I have a friend considering Dr. Ponce de Leon.  Please share your experiences.  I would really appreciate your help!

I had a great experience and felt I was in good hands. I would strongly suggest using Trish as a coordinator.  It makes such a difference having someone right there to make everything run smoothly. I posted pics at

www.photobucket.com/wlstijuana

If you read my blog and other posts here you will see my experience.

I`m down 60 lbs in under 3 months!
 

 Thank you!

Did you do the sleeve or gastric bypass?  thanks.

I had Dr Ponce de Leon as well and felt totally safe in his hands.  Trish is the only coordinator to go with, she is awesome and is there for you.

 Thank you! She has decided to use Trish.

 Another big fan of Trish and Dr. Ponce!  I was sleeved on May 10th and am almost at 50 lbs.  Couldn't be happier!

Another patient of Dr. Ponce here..fabulous experience and not one one hiccup from start to finish. I used Trish as well and am so thankful I did.

I am so glad that there are several patients who have shared their positive experiences about having the VSG done with Dr. Ponce. I want to thank you all ! Myself and a friend will be headed down for my VSG next week. My surgery will be next Thursday :) I am so excited.

Thanks again everyone

I had the duodendal switch surgery with Dr. Ponce de Leon on June 14, 2012. I had excellent care at the hospital and the surgical team is awesome.  I can say that I had better care in Mexico than I would have at home.  The doctors here check on you maybe once or twice in the time you are in hospital.  Doctor Ponce checked on me twice a day.  I don't think and hour went by with out a nurse checking on me changing IV bags or giving me antibiotics.  I was really scared about going to Mexico, I have never left Canada before. I was really impressed.  The hospital was spotless, they changed the bedding everyday need it or not.  That doesn't happen in manitoba, they change it when you leave unless there is a mess.  The only problem I had was my medical guide didn't show up. ( her name was Laurie Wolf aka Laurie Carr) She received the money and only booked the flights. The doctors looked after me and my 2 family members got them the other stuff that was promised me. Also there was another coordinator there who helped us out her name was Trish.  I really wish I had booked through her, but it all worked out in the end.  Doctor Ponce also gives you a dvd of the surgery.  any other questions you can pm me. 
ps. I emailed my med guide after I got home, she hasn't replied yet.  I don't expect she will

 Thank you for this post.

I've been communicating with Trish and I love that she responds immediately.  I'm on my way home from Afghanistan, and this will be a gift to myself.  My only concern, if you can call it that, is that she is recommending a sleeve as opposed to the gastric bypass, which is what I was planning on doing.  Any thoughts on that?  I have about 120 pounds to lose (I'm 5'5" at 260, with a goal weight no lower than 140).  Thanks.

 I am writing from the clinic.  It is a great facility.  My friend had the sleeve on Thursday and is doing great.

I personally love my sleeve.  I did not want malabsorption because I was afraid I would not develop the proper life habits to keep me thin forever. I did not want rerouting inside.  It is a very personal decision.  There is a VSG maintenance group if you want to ask any questions of people in maintenance.  It seems that everyone who eats properly gets to goal and maintains if they continue to watch carbs etc.  nobody can decide which surgery is right for you, except you.

I started at 249.8 and had surgery at 229.  I am 5'4".

Trish is a great coordinator.  The driver met us at the airport and she has been very attentive.  That said, Trish is not a doctor and is not qualified to recommend surgery.  That is a conversation to have with a surgeon.  Does Dr. Ponce de Leon perform the gastric bypass?  Everyone here at the clinic that is his patient has the Sleeve.  Perhaps that is his pecialty? He is a very nice man.  He does not speak English so it is helpful to know some Spanish.

Please let me know if you have other questions.  You can always PM me if you'd like.

 Thanks so much for the response.  I'm comfortable with going to this clinic now, along with your response, and other posts I've read.  Trish is really awesome in that she always answers almost as soon as I hit send.  Good luck to your friend.  The sleeve seems the least invasive way to go, between the two, and I think I'll do that as well.  My friend had it done in Lebanon but was told that she should first do the sleeve, then when she gets to a lower wait (she started at around 360) she should get the GB.  This is probably what confused me.  Thanks again for your response. 

 Oh good. Dr. Ponce de Leon and Trish are great!  I don't think you will be disappointed with the sleeve surgery!

I was sleeved by Dr. Ponce May 14th. As a nurse I couldn't be more pleased with the efficiency from Dr.Ponce and his surgical team from Hector to his OR nurse Randy. The post op care I received while at the hosp was top notch. The hosp is very small so it is if receiving one to one care. Pt/nurse ratio us low unlike larger hospitals in the u.s. I never had nausea or pain because the nurses anticipated and medicated before pain or nausea set in. It us very important to start walking within a few hours of surgery... It helps with gas,gets your blood flowing to lessen risk of bloid clots and also uses lungs to help prevent pnemonia.
I did use Laurie Wolf as my coirdinator and I had a wonderful experience with her as well! She met me and another couple at the airport, she was waiting for me when I came out of surgery. She was in contact with ny children on the phone . When i was discharged from the hospital,Laurie and Dr.Ponce's nurse Randy drove us to the hotel Lucerna. Later that day Laurie took us sught seeing, she took us to the beach,shopping on Revolution.and to the pharmacy to get our meds.She even arranged for a plastic surgeon to come to my hotel room for a consultation for future mommy makeover! Laurie has even called several times to check on my progress! I have nothing but good things to report in regards to my Mexico vsg experience. I am down 38 pounds and feeling great!

 Thank you for the information!  Sounds great to me!  Can't wait to go and do it!  I've been waiting for years!  

 It seems like a crap shoot to know if she actually shows up . If she shows up , you are more likely to have a decent experience but if she doesn't .... Don't count on anything . Don't count on hotel rooms being booked for your family . Rides arranged from the airport , being able to sightsee , being able to stay at the hotel you want ( lucerna) , don't count on being able to contact her at all during or after . 

Love how her ads say " Don't go Alone" you would be better off going alone , then if you book with her and actually expect what you paid for !  

Book through Trish and you will be sure to have a coordinator when you need it . I know of 2 people who have used Laurie and bOth were not satisfied . The first one was Good with Laurie when she went but when she went with a friend for her surgery Laurie didn't show as well And they were left hanging . The second is its-killen- me and I saw first hand how much Laurie left them in the lurch and how if it was nt for Trish and the drs actually doing Laurie's job for her - they would have been sooooo screwed !