Dr Jaime Ponce De Leon

I am struggling with booking with Dr. Ponce De Leon because he does not work out of an International Bariatric Center of Excellence which is regulated by the American Surgical Review Corporation and performs regular inspections.

He is not accredited in the USA, nor a member of the Mexican College of Bariatric Surgeons.  It is my understanding from my family doctor here that ONLY BARIATRIC SURGEONS HAVE THE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE TO PERFORM WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SAFELY.

Just because a surgeon or a coordinator or broker lists pictures of credentials, certifications, degrees, certificates, etc. doesn’t mean they are legitimate or accurate. You must check directly with the accrediting institutions.

I have heard good things about him but leaning towards having bariatic surgery with Dr Arial Ortiz as he checks out and is accredited.

I tried to get Dr. Ponce's license, there are supposed to be two, but only received one number that did not check out anywhere.  I am getting a bad feeling.

I have found several different websites, which I find odd, and when I review testimonials, it's like one person each year. It doesn't sit right with me that someone who claims they have done thousands or surgeries cannot find more than one testimonial a year.

Aren't surgeons who perform weight loss surgery general surgeons?  I know mine was.  Also Centers of Excellence generally means they have the means and equipment to handle super morbidly obese patients.  Not sure it's a testament to anyone's skill.

If you feel uncomfortable, don't do it.

If I recall correctly, he worked mostly in Puerto Rico and Florida. That fountain of youth stuff was just a myth.

My understanding, and based on what all his different websites say, he has always been based out of Mexico for the last 19 years.  And I already found the fountain of youth.... was lucky to have good genes on both sides of the family tree.

Ye they are general surgeons but bariatric surgery is a specialty so my understanding is that if you have had the proper training and licensed, there would be no reason not to be a member of the Mexico College of Bariatric Surgeons.

A centre of Excellence has to do with proper sanitization, procedures, techniques, updated instruments and proper sterilization, feedback from patients, ongoing training, how many surgeries done in a day and to ensure the OR is properly sanitized between procedures to prevent possible contamination from Hepatitis or HIV,

Mexico standards are not as stringent as American but an International Centre of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery means they have to follow American standards including proper patient reporting ie complications, etc.  You pay more but the peace of mind may be worth it

Everything I hear about Dr. Ponce De Leon is positive and his price is considerably less which would help out on the finances side so am torn.  My friend had hers done with him but it's only been two years. 

Dr Ponce is a Mexican surgeon who typically works out of INT hospital in Tijuana. Like many others there, my understanding is that he does lesser amounts of surgery in other parts of Mexico. It is not always easy to follow the credential paper trail in Mexico.

I can only speak from my own experience and that of several others I know personally.  Dr Ponce has a large Bariatric practice and seems to be highly regarded. He does a very good sleeve (small, well shaped, over stitched) and I know of no concerns or complaints about his technical skills or the hospital care associated with his surgeries.  I'm almost four years post op, no complications, at goal and completely satisfied with the result. Even though I know a lot more about bariatric surgery and the Mexican surgeons now, I would choose him again if I had to do it over. All the best to you.  

Thank you Linda That does make me feel a lot better.

I work professionally in healthcare accreditation, though not in bariatrics.

Yes, accreditation is a good indicator that a provider has its act together, and of course it's good to double-check with the accrediting body. But lack of accreditation is not the same as DENIAL of accreditation. It's largely an optional process, and it can be expensive and time-consuming (administration hours to assemble all the paperwork and such), so there are plenty of orgs who don't do it for whatever reason. Following up on things like patient satisfaction and following surgical protocol are included in the accreditation decision-- but so are things like having things written in very particular phrasing in the board of directors' handbooks.

(Also-- If you're referring to "inspections" by the accrediting body, those occur only once every three years, with a simple annual form to check in during the interim years.)

Bottom line? Trust your gut. It's your body and your money, go with what makes you comfortable.