's a private hospital. Hooey, it's a privately owned clinic.

What can I expect from the facilities at Hospital Lityen

The Dr.s of Getbandednow provide first class facilities and top of the line medical equipment and this is what you can expect from Hospital Lityen. This hospital has all private rooms, each equipped with a private bathroom, a pull out bed for a family member or companion, and cable TV with remote control. English-speaking doctors are on call 24 hours a day.

Here they claim it is a clinic:

You are taken to the clinic and before starting the protocol, you sign the surgery authorization form, by this time all questions are cleared and you have authorized the procedure. For better understanding, the surgical consent forms are in plain English and easy to understand. You are encouraged to read the form thoroughly prior to signing.

They claim to have done 2000 bands. So where are their patients? Anyone with 2000 bands has plenty of patients posting, not these guys.

Check this out:

We will pick you up and return you to the San Diego airport for an 80.00 fee.

$80 for a ride from the airport to the clinic? Most docs do this for free. So a fill is $280. That's more expensive than many places in the US. I can get a fill from my NP here in Phoenix for $100. Yeah, she's crappy and I wouldn't go there but she's still $100.00.

One of the biggest issues I see is that they do not advertise Inamed. They offer the Midband, J&J, and BioE. Never heard of BioE, I'll have to look it up. I'm not even sure what Mid Band is. Most US patients have Inamed because that was the only US FDA band approved in the US until last fall when J&J became FDA approved. If you get a mid band or Bio E, how would you get fills? Most in the US won't touch a non FDA approved band, and I don't blame them.

They also do not appear to do the tricky stuff. They don't do sleeves, bypass, revision, none of it. Only easy banding. Why? Are they not capable of tricky stuff? That's a big question in my mind.

The big stuff... clinic and not hospital but they claim it is a hospital. No use of Inamed, that is a concern, are they only using cheap bands? They don't do anything tricky, just easy stuff. That makes me question skill. I question if their stats are inflated since they hardly have anyone posting! It makes no sense.

I haven't even talked to them yet. This is just what I got from the website. I actually called them and left a message twice trying to help someone research them. When they found out why I was calling and who I am (BubbleButt the one pushing research on the boards) they declined to return my call. Funny thing is, until that point I had heard positive things about them. The person that was asking me for info was totally gung-ho for Gutierrez, he sounded great. He appeared very honest on the phone to her, he was kind, professional, the works.

Of course, then he told her that while they have done some supposed 2000 bands they have few people posting because they don't want the advertising. Hello? Who posts here to advertise other than patient coordinators? Why WOULDN'T a doctor want his patients posting and exchanging info on life as a banded person? They don't have many people posting because they don't have many patients.

I would love to verify the claim of 2000 bands but I can't because when they found out I wanted to do some research on them, they declined to return my phone calls. I've been trying to find out how many of each brand band they have placed so I can call the band manufacturers and verify they have actually purchased this many bands but... they don't want to talk to me.

BTW, are you Mario from their office?