"My surgeon for my DS was Dr Ungson in Mexico.
I chose Dr. U after consulting with a local Dr here in Arizona who advertised he did the DS surgery, yet he refused to do it on me, saying my BMI of 44.5 wasn't high enough. I really believe this Arizona surgeon prefers and pushes the lapband, so my consult with him was all a waste of my time, although I did buy an interesting and informative book from his office that I used as a guide both pre and post op. I have BCBS insurance that would have paid up to 8k for my weight loss surgery, however I decided to self-pay and go to Dr. U. in Mexico, since my out of pocket costs here in the US over and beyond the 8k would have been many times more than Dr U's 11k total package.
I did briefly consider another Dr in Washington who did some VGB/DS type surgery, but I decided that this one time in my life, I deserved the best! I strongly believe that DS is the best for long term results.
Dr. U answers emails promptly and pleasantly. He has an assistant Sylvia, who meets you at the airport, holding a big sign with your name on it, along with a big smile! After my plane from Phoenix on AeroMexico arrived 4 hours late, I was so relieved to find Sylvia waiting there for me, as I was worried about arriving in a strange country in the dark without speaking hardly any Spanish! But Sylvia was there, as scheduled, and from that point on, everything else went along like a well oiled machine.
Dr U has a team consisting of an internist and an anesthesiologist, who are competent and pleasant. The hospital in Hermosillo, Cima, was clean and modern looking and I had a lovely suite with a private balcony and a separate sleeping/sitting room with TV for my husband to stay with me.
After the hospital stay, I transferred to Hotel Colonial, where the beds are hard as rocks, but I rented their recliner, so I was more comfortable. The Hotel had free internet access, so I was able to stay in touch with my friends and family back home.
I think Dr U is a wonderful surgeon, my incision is horizontal, about 12 inches long, but I have not had any problems with it. I did experience some post op lung problems, but I believe that was related to my former smoker status...I should have stopped smoking well before the surgery, instead of only 2 1/2 weeks before.
Dr U really has No real aftercare program, other than telling you to take ADEKs and Calcium...but it would be extremely difficult to have a long distance aftercare program anyway in my opinion. I have easy access to my PCP and have had blood work, urine tests, and Xrays done here within 2 weeks of the surgery, so I feel quite comfortable with everything.
I would not hesitate to recommend Dr U...and I am grateful that he accepted me as his patient...I realize that at my age of 60, other doctors would have turned me down cold..."
