I have been researching the gastric sleeve procedure and I've decided it will be best for me. I found Dr. Alvarez online and on here and he seems like he may the best at this procedure, not to mention the fact that the price for a broke, insurance-less girl is SO much better than the prices here in the US!

But here are my fears... You'd have to be living under a rock to not know what's going on in Mexico with the drug cartel. And border towns are the hot spots right now. I live in Texas and I have a lot of Mexican friends (from Mexico or have family there still) and they advise me to not do it at all there. Especially not where Dr. A is located. And the recent news of gunfights there and recently finding a bunch of people dead under the US bridge... now I am totally scared to do it there. But I just can't afford anywhere else. As it is it will take me a year or more to save this amount up.

My other fear is about the surgery itself, and not so much that but how much will I lose after. I am super obese. I weigh 320 and am 5'4". So my BMI is 54.9. I want to be healthy and normal sized. My goal weight is 150lbs.... Will I need to later change it to a RNY bypass?

I would appriciate any and all info from you guys who know. Have you had surgery with Dr. Alvarez recently? Was it safe? Do you live near there? What's up? Or did you have a BMI as high as mine and what's the results you got??

I wont get into the Mexico wars on the boards ( I quit going to MX about 2 years ag but others still go)  However to give you an option I love my dr in New Iberia LA and he was under 10K for cash pay.  If you want to PM me feel free

Thanks so much! I'll check him out! :)

 Guillermo Alvarez is one of the most respected names in Dr's for the VSG.  If I was not able to get my insurance to pay he is who I would have gone to.  As for safety, I'd recommend you look at others who have gone (there are many) and find out about their experiences.  I think you'll be really happy when you do.  

As for your BMI there are MANY here who started with that hi a BMI and higher.  Some are more successful than others.  Personally I didn't want an RNY for many many reasons but mainly look at your pyloric valve it's really important.  If for some reason you needed another surgery I would seriously look at the DS looooong before I ever switched to an RNY.  

Yeah, RNY was my original plan, but I really don't want it now. My sister in law's dad had it and he had major complications. We almost lost him and this happened to him years later. His intestines twisted because the surgeon did not do it right... scary! My sis in law had it with no problems. But still, just what I've read about the sleeve is just seems so much better. :)

 Look for JimBob and his story.  Know it can be done!

I went to mexico a couple weeks ago for my surgery and it was wonderful . I went to Dr Ponce de Leon, in Tijuana. I was picked up at the airport, driven to the hospital and hotel after. I did go shopping and out to lunch , with my co ordinator  in the tourist area. I felt completely safe. You stay out of all the drug areas and areas with people drinking etc... 

 went to dr. alvarez two weeks ago.  felt safer in mexico then many places in us.  he is an amazing surgeon.  i have had no problems at all.  i can garuntee he will spend more time with you then most u.s. docs.  feel free to contact me for details.

Your fears/my answers:
1.  Going across the border:  I wouldn't do that in my own vehicle without knowledge of the area.  However, Dr. A's cousin Rosy picks you up in a van with a big sign on the side.  She takes you down main streets until she gets to the hospital.  Dr. A, his mom and Rosy's mom (Dr. A's aunt) live side by side less than a block from the hospital.  I don't think Dr. A would live in an area or move his Mom into an area that was unsafe.  The staff never let's you out of their site from the time they pick you up until you are safely delivered at the office/hospital.

Drug violence can hit anywhere.  We were hiking in the woods near our property and found a working meth lab.  If we had come across that while the "cookers" were there, we could've been murdered and left to rot in the woods.  Mexico isn't the only dangerous place.

I read all the Justice department warnings about Mexico travel and I haven't seen one specifically for the town where Dr. A is.  There are warnings for that state, further from the border but non right in his area.

2.  The hospital was cleaner than some of the most famous medical mecca's here in the USA.  I've been to Vanderbilt, John's Hopkins, and many other "famous" hospitals.  None of them were as clean as Centro Medica.  The hospital looked like a step back in time---looked like a hospital from the early 60's but the equipment used on me was the same stuff that is used in major hospitals here in the states.

I have had several surgeries in my life time and the VSG that Dr. A did for me was the ONLY time I have had surgery that I DIDN'T have a post op wound infection.

3.  If you stick to the plan, follow the instructions given you, you will lose most if not all of your excess weight.  The VSG is just a tool and how you use it is up to you.  The more diligent you are, the more you will lose.  Dr. A does surgery on high BMI patients.  Your surgery will cost more (slightly higher charge for BMIs over 50 due to extra anesthesia and surgical time) but Susan, Dr. A's coordinator can fill you in on that.  Contact Susan and she will guide you through the whole process.  She will answer all your questions honestly.

Any other questions, pm me.  My sleeve sister has lost over 110 lbs (she's 6 ft tall and was over 300 at the time of surgery).  I've lost 94 lbs and I'm 50 years old.  I would send any of my adult children, my husband or friends to Dr. A in a heart beat.

I never felt unsafe while I was there.  I've been to Mexico when I did feel unsafe but not this time.

Thanks MILLERSDAUGHTER and byoungatheart! That's awesome to hear! I really kinda had my heart set on him being my dr, but the worries set in. It's hard when you have mostly negative things coming at ya about it! My close friend and her hubby used to go to Mexico at least once a month and now they haven't been in a long time and she is being the hardest on me about not going. The thing is I feel the surgery will help me to save my life, but with the comments from them I have visions of being kidnapped or murdered, which is not helpful at all. lol

And I live not too far from Houston where you have the news talking about someone being killed on a weekly basis. So you're right, really danger is everywhere now days.

Had my VSG with Dr. A on 5/31/11. Never once did I question my safety while I was in Mexico.

They picked me up from the airport in San Antonio, drove me to Eagle Pass for the night and then picked me up and drove me over the border to the hospital the next morning.

I agree with a previous poster, I KNOW I got better care from Dr. Alvarez than I would have here in the States.

I am 5'4" and started my liquid diet weighing in at 330lbs. Day of surgery I weighed 303lbs. I'm currently under Dr. A's goal weight for me (145) currently weighing in at 142.5 lbs. I'm starting maintenance right now so my weight will probably slide around a bit until I figure out my cals/carbs balance.

This is completely doable, have faith in yourself and know that it won't be easy... But it'll be worth it.

Thank you, LeahBea! How long did you have to do the liquid diet before hand? Just curious. I bought Dr. A's book and have been wondering how long. Not worried about it, just curous.

 My pre-op liquid diet was 21 days... And I'll be honest when I say it was ROUGH that first week. After the first 3-5 days you get kind of used to it and fall into a routine though.

I also had surgery with Dr. Alvarez this valentines day. Everything was as perfect as all the previous posters portrayed it to be. The comment about not receiving that much quality care and attention from a doctor here was the most impressive part about the whole experience. He is truly wonderful. My husband is Mexican. His entire family could not believe I was going to go to Mexico right now. They stopped going several years back due to the drug cartel stuff. Every one was filling my head with negativity about my decision and I almost changed my mind and lost my deposit. I stood strong though and boy am I glad I did. I have extensive travel experience in Mexico and Piedras Negras was the cleanest most well kept border town I have ever been in. The whole place just looked better and well maintained. The streets were even cleaner. I would say do it. He is pretty well famous with the VSG and if it were dangerous he would loose buisness so i'm sure he would be moving if it were an issue. This is his livlihood here.   As for the liquid diet prior to surgery that will depend on your starting BMI i'm not sure what the guidelines are but you could contact Susan his coordinator and she could tell you. Best of luck to you friend!

I was decided on him, until the naysayers came along. They have me pretty scared. I'm sorry they made ya scared too, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who has experienced it. Lol 
Even though I talked to Susan a couple weeks ago on the phone, just asking questions, and I found her to be so extremely nice and kind, I started thinking "Well of course she's gonna tell you it's safe because you have to have patients to make money and if you say it's unsafe, you won't have patients." Which is not really rational thinking when you see all of the raving revues about not only Dr. A, but also his staff. But when you're scared, you start freaking out a little.

I'm still scared, but I'm not ruling him out yet.  Thank you so much for sharing about your experience! 

 I am going to have surgery with Dr. A on June 8th.  I also live in Texas, and have heard about all of the violence going on in Mexico.  I have decided not to tell anyone about my surgery because I made my decision after a lot of research, and frankly I did just not want to hear any negativity.  I don't want someone telling me to try different diets, or cautioning me about the drug violence there.  Please, the biggest threat on my life right now is this weight I am carrying around that will eventually lead me to diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure, and other health risks associated with being morbidly obese.  I prayed about my decision, and feel comfortable with it.  Best of luck in your decision making process wherever it leads you.