"I started on line with the office staff - and they were great and very helpful. Thankfully the staff was very fluent in english. Everything moved right along and in a remarkably short period of time, like a week! I had a surgery date of Mar 5, 2007. When I flew into San Diego, Ca from Dallas, Tx they had a van waiting at the airport, drove to Mexicali to Almater Hospital where they did our pre-op test (EKG, Chest Xray, Blood work) and then on to the hotel for the night. The van picked us up next morning to take us to the hospital for surgery. Met with Dr. Aceves and his nurse and assistants, they went into great detail about the risks of the procedure and the fact that the band was just a \"tool\" it would not do the job by itself and that I would need to learn how to use my band to get the weight off. He showed us a real band and explained that we would get the serial no. and final barium xrays and all hospital work to take back home with us. It was also important for me: to know that he is on the American Board of Bariactric Surgeons. His office is in Calexico, CA but he does his surgery right across the border in Mexicali, Mexico. The hospital was extremely clean, beautiful marble bathrooms, a couch that they let my husband stay on the 3 days I was in the hospital. I had to ask them Not to come in my room one time they wanted to clean because the fragrance of the cleaning product bothered my nose and made me cough which was a little painful on my stiches!The day shift nurses spoke very good english. The late night nurses did not speak it as well, but I am sure if I had any problem they would have found someone to help. Dr. Aceves did a great job. No excessively long scar, no infections, came to do check ups regularly. He was professional but very approchable and would take time to talk and laugh with us. Everyone was really very friendly from Ernesto (the van driver) to the staff Nina and Gabby and we even got to meet Dr. Aceves' lovely wife while on an exercise walk. I was extremely nervous about the Mexico thing at first...but I know I got better care than I would have (and have had) in some US hospitals. I am so glad I had the lapband done and would do it all the same way if I had to do it again. I am 1 year 2mths post op, and 150 lbs lighter!!"
