I am wondering if anybody has gone to Mexico for this procedure.
Here are some of my questions:

1) Are the pre assessments done over the phone or do you have to go down there
2) What is the minimum time you have to stay in the country
3) What was your experience there

Thank You!

I am in manitoba and have been approved for bypass but the wait is two years, and I would prefer the lap band anyway so am contemplating this option.

ejoy your day!

I have heard of a few people who have gone down there to have bariatric surgery.

www.obesityhelp.com/find/bariatric-surgeon/MEXICO/

Maybe this OH link will be helpful

I can't answer those questions, but
Lease, pleaser sire that you will be getting a state of the art band.

Many Mexican facilities use the older bands which are harder to place, and more finicky to fill.

Also please make sure you have excellent follow up care planned and financially accounted for.

I saw my surgeon every 4-6 weeks the first year after banding .... Sometimes for fills and sometimes just to make sure I was on track.

Many surgeons will notacceptpatients that they did not and.

The band REQUIRES more follow and maintenance than any other WLS. Be prepared.

~Lease, pleaser sire that you will be getting a state of the art band.

Many Mexican facilities use the older bands which are harder to place, and more finicky to fill.~

I have heard that many of the Mexican facilities use the older 4cc bands.  As far as them being harder to place, I have never heard that. As far as them being more finicky to fill, from what I have read it seems to be just the opposite. I have heard many double bandsters (including Bette) say they had better luck with restriction with 4cc's. Those of you with 2 bands, what do you think about this???

As far as banding in Mexico, some of the Dr. there are now refusing to band because of high complications rates. Same with US Drs.

I've noticed that some of the answers posted here are misinformation. Our particular facility in Mexico has you fill out a medical questionnaire at the time you book your surgery. This goes to our Internal Medicine doctor who looks it over very carefully. If he see's anything that needs to be followed up on before you come for surgery, we let you know. Our pts. come down the day before their surgery to have all labs, ekg and physical done with him. Then they spend their pre-op night in the hospital, have surgery the next morning and spend their post-op night in the hospital. The following morning they are sent to X-ray for a barium swallow to check for perfect band placement. They are given films of that exam as well as a surgery report to take home with them. In addition, we video tape every surgery so there is always a complete record at the hospital which is state of the art and cleaner than any I have ever seen or worked in. We do many patients from Canada. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me Toll Free from Canada 1-888-398-5186. I would be happy to speak with you.

 I am 10 days post op after having Band Over Bypass with Dr. Kuri in Tijuana.  I filled out the medical form here in the states and sent it to Mexico.  I stayed there 3 days.

I have to tell you, my experience in Tijuana was excellent.  Dr. Kuri and his staff made me feel very welcome, the hospital was cleaner than any I have seen in the States, and there was not one time that I regretted my decision.  The room was very nice and the bathroom was beautiful!  

JoAnne, my coordinator was very patient with me (I had a lot of questions) and has followed up on me.  She even hooked me up with after care here in Las Vegas.

I would highly recommend Dr. Kuri to anyone considering going to Mexico for the surgery.

Might be too soon after surgery to really know but how's that BOB doing for you? 

You are probably one of the best sources of information for this poster given the recency of your surgery and it 's very generous of you to share the information.

I have been researching revision in Mexico and I would not hesitate to have surgery there. I will though say do NOT go with the lowest price! There is usually a reason they are the lowest.

I would suggest you visit the OH Mexico forum and read back over older posts and research some of the Drs. there. Most had wonderful experiences there, some had HORRIBLE!

If you are getting the band, you will need to arrainge aftercare in the US BEFORE you go there to get your band (unless you are close to the border and will be driving there for your care).  Keep in mind that fills can get expensive, and the need for an unfill may come when you least expect it. I've had 19 fills and 4 partial unfills.

Good luck!

I don't know anything about lap-band surgery there, but I recently did a lot of research on plastic surgeons there.  The Plastic Surgery board here on OH is full of folks who swear by their plastic surgeons in Mexico and the state of the art facilities.  Just do your research.  If at all possible, talk to other patients who have treated with the same provider.  And make sure you have a doctor lined up there in Manatoba to manage your fills/unfills when you get home. 
Take care!

I had my plastics in Monterrey by Dr Sauceda.  He is the bomb! I have had 3 surgeries by him and am returning in January for another.  His price is all inclusive and you stay in a clinic as long as you need to and then he sends you to the Hampton Inn where his RN visits you daily to help you shower and dress your incisions.

I do have a friend who had her's in Tijuana and almost died.  The doctor sent her alone in a taxi to the hotel - she bleed out and kept calling him for help and he never returned her call.  Finally she called her husband in the states and he contacted an ambulance.  It was bad.

You have to be really careful who you go to in Mexico and make sure you speak to as many former patients as possible.  This same surgeon my friend had - also has done some hideous work on other patients who have posted on the PS forum!  I wouldn't send my dog to him!

Do your homework and try to locate as many former patients as possible.  It pays to be careful if you're going out of the country!