I read about this on bariatricpal. Is that what you are talking about?

I haven't reached goal yet but am already researching plastics for when I hit goal.  I spoke with my coordinator at LongTerm VSG and they are going to be doing package plastic surgery deals.  I am really excited about this because I had such a wonderful experience with them when I had my VSG done.  

Since they are the most affordable VSG I have found ($2999 all inclusive), I will definitely be going with them when I am ready.  

For me, my choice was to avoid being sleeved in a hospital setting.  Most of the time, hospitals are full of sick people.  The last thing I needed was to worry about getting was getting sleeved and dealing with some other kind of sickness on top of it.  

I went with LongTerm VSG who performs surgeries at JL Prado Surgery Center in Tijuana.  It was a wonderful experience that worked well for me.  I was in Tijuana for 3 days and was able to go home and recuperate in my own home.  That was my own personal preference which LongTerm allowed me to do.  The surgery center is new and has a wonderful staff.  There is a physician with you at all times and you interact with the same people.  That is the good part about surgery centers.  Most of the time, they have a select number of people who work at them.  You see familiar faces the entire time you are there.  They are friendly and devote their time to making you comfortable.  

Because you aren't required to be in Mexico for a week or more, I paid $2999 all inclusive for my surgery and that also made a huge difference.  My surgeon, Dr. Maytorena, is very skilled and literally changed my life.  I was sleeved March 18th and am down 56lbs and only 18lbs to my goal weight.  

Beginning in June 2009, all U.S. citizens returning to the United States by land or sea must present one of the following documents to gain entry:

• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• enhanced driver's license (only offered in Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington)
• NEXUS card
• SENTRI card, or
• FAST card.

A birth certificate or driver's license are no longer acceptable documents for reentering the US (which is why Tijuana has dried up as a weekend tourist destination, since the majority of day-trippers figure getting a passport isn't worth the trouble).  You won't have any trouble getting into Mexico (if traveling by land)- it's reentering the US that would be the problem.

The coordinator may very well be speaking the truth, in that they might bend the rules if they believe you to be a US citizen, but what if they don't?  Are you willing to take the chance of being detained at the border for not adhering to the law a couple of days after major surgery? 

I would point out the information on Mexicali Bariatric Center's own website:

We share with you the actual requirements asked by the U.S. Government through its different agencies (Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection -CBP-, Immigration and Naturalization Dept.). These policies are effective since June 1st, 2009 with no exceptions allowed.

Starting June 1, 2009…
• U.S. government implemented compliance with full requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative phases regarding land and sea. These proposed rules requires U.S. citizens entering the country via a sea or land port of entry to present a passport (booklet), passport card or other travel document counting with the approval of the DHS (Homeland Security).

I guarantee that showing them you have applied for a passport carries absolutely no weight. I agree that your best bet at this point is to pay the extra fee to get an expedited passport.  It will cost you, but you will have peace of mind.

Personally, I think it would be foolish and taking a HUGE chance by traveling to Mexico without a passport.

Best of luck!

I had a VSG with Dr. Kelly in TJ Mexico. Fantastic experience. Message me with any questions.  Linda