I went to the Florence hospital in Tijuana with Dr. Ismael Cabrera last week, other doctors work there too. It was a bit older but it was a great experience. $4250 plus flight. They renovated the upper levels and turned it into the hotel so u do not have to leave the building for recovery and there are doctors downstairs if you need them during your hotel stay. You spend two nights downstairs in the hospital. All the staff spoke English and were great. 

My surgery cost is $4400 (Includes a one night stay pre-op, pre-op testing, the surgery, anesthesia and all 'normal' care post-op, 2 nights in the hospital, and 2 nights in a hotel post-op to continue my recovery.  My air fare from Texas is only $275 round trip... Additionally all transfers to and from the airport.   My insurance does not cover ANY Bariatric Surgery, so my choices were self pay in the States and pay $15K or more, or Mexico.  Although I have pick A Lighter Me as my program in Mexico, I feel I have done an extensive investigation on the surgeon and his technique, that is why I chose Dr Ortiz....   My sister had her VSG in July 2014 and I can attest that I have not had to jump through as many hoops that she had to jump through.   

I wish you all the best!

@Freddie..I 100% agree. Let's keep in touch and I'll keep you posted throughout my process. My mom is a general doctor so I'll be having her reach out to the Dr. As well. 

Ill PM you so we can keep in touch. If that's all right. 

I understand that they staple and then suture.  my specific question is do the staple three lines, then suture, then invert the suture line int the inside of the stomach, and then suture again.   that is what is referred to the inverted gastric sleeve techique that supposedly strengthens the suture line significanlty and significantly reduces the chance of leaks.  at least that is what is advertised on dr. kim's website and he advertises around dallas is inverted technique which i understand some other surgeons use. another technique is to put an absorable polymer membrane(apm) on the suture line to help strengthen it.  I am paranoid about springing a leak well after surgery as I would be thousands of miles from dr corvala when at home and i suspect i would get lots of bias from local health care poviders if they know I went to mexico even though dr corvala and hospital angeles are excellent. my perception is that the local providers what to protect their own turf even thouse they charge three times as much for vsg than dr corvala is charging me at 6500.  

i would really appreciate if you would keep me posted on the success of your surgery as the more feedback i get from people that is positive I think will help in my ultimate decision do go with dr. covala versus dr. kim or dr nicholson in dallas.  dr kim and dr nicholson charge half of what the dr's in my area charge for vsg.  for some reason in texas vsg costs much less than the northern part of the U.S> that is probably due to texas' proximity to the mexican border and the competition texas doctors then face from mexican doctors.  i guess it shows that a little competition is in fact healthy in the healthcare system to help keep costs down.   Of course my main concern by far is quality of healthcare and not cost.  dr corvales is the only bariatric doctor i would consider in mexico and hospital angeles is the only facility i would consider. I like the fact that it is a state of the art newer hospital and is only one mile south of the border and a 30 minute ride from the airport.  note that i do have some concern about flying home after vsg and if I"ll still be in any pain.  i'd  be interested in sleeved patients thoughts on that who traveled a signifcant distance for their surgery.   I would avoid the strip mall places in tijuana at all cost.  

absorbable polyme membrane(APM)

Thanks please keep us posted. I went directly to the Angeles hospital and was able to get the  $6500 rate. Before the price increase. I had to submit a 10% deposit but they have a refund policy. Also the package includes 4 nights in Angeles with 24/7 support so I am glad I webt through the hospital. I prefer to stay at Angeles to have a piece of mind and my doctor has similiar credentials as dr. Kelly. And because I still haven't spoken to dr kelly directly after asking for over a month. I'm glad I made the decision.  Good luck to you all!