I just had my surgery a couple of weeks ago or so. Everything went amazing. The price, for starters, was obviously way lower, and both the facilities and the quality of the care were as good as it can get. I still wonder how people don't take these chances with our neighbors down south. FYI, I'm a third generation American citizen with no known family attachments down there, so going to Mexico may be (in principle) very similar to any other American. 

Have you heard good things about people going to Mexico?

I am having surgery Jan 13th with Dr. Valenzuela in Tijuana.  I am a nurse and am worrying about everything that can go wrong.  I had a gastric band removed 3 months ago so I am a revision thus a higher risk for complications.  Can anyone talk to me who has either  been to Dr. V or had a revision by someone else?  Please.....

As far as I knew I had to book through alm to have Dr Ortiz do my surgery. 

If I could do it another way though I probably wouldn't.  It was nice to have a team of people supporting me for this. I had airport pickup and drop off....hotels were also included...plus I can get in contact with staff any time I need to with any questions I have.  

That made a big difference to me...honestly I still can't believe I had a surgery in mexico  - it's not something I ever thought I'd do! But having a network of support made a big difference to me. :)

So the company A lighter me is a pretty good company... the driver (remy) who picked my husband and I up from the hospital was fantastic and was actually awesome at reassuring my husband and I.  The hotel is fantastic.  They put me on a floor specifically for people coming for medical tourism, so the rooms really catered to that (chairs in the shower, arm rests on the toilets, ect) and was clean and beautiful.

I ended up having to get my bloodwork and ekg done the morning of my surgery because my flight had arrived too late the night before.  The lady who took my bloodwork didn't speak any english but she was really nice.  Everything was very clean.  All the needles ect were all pre packaged and opened in front of me.

The hospital is small, clean, and nice enough if a little out dated. I haven't had surgery prior to this one, but the OR looked high tech enough.  My 2 biggest negative issues with my hospital stay were that certain nurses didn't speak any english for one... the language barrier did leave me a little uncomfortable, and unfortunately, my iv bag did run dry a couple times and I had to ask a nurse for a new one.  It happened 2 times out of the 2.5 days i was in the hospital.  I understand that this happens sometimes, but again, this was my first time having surgery or anything like that, so that did freak me out.  Some people from my group said they had issues with their nurses pushing iv meds a little too fast, but i didn't experience this at all. (just want to give you all the info)

Other than that my hospital stay was really good.  My nurses were all fantastic, and I was checked in on by a team of doctors multiple times throughout the day.  I was the last surgery of the day so it was evening by the time I came around.

I stayed at the hospital for 2 nights...which was important to me... some places you go, you go straight back to a hotel to recover.  During that time, you get your leak test ect.  I was checked on regularly to have my bandages changed, drains removed, ect.  My surgeon was fantastic and I actually have him added on Facebook.  I have had questions for him since my surgery and have sent him my bloodwork to look at.  I really like that 7 months later he is still available when i have questions or concerns.

The hospital has another company doing surgeries out of it also, so the nurses are kept pretty busy, but the nice thing is that A lighter me has a nurse working for them also.  She checked in on me while i was in the hospital, and again while i was at the hotel.

Also.... I still have all my organs.  The only thing I left in Mexico was the majority of my stomach!  hahaha.

Seriously though thats the good and the bad.  I'm not gonna say my experience was perfect, but it was pretty positive. If I could go back, I would probably still go with Dr Ortiz.  Him and his staff definitely helped me feel as comfortable as i could in such a weird situation.

Let me know if you have any specific questions

Also - If you do end up going with ALM....dont buy your medications from the pharmacy they take you too... its cheaper to go to walmart or elsewhere... I wish I had known that. lol.