Having 2nd thoughts about Mexico...

farewell2fat
on 11/1/10 2:08 am, edited 11/1/10 2:17 am - Apopka, FL
Finally convinced my younger to accompany me to Mexico in December for VSG with Dr. Aceves. Now my older sister is begging me to NOT travel to Mexico because her Doctor friend told her to convince me AT ALL COSTS to do VSG in the states because he has heard too many horror stories. Also, she said that my insurance won't cover anything in the event that I encounter any complications from VSG AND that my insurance company can even DROP me once they find out I had a medical procedure done in Mexico!!!  
              
SoonSkinnyDonna
on 11/1/10 2:21 am - Dana Point, CA
 i - had my sleeve done in So Calif - after my husband saw my results and we had found this website with all the positives about Aceves - we chose him for his surgery - best ever!  Better hospital - better surgery recovery - better price - my husband had no pain at all!  Everyone was so attentive and careful and clean and efficient - I'm going back to have plastics done at that hospital - just hope that surgeon is as top quality as Aceves....the drug cartels don't seem to be having their wars in Mexicali - but that would be my only fear.

My husband's only negative is that afterward he had to have his gall bladder out - but Aceves' was very responsive throughout that - phone calls from him with advise and we would have gone back there for the surgery but he was traveling out of the country for the holidays so my husband had it done elsewhere and it was a nightmare compared to the VSG surgery with Aceves.....so don't lump him or his hospital and team into all of Mexico....they are top top quality for this procedure!
SoonSkinnyDonna

HW 255 SW 240 CW 158
-- & lookin good! next goal - no flabby skin?
    
WASaBubbleButt
on 11/1/10 2:23 am - Mexico
On November 1, 2010 at 9:08 AM Pacific Time, farewell2fat wrote:
Finally convinced my younger to accompany me to Mexico in December for VSG with Dr. Aceves. Now my older sister is begging me to NOT travel down there because her Doctor friend told her to convince me to do VSG in the states because he has heard too many horror stories. Also, she said that my insurance won't cover anything in the event that I encounter any complications from VSG AND that my insurance company can even DROP me once they find out I had a medical procedure done in Mexico!!!  
 
I hate this kind of misinformation.  I'm sorry people are telling you nonsense.

There ARE risks with going to MX but it's all about location.  TJ and Juarez... horrors.  Mexicali? No problem.

Any idea of the horror stories in our own country?  Drunk doctors, non licensed doctors operating in NYU, plastic surgeons butchering people, heck... there is a guy in AZ that has 15 med mal practice suits against him and the medical board has no problem with that.

There are good doctors and bad in every country and to assume because they are MX they are butchers is nothing short of sheer bigotry.

If ins is going to cover complications in the US it will cover complications if you had surgery in MX.  I had complications, not my docs fault but they were there nonetheless.  I had a longer hospital stay, more drugs and treatments and he did not charge me a penny extra.  Do you think the hospital in the US would give you such a freebie?  No way.

Your ins cannot drop you for having a VSG.  Now, you can be denied a different private policy for having WLS but they cannot drop you because you opted to have a sleeve in MX.

Send your sister over here, please.  She needs a serious education in reality.


Previously Midwesterngirl

The band got me to goal, the sleeve will keep me there.

See  my blog for newbies: 
http://wasabubblebutt.blogspot.com/
Vivian Prouty
on 11/1/10 2:26 am - Fort Worth, TX
 I also have heard really great things about him and his hospital and care that was given.   I wouldn't hesitate to use him if I were you.   As for the insurance coverage if there were problems.....call them and ask.   I bet that if a problem arises that your insurance will cover it.   You can have complications from surgery even here in the USA.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CAN NOT CHANGE;   COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS THAT I CAN;  AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE !!!!    THIS IS MY DAILY PRAYER.
Vivian Prouty      Obesity Help Support Group Coach  "LOSE IT 4 LIFE"


 

Heather G.
on 11/1/10 2:38 am

Im very nervous about going to Mexico too. I leave on Nov. 17 to fly to San Diego. My husband is very concerned about if I have complications and have problems what will I do? Im heard nothing but good things about Dr. Aceves. We dont have insurance so Im happy to have found him. 

a.walker
on 11/1/10 2:43 am - Salina, KS
We've all heard horror stories from Mexico, right? Your sister's doctor friend has no doubt heard the same ones. However, you have chosen a surgeon you trust, who has done this procedure more often than most American surgeons. There are horror stories from every place in the world, I'm sure. I know a surgeon here in the United States I wouldn't send my dog to.

Your insurance cannot drop you for having surgery in Mexico. They apparently aren't covering your surgery, so they don't even really have to know anything about it. If you have complications, they still don't have to know anything about it, unless they are covering the actual surgery.

You have to make your own decision, but I hate that people use scare tactics when they know nothing about the situation. I didn't tell hardly anyone about my going to Mexico beforehand, because I knew what I would hear. When I got back and told people, they still said the same things, even after I made sure they knew my experience was a good one, and I felt very good about the whole thing. Do what's right for you. You have done your research, and I have not heard any negatives about the surgeon you've chosen. I have no personal experience with him, but he's clearly loved on this forum, and that really does say something.

Best of luck. Sorry you're having second thoughts. I hope your family can be supportive if you do decide to have the surgery.
Amy  -- 5'8"
        
tmill229
on 11/1/10 5:42 am - South Bend , IN
I agree with you 100% 
By the way we have the same Surgeon,Dr. Rod was great!!
I had a great experience in TJ Mexico
justrite
on 11/1/10 3:11 am - Sacramento, CA
can you call your member services to make sure you would still be seen there if something happened?will your pcp do your labs and help you in the future?for peace of mind maybe ask questions about future care.
Dianna2
on 11/1/10 5:05 am - Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
I have been to Tijuania twice so far. First to have my VSG done and then 2 years later to have plastic surgery done. Both times I had the same person, (speaks English as well as I do) from the hospital/clinic pick me up directly from the San Diego airport, take me across the border and carried my suitcase into the hospital and the day I went home he came back and got me from the hospital and took me across the border and dropped off directly outside my departure terminal in San Diego. The first time I brought my Mom with me but the second time I went on my own because I felt so confident with the process. I live in Canada so I am not sure about the US and the medical insurance policies but for those Canadians wondering our medical plan absolutely will cover us if we have any problems following the surgery. Both times my experience was amazing because the people and the facilities that I went to were amazing. The care was very personable and the clinic was sparkling it was so clean.
shendricks
on 11/1/10 5:12 am - Wolf Point, Mt
Ok, first your insurance wont cover any complications from VSG it isn't due to where you get it done.  It is due to the policy not covering it.  second have your sister ask for specifics, I would bet they can't give them to you. Also your insurance can not drop you for having a procedure that you pay for, but if you are concerned call and ask them questions don't rely on hear say.   Complications occur regardless of where a person has their procedure.  All surgeries have risk and people die from surgery in the US every day.  Having said all of that I would want to make sure that my surgeon has a good reputation with Dr Aceves does, which is why I am having my procedure with him in Dec (the 13th).  Ask people who have gone to him, do your homework about the facility.  Then make your decision.  Just my 2 pennies worth.  If it makes you feel better I am nervous as well, but would be nervous even if I was having the procedure done in the US.

Sharon
        
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