Dr. Marchesini - Brazil - why no reviews on him in over 5 years?

Hi there!

I used to be on this site a few years back and was looking into self-pay DS and am looking again.  Dr. Marchesini was on my list then and is now.  But I'm curious..there for a few years he had a lot of reviews and now I haven't found anything recent in the last few years or so.  Has anyone been to him recently?  I would just like to know that he is awesome now, as he was then.

Thank you so much. :)

I had my DS two hours from home right here in the Midwest.

I think the lack of patients posting  who had Dr. Marchesini may be due to more US Surgeons who are performing the procedure now, and more health insurance companies are covering it.

Most of the posts I've read regarding Dr. Marchesini have been from DSers who self-pay.

Yes, that's why I asked.  Because I would be self-pay and Dr. Marchesini's surgery fees are still much less than self-paying docs in the U.S. Thanks for your post, though.

As far as I know he's still doing the DS and still considered top notch.  He may not be doing the RNY to DS revisions he once was, the jury may still be out on that one.

--gina

You'll find this is true about most of the surgeons in other countries.  Here's what Dr. Baltasar(Spain) told me.  The rise in the Euro against the dollar, the economic collapse of the US, and increased availability of the surgery in the US has meant a lot fewer patients for the overseas surgeons.  I would add to that several surgeons who are now offering package pricing in the US.

I wouldn't hesitate to go to Marchesini.

Thank you so much Patty.  He is still much less expensive than Dr. Stewart in TX who I'd like to go to as well, and who is closer; but it's so wonderful after my 5 years research on here to see that Dr. Marchesini is still at the top.  I don't mind going to Brazil.  I'm just nervous about how to take that money over there without someone robbing me.  I have a debit card but international fees and such for using debit cards is too much for me.  I'll have to figure out a way.

Thanks so much for your words.

I hope someone else who's had surgery by him recently will chime in. ;) Thanks yall. :)

Talk to Dr. M and ask what he wants.  He may be willing for you to wire transfer the money directly to him.  Or he may prefer cash.  Ask!  The debit card MAY be the way to go but only do one transaction to pay the doc.  Dr. M knows all about dealing with the funds thing.

The money thing has become a sticky wicket with all the money laundering schemes and worries about funding terrorism.  It used to be so easy when you could just buy some traveler's checks!  When we went to Spain, we took cash and each of us carried 1/3 of the money.  That way no individual was carrying over the legal limit.  Then we paid the doc on our first day in Spain. Special trip to his office because we wanted to have all that money out of our possession!

I have another question for those who have traveled to Brazil to Dr. Marchesini.

Suppose I were to have complications.  I've only saved up enough for the surgery, hotel, food, plane tickets, etc.  How does he handle those situations that were unpredictable when it comes to money? I'm sure he doesn't hold a patient hostage til he/she can pay him.. what happens? *scary thought*

Thank you in advance. :)

I am a fairly recent Dr. M patient having my surgery about 3 years ago.

He was a great doctor and a great surgeon.He was easy to converse with prior to, during and after surgery. 

I had no complications so I can't speak to what would happen if you ended up having to pay additional funds to cover them.

Kelly

He got back with me and said that I would have to pay them before I left.  I've decided not to go to him based on that factor, because how do you know? I read years ago that there was a cap for the hospital he performs at, but he didn't say anything about a cap now.  I'd rather not be 'held hostage' til someone in my family could cough up the money because frankly, if I had to pay an additional $25K like the one lady who had complications after her surgery with Dr. Marchesini on top of what she saved up to fly there and have the surgery, I'd be there a long time.  Not many people in my family have that kind of money.