Weight loss surgery abroad!

I have discussed weight loss surgery with my doc, and she suggested surgery in India instead of Mexico.  I have insurance but it has an exclusion for WLS.  Does anyone know anyone who had their surgery in India?  I watched a segment on TV before about the medical tourism there, but I would like to talk with someone who experienced this.   Oh, I forgot to say that my BMI is 73 and that is mostly my concern; the high BMI and going abroad  for surgery.        

 I too first looked into surgery in India but the long plane ride made it a no go for me. I talk via the site (email) with someone who went there for surgery (periodictable47) but by the time you add in the cost of the flight, the hotel, and the risk of clots ect. It was too expensive for me, so I'm going to Dr. Joya in Mexico. His reviews are good and the Videos of people who went to him on You Tube are great! At 9,800 for India it seems like a good price but then you add in everything else. At 12,500 for Mexico it all inclusive. You get roundtrip airfare, 4 days in the hospital and 5 days in a 5 star hotel/resort. (one day pre-op) and you can add more days if you want.

P.S. periodictable answered all my questions maybe you can get yours answered too.

Hi ladies!

Please forgive me for asking.... It is clearly because I am not informed..... Why do you look outside USA for surgery when we have sooooo many excellently trained physicians here is the states?

Just curious... It was something I never even thought of..... and other countries.... it seems to me... but I have never traveled... don't seem to have the equipment?

I hope you don't mind helping me to understand... I am curious and confused......

Marcia 

Hi Marcia,

I am looking outside the US because my insurance United Healthcare has an exclusion for weight loss surgery.  I decided to go ahead and pay cash for the surgery, so I am looking at all my alternatives.  I would rather not pay $30,000 to $40,000 for surgery if I don't have to.  We are taking this from what we have left in my husband's 401K (since we lost a substantial amount when stocks took a dive), and I am just scared something will happen and we will have nothing to fall back on. 

That is almost exactly my situation as well. I ruled out India for both cost and travel time.  It was tough/painful enough just getting from Florida to Mexico (My surgery is tomorrow and I am currently in Mexico) I really just could not fathom the trip to India. I had to gut it out to make it HERE. Not to mention 2 seats to India was considerably more expensive o.o My partner has been contracting in Iraq for the past 2 years to pay for this surgery, and I assure you I have not let the love of my life work her rear end off and be 6k miles away to go half butted on this thing. :)

In all my research I found no reasonable advantage to justify India over Mexico. The medical care has been on par with my US experiences, with the ONE exception being the phelebotomist did not use gloves on herself. This is all honesty bothered me for her sake not mine, as I was at no risk. I go under at Noon tomorrow and neither myself my mom nor my partner have even one tiny regret about about choosing Mexico. I have spoken with other patients who are post op, and I have yet to hear one negative thing about any of it.

The only real caveat I would issue, is that some cities are *safer* than others.  A quick poke around the OH Mexico forums will help you sort that out I am sure

Edit: My BMI is uhm around 63ish I forget the exact number

I dont know of anyone in India but I had mine in Mexico. It was great! They have everything in their hospitals as in the US. My treatment in Mexico was better than I had in the US. My Dr. was trained at the U of Miami (GREAT School). You can find well trained Dr's all over the world. I totally understand having to travel for WLS. sometimes it seems to be the only way to afford it. I don't know anyone who has had it in India though...did your Dr. give you a reason as to why to go to India??