Question:
Has anyone had surgery in Mexico and experienced any complications?

My husband is afraid of complications and how they would be handled. Is there anywhere you can see if there are any complaints filed against a doctor in Mexico. I can't seem to explain that the responses are not set up by the doctors to make them look good and increase their business.    — TONJUA A. (posted on April 8, 2003)


April 8, 2003
Hi, I am hispanic, and is very sad the way that some people think about Mexico's technology, We have excelent surgeons, I'll tell you a little story,Few years ago, my aunt got really ill after a hart problem, so my uncle told her to go to Houston because the best doctors were living here, and she told her surgeon that he wanted the best for her, so she was going to USA, to have her surgery, he told her that it was fine and good luck, when my aunt got to the hospital in HOuston, in one of the most important hospitals, she arranged her surgery with the Director of Cardiology there and the most famous doctor, when she saw him she was surprised to know that it was her same doctor that she had in Mexico city, but now she had to pay in dollars.He used to fly back and for from Mexico to Houston. So as long as you choose one of the big cities in Mexico, you wont have any problem, just research, and if you are going to have complications, it's going to be here or there, only God knows, if any questions email me and good luck.
   — Rosa M.

April 8, 2003
Rosa, that is a GREAT story! Made me smile.
   — Karen R.

April 8, 2003
Thanks for your information. I wish I could convince my husband.
   — TONJUA A.

April 8, 2003
Yes, a friend of mine went to Mexico and had the surgery down there (they lived in Vegas) he ended up passing away because of the infection he got when he was in the hospital down there. Before he had went down there his friend had went and had surgery there and had several complications with infections and getting follow up care in the States. I have heard a lot of good stories but these are the two bad I know for a fact. Hope this helps Holly
   — Holly B.

April 8, 2003
Yes, a friend of mine went to Mexico and had the surgery down there (they lived in Vegas) he ended up passing away because of the infection he got when he was in the hospital down there. Before he had went down there his friend had went and had surgery there and had several complications with infections and getting follow up care in the States. I have heard a lot of good stories but these are the two bad I know for a fact. Hope this helps Holly
   — Holly B.

April 8, 2003
I am considering (very seriously) about having my tt in Mexico. I have an Aunt who had a hip replacement done in Mexico and it was state of the art and has not caused her any problems, yet the other hip was done here in the US and it had to be replaced becaused it failed mechanically, she went back to Mexico to have a new one put in.
   — Kathy J.

April 8, 2003
I have to wonder with Holly's story why if one friend experienced problems the other friend went to the same exact place? Maybe the second friend didn't feel it was related to the facility? Holly, the way you wrote it, it sounds like your friends had trouble getting follow up care in the US afterwards? Were they not getting follow up care? Were they treated for the infections? Did they have a surgeon in Nevada to follow up with? Were they in a hospital or a clinica (private clinic)? Your story prompts lots of questions in me. I went to MX with no complications but I had thoroughly researched my doctor. His facility was very clean and state of the art. I also made arrangements for follow up care with a local surgeon in the event that I had any worried, troubles, or even questions that I wanted answered 1 on 1 after I came home. I never used him but he was available and willing to treat me. I also went to my local PCP every week for an examination. At about 3 weeks out I developed a spot of cellulitis (to be expected with the surgery I had) but seeing my doctors closely it was treated aggressively. I'm sorry you lost your friends like you did. While I hope a story like that won't scare off self pays who are looking for options like Mexico, especially since stories like this happen in the US too. It does raise important points. To me it seems common sense but I think it needs to be said. Regardless of where you have surgery everyone need to research their doctor (and the hospital he uses) well and talk with other post ops who used this doctor. They need to be aware that they will need to receive follow up care when they get home and they should arrange for it ahead of time. They should anticipate being on antibiotics following their surgery and watching for signs of infection. And if they have problems to get help immediately, even if it means a visit to the ER (costly or not).
   — Shelly S.

April 8, 2003
I had serious complications after my surgery and it was done here in the US. The fact is that some people who have this surgery (any kind of WLS) can have complications no matter where it is performed or who performs it. The best thing you can do is research the surgeon, the facility and the procedure. Then you can make the decision with all the facts at hand.
   — garw

April 8, 2003
Hi~ Why don't you call the surgeon your interested in and talk to him directly about this and ask him all about his history, and then follow thru with the research on him and find out that way. Then present all of the information to your husband to look at. I'am 12 days post-op from having me Open-Rny with Dr.Aguirre in Ensenada,Mexico. I'am doing GREAT, I have no pain, I'am on a soft food diet since the 2nd day out of the hospital, and have not taken any pain meds. since the morning of the 3rd day in the hospital. I spent endless hours researching him and talking to people who had used him. Now, knowing what I know now it would not matter to me if I had insurance or 100,000.00 for WLS, my surgeon would still be Dr.Aguirre.
   — latrishanickle

April 8, 2003
Mexico is a very big country, I live here in Mexico City one of the biggest cities of the world, we have very good hospitals that can handle things as well as they can do it in the best hospital in USA. Just make sure what part of Mexico you are going. I had my surgery here in Mexico city, and the hopital which is 115 years old and the Dr. were excellent. This is the website for the hospital http://www.abchospital.com/ Please let me know if I can help you in any way. Good luck
   — maureenmosti




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