Lap- Band Please Help Mexico

Hi,

My name is Rosie my story is as follow:

My daugther only daughter is wanting a Lap-Band surgery in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz or
Dr. Dr. Mario Almanza Bariatric Specialist.  I am very worried about her going to Mexico.
I have done scearch after screach and have founf nothing with these doctors just a price diffences.  Dr. Ortiz is 6.000 and Dr. Almanza is 4,000.  Why the diffence?  Ok with Almanza you pay hotel and with Ortiz its included. 
I just would like to know if someone has gone to either of these doctors.  I have gone on site and site but as everyone knows the anyone could put anything on sites.

Please! Please! help.

Thank you very much

I can't tell you anything about these physicians, but before your daughter has surgery in MX, she needs to be sure she has followup care in the US lined up.. unless she plans to go to MX everytime she needs a fill or unfill.

She should also be aware that many of the MX surgeons use the older 4cc bands.  Not that there is a necessarily a problem with them, but they are older technology.

Hopefully someone will be able to post and help you.

I agree with Lisa. The problem is when you go out of the country alot of US doctors won't even look at or if they do they want a pretty hefty fee up front. My friends doctor is like that .

After care is so vital after the surgery for the band to work

My opinion I would never go out of the country for the lapband. That is just how I feel though

Thank you both and I agree with you both but she is 26 and has a mind of her own.  She said she has lined up a doctor that will do the fills for 100.00.

I would love for her to do it here in the states but all we could come up with is 8000.00 if you know of a doctor that will do it for that then please let me know.

Thanks again

True Results has a cash price of $9,900 (last time I checked) and that includes a year of free fills. They have several locations in Texas and one in Phoenix.  If she has insurance and found to have a hiatal hernia, the insurance will cover (True Results will check with your insurance 1st) the cost to fix the hernia (anestesia, operating room costs, equipment, etc.) and she will just pay for the band itself. I paid $5500 for mine as my insurance policy has a WLS exclusion.  If this does not work maybe you can look into financing the procedure if you really want her to have it done in the states.  You can check out the True Results website using the link below. Good luck! 

www.trueresults.com/

Thank you for the info I will check into but the lowest price I have found is 12,500 in Miami.  She doesn't have insurance that is the problem.

Gosh I don't know anybody. I was self pay for mine also and it ran me about 20 grand. That included everything though from day one of seeing the doctor and my first yr of visits and fills.

There are some excellent docs in Mexico and if she 100% sure she has the aftercare then I don't see any problems if she that determined . But I would double and triple check to make sure.

I have no experience with either surgeon so I can't comment, but I personally went to Tijuana, MX for my Lap-Band and had a superior experience.  I researched and interviewed 3 different surgeons before I made the decision as to which one I was most comfortable with.

I also had NO problem finding a surgeon here in San Diego to provide my post-op aftercare & fills. In fact, the first 3 places I called gave me this exact answer. All that they required was a copy of the surgery report and copies of all my pre-op labs and diagnostics, which I knew in advance so obtained before I left Mexico and faxed them to him immediately upon my return.  I did, however, find my local surgeon PRIOR to heading to Mexico so that I would not be left in a bind should something go wrong when I got home (which it didn't, but still).  The last thing you want to worry about is finding a local doctor should a complication arise. You want to have a name and number readily available of a local bariatric surgeon which you have already contacted and established a doctor-patient relationship with.  My local doctor knew my surgery date and I had gone to meet him in person to make sure it was a good fit.  I still see him to this day for my aftercare.

Adequate pre-op preparation is clutch in having an out-of-country surgery, should your daughter choose to go that route.

P.S. My Mom came with me to MX for my surgery and I asked my MX surgeon ahead of time what she would need to know, bring, etc., for her trip.  While she could have opted to stay in the hotel we stayed in the night before surgery, she preferred to stay with me in my room (God love her) in a comfortable recliner.  My MX surgeon's staff made sure she knew where to get food and such and provided blankets, pillows, even shower supplies so she could stay with me comfortably.

We had a fantastic experience and some nice one-on-one time.  My MX surgeon is Dr. Francisco Gonzalez.

This was my experience. Hope that helps.

HI,
I went to Mexicali Mexico with Dr. Aceves.  I had a great experience.  The hospital was very clean, surgery went great, stayed two nights in hospital.  The doctors were continuously checking on me.  I've had one fill since the April 1 surgery.  I did research and found very positive posts.  My insurance wanted me to jump through hoops for 6 months and wouldn't guarantee the surgery here, plus it would have been almost the same amount. I'm glad I went to Mexico, my family physician is on board with this also.  I'm glad I went.  Since my surgery I've lost 32 pounds. 

Hi there, I am considering the same two doctors, and money is the bottom line. There are 1000's of videos on Dr. Ortiz and he looks really professional....Dr. Almanza looks great also but does not speak English that good and I do not speak Spanish so I worry about that.
However, I am now considering the new Gastric Plication, where you do not need fills and you do not have any foreign objects in the body........and they do not cut any of your stomach.     I would love to know if anyone has had this done by Dr. Almanza.
Tell your daughter to look up this new surgery, it looks great.

Darlis