Surgery in Mexico with Dr. Alvarez...is it safe?

I have been researching the gastric sleeve procedure and I've decided it will be best for me. I found Dr. Alvarez online and on here and he seems like he may the best at this procedure, not to mention the fact that the price for a broke, insurance-less girl is SO much better than the prices here in the US!

But here are my fears... You'd have to be living under a rock to not know what's going on in Mexico with the drug cartel. And border towns are the hot spots right now. I live in Texas and I have a lot of Mexican friends (from Mexico or have family there still) and they advise me to not do it at all there. Especially not where Dr. A is located. And the recent news of gunfights there and recently finding a bunch of people dead under the US bridge... now I am totally scared to do it there. But I just can't afford anywhere else. As it is it will take me a year or more to save this amount up.

My other fear is about the surgery itself, and not so much that but how much will I lose after. I am super obese. I weigh 320 and am 5'4". So my BMI is 54.9. I want to be healthy and normal sized. My goal weight is 150lbs.... Will I need to later change it to a RNY bypass?

I would appriciate any and all info from you guys who know. Have you had surgery with Dr. Alvarez recently? Was it safe? Do you live near there? What's up? Or did you have a BMI as high as mine and what's the results you got??

I wont get into the Mexico wars on the boards ( I quit going to MX about 2 years ag but others still go)  However to give you an option I love my dr in New Iberia LA and he was under 10K for cash pay.  If you want to PM me feel free

Thanks so much! I'll check him out! :)

 Guillermo Alvarez is one of the most respected names in Dr's for the VSG.  If I was not able to get my insurance to pay he is who I would have gone to.  As for safety, I'd recommend you look at others who have gone (there are many) and find out about their experiences.  I think you'll be really happy when you do.  

As for your BMI there are MANY here who started with that hi a BMI and higher.  Some are more successful than others.  Personally I didn't want an RNY for many many reasons but mainly look at your pyloric valve it's really important.  If for some reason you needed another surgery I would seriously look at the DS looooong before I ever switched to an RNY.  

Yeah, RNY was my original plan, but I really don't want it now. My sister in law's dad had it and he had major complications. We almost lost him and this happened to him years later. His intestines twisted because the surgeon did not do it right... scary! My sis in law had it with no problems. But still, just what I've read about the sleeve is just seems so much better. :)

 Look for JimBob and his story.  Know it can be done!

I went to mexico a couple weeks ago for my surgery and it was wonderful . I went to Dr Ponce de Leon, in Tijuana. I was picked up at the airport, driven to the hospital and hotel after. I did go shopping and out to lunch , with my co ordinator  in the tourist area. I felt completely safe. You stay out of all the drug areas and areas with people drinking etc... 

 went to dr. alvarez two weeks ago.  felt safer in mexico then many places in us.  he is an amazing surgeon.  i have had no problems at all.  i can garuntee he will spend more time with you then most u.s. docs.  feel free to contact me for details.

Your fears/my answers:
1.  Going across the border:  I wouldn't do that in my own vehicle without knowledge of the area.  However, Dr. A's cousin Rosy picks you up in a van with a big sign on the side.  She takes you down main streets until she gets to the hospital.  Dr. A, his mom and Rosy's mom (Dr. A's aunt) live side by side less than a block from the hospital.  I don't think Dr. A would live in an area or move his Mom into an area that was unsafe.  The staff never let's you out of their site from the time they pick you up until you are safely delivered at the office/hospital.

Drug violence can hit anywhere.  We were hiking in the woods near our property and found a working meth lab.  If we had come across that while the "cookers" were there, we could've been murdered and left to rot in the woods.  Mexico isn't the only dangerous place.

I read all the Justice department warnings about Mexico travel and I haven't seen one specifically for the town where Dr. A is.  There are warnings for that state, further from the border but non right in his area.

2.  The hospital was cleaner than some of the most famous medical mecca's here in the USA.  I've been to Vanderbilt, John's Hopkins, and many other "famous" hospitals.  None of them were as clean as Centro Medica.  The hospital looked like a step back in time---looked like a hospital from the early 60's but the equipment used on me was the same stuff that is used in major hospitals here in the states.

I have had several surgeries in my life time and the VSG that Dr. A did for me was the ONLY time I have had surgery that I DIDN'T have a post op wound infection.

3.  If you stick to the plan, follow the instructions given you, you will lose most if not all of your excess weight.  The VSG is just a tool and how you use it is up to you.  The more diligent you are, the more you will lose.  Dr. A does surgery on high BMI patients.  Your surgery will cost more (slightly higher charge for BMIs over 50 due to extra anesthesia and surgical time) but Susan, Dr. A's coordinator can fill you in on that.  Contact Susan and she will guide you through the whole process.  She will answer all your questions honestly.

Any other questions, pm me.  My sleeve sister has lost over 110 lbs (she's 6 ft tall and was over 300 at the time of surgery).  I've lost 94 lbs and I'm 50 years old.  I would send any of my adult children, my husband or friends to Dr. A in a heart beat.

I never felt unsafe while I was there.  I've been to Mexico when I did feel unsafe but not this time.

Thanks MILLERSDAUGHTER and byoungatheart! That's awesome to hear! I really kinda had my heart set on him being my dr, but the worries set in. It's hard when you have mostly negative things coming at ya about it! My close friend and her hubby used to go to Mexico at least once a month and now they haven't been in a long time and she is being the hardest on me about not going. The thing is I feel the surgery will help me to save my life, but with the comments from them I have visions of being kidnapped or murdered, which is not helpful at all. lol

And I live not too far from Houston where you have the news talking about someone being killed on a weekly basis. So you're right, really danger is everywhere now days.