"I did a lot of extensive research before I decided on Dr. Alvarez as my VSG surgeon. I could not find anything negative about him from any of his patients on all the WLS boards, just high praises as a surgeon, and how he is really nice and always checking on you after surgery. It started out with a phone call to Susan George the Patient Coordinator to find out all about the surgery and the details. She made me feel at ease about the surgery, and the whole process of getting down to Piedras Negras. My husband was skeptical and was leary about having surgery down in Mexico but Susan put our minds at ease. The time I called Susan and went into surgery was 2 weeks. They had a date open for surgery and I took the earliest date. I went on a clear liquid fast for 1 wk, my husband and I flew into San Antonio, the hotel shuttle came to pick us up at the airport took us over to the hotel, and that is when we met Rosy our driver waiting for us out front of the hotel to drive us down to Eagle Pass, Texas. It was a 2 hour comfortable drive down to the border. We stayed at a hotel that night then Rosy came to pick us up early in the morning to go across the border and meet Dr. Alverez. Just what we expected he was warm and easy to talk to and answered all our questions about the surgery and the risks involved. That is when we met Christina Dr. A's nurse and Dr.Rosales who helps in with the surgery. They were all so nice and spoke perfect English! Christina then took me over to the hospital to get a chest x-ray and lab work. It seems like just within a hour or so I was getting as they say "happy juice" and was on my way to surgery. When I came back to the room my husband was waiting for me (by the way we had the suite of all suites 2 beds 1 for my husband, a big bathroom beautifully tiled, computer to e-mail home, and a phone in the hallway to call home free),next thing I knew I was awake and I was asking my husband did I have surgery yet? He said yes. I felt no pain. What I had surgery already I said. My husband said Yes! Then before I knew it I was walking and doing 3 laps up and down the hallway. The next day I had my leak test and got to see the liquid go down into my stomach and my stomach was so small! Yeah! ( they do 3 leak test before you leave the hospital which put my mind to ease). Then I went back to my suite for more rest and relaxing. Christina the nurse, Dr. Alvarez, Dr. Gabriel and the nursing staff where checking on me on the time. What a secure feeling. I did not have hardly any pain because the pain was managed very well. Before we left the hospital Dr. A came to my room to go over all the Post-op information with me and my husband, and gave us a nice folder that included surgery report of exactly what he did in surgery for my doctor at home, and my pain meds if needed what to take and when. Then we were met by Rosy again, and she drove us up to San Antonio, and we stayed the night there before our flight the next day. I felt so good that my husband and I went to the Alamo and went to the riverwalk in San Antonio. Since I have been home I have had Susan and Dr. A check on me to see how I am doing. It is with 100% confidence that I would recommend Dr. Alvarez and his staff to anyone looking to have the lap band or VSG surgeries. Thank you again for making my husband feel at ease and making him feel comfortable through the whole process.
Kelly "
