Lap Band in Mexico?

Hello Everyone!

I am new to this site and I am sure that this subject has been done to death somewhere but I cannot find it.  Who has had lap band surgery in Mexico?  Who was your doctor?  How was your experience?  What did it end up costing?

I tried to see if my insurance would cover it but my BMI is 31 and they require a BMI of 35 or higher.  So stupid, especially becuase I'm 50 pounds over my ideal weight, I take high blood pressure, acid reflux, thyroid and depression meds daily.  You should hear my creaky knees.  You'd run for cover.  So, because my insurance won't cover the procedure I am looking into getting it done in Mexico.

So far I am considering Dr. Mario Alberto Almanza Reyes from Mexico Weight Loss Surgery.  I have seen some feedback on this site about him and all seems to be positive but I thought I'd throw this question out there again.  I am especially interested in forum feedback as i will be financing the surgery on my own.  Of course, Dr. Reyes's listed price is at my "sweet spot" but i don't want to be taken in by a price I am able to afford.

So folks, please feel free to provide your feedback and opinions on your experience in Mexico.

Thank you!

PLEASE please dont take this out of context.

50 pounds, hun, you me and my pre-op diet I can help you drop the 50 pounds. I droped so far 53 before surgery... Come on... But if you must/ or really just want more information. Check out the Mexico forum.

 

*Smiles*

Why didn't you just lose 50# when you were only 50# overweight?  Why are you expecting more out of the OP than you were willing to do when you were in her shoes?

Matter of fact, why would you have WLS to begin with if it is so easy to lose weight?

The OP is OBESE, she's doing the right thing.  Maybe not the greatest choice in surgery types but she's damned well on target getting medical intervention.

Before you go to Mexico make sure you have a physician that will do the follow up where you live. You have to have regular fills and stuff. A lot of physicians will not take care of you if someone else did the surgery. That is what I have read on other post. Good Luck.

Hate to rain on anyone's parade, but... how bad is your reflux?
    Lap band can greatly worsen reflux. Even some people who didn't have significant reflux problems before their lap band have had great difficulties with reflux with the band.
    I can understand your desire to lose those 50 lbs, even though that's less than what most people on OH want or need to lose, but not at the expense of your health, or by a treatment that will cause pain that will be miserable to live with.  There is no method of wls that is right for everyone, and lap band may well not be right for you, regardless or how much or how little weight you wish to lose.

Larra

Below is a copy and paste for a similar question a month or so ago.
Many people go across the boarder with good success (been on these OH boards for about 4 years now...what I hear).  One drawback I have heard...If you get the Lap Band there...many doctors in CA don't want to do the fills.  I understand where they're coming from.  They fill on someone elses procedure...carry the liability and very little benefit.  My surgeon will not fill other surgeons lap bands, especially those from other countries.  Just what I've heard.  Brian

I'd really like to suggest that you do not do the surgery--your BMI just isn't at the recommended level.

Please try the High Protein, low-carb eating method (such as South Beach) which is what I used for my pre-op (I had a 52 BMI) regime, and I was able to lose quite nicely on that.

If you run into problems with falling back into your old eating habits, which is something we all do so we all have to be vigilant, just make sure that you increase your protein intake and get rid of all white foods (rice, pasta, bread, potatoes).  I found that by doing that I was able to get rid of the "hunger" that used to drive me due to taking in refined carbs, and wasn't drawn to eating them.

This is not just a WLS surgery site;  there are people here who work at weight loss without surgery, and we all support each other.

I wish you the best.

So she should wait until her BP is higher has she has more joint damage???  Seriously?

Why do we want people to pay their fat dues before we rubber stamp our approval on a decision between the OPs of the world and their doctors?  I don't understand the logic of making people wait until they are a higher surgical risk before they can have surgery.

The Standard of Care in most countries is a BMI of 30.  The US is in the minority for making people wait until they are not just obese but morbidly obese.

I wish I would have had surgery when I was a 30 instead of when I was a 41.

I know--it's pretty stupid.  I was just thinking of the 35 BMI number that the insurance companies demand, and that sometimes the expense of self-pay can be too much for a family, especially now in the "present economic situation".

I agree, if this is what she wants to do, it should be her decision.

I wish her luck in her endeavor.

Went to Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana in August 2006.  Had a great experience and have been back to him for all follow up.  I believe the price was about $8500 at the time.