I haven't had my surgery yet. I'm seriously considering having the lap band surgery done in Mexico because it is less expensive and less red-tape, documentation, etc. I will be a self-pay patient.

My question is: are doctors in the U.S. cooperative concerning follow-up care such as fills if you have the procedure done in Mexico?

I'm finding that my family and friends are not happy that I am thinking of going to Mexico for the procedure and have told me that I must be crazy to even consider it.

Those of you who are experienced, is there anything else I need to be aware of before making arrangements to have the surgery done in Mexico? Is there anything I need to be aware of or concerned about? Thank you!

Look under the Doctors and Hospitals thread. There is a sticky post about researching a Mexican doctor. Just make sure you arrange for aftercare with your local doctor. If he won't take a patient that had surgery in Mexico, you can try Fill Centers, USA. You need to be as aware and concerned as you would be having surgery in America. It has been a safe choice for many of us, but there are complications as well. Do your research and find someone you feel comfortable with. Good luck!

I think whether you are having LB surgery in the US or in Mexico the key to a good experience is to do your research and make an informed decision when choosing a doctor. There are really good and really lousy doctors in both places.

The issues you brought up should also be considered. I was a self pay patient, too, and when I chose my doctor it was because I knew if there was ever an issue and I needed immediate medical care I could be at her office in half an hour. Most doctors (In any field) are reluctant to touch another doctor's work (think of the liability) - if there is a goof up they are both going to be pointing at each other. The other concern is fills. I like my doctor's conservative approach and have had five fills so far which were all covered in my initial fee. So any time I have felt I needed a fill I could just run over to her office and get one - no out of town trip, finding a hotel, etc...The fee for my surgery was $11,500. That includes fills for one year and all my pre-op and post op education (extensive). That's the other thing - make sure whoever does your surgery and in whatever country it is done in, that you are educated. I see far too many posts on this sight (many by patients operated on in America) from patients who don't understand what is going on. The lap band has quite a learning curve and it was so helpful for me to know exactly what to expect each step of the way - what I should eat when, what a fill was going to be like etc...I chose to have surgery in America because I wanted to be close by. When counting the costs just don't forget to figure in the convenience of having your own doctor nearby. The peace of mind that gives me was worth the extra couple thousand dollars.