WLS- Mex Vs USA ?

I keep seeing a bunch of people going to MEX for WLS. I understand the financial side of it BUT what about the quality of the work and aftercare?  If you're home and have some complications you can't just go back to your Drs office. Will Drs here even "fix" or work on someone elses work if NOT a major emergency? Really is saving 5K worth the trouble? It is your life were talking about here. looking for opinions and/or experiences

Maybe check out- http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/south-of-the-border/posts. html   A whole Forum here just for folks who've done so... Best Wishes- Dx

5000$ savings, about the cost of a casket

I went the Mexico route for several reasons. When my youngest son was born in Costa Rica, it was a real eye opener for me as to what private medical care was like outside of the US. We found the doctors, facilities and support staff far superior to anything we had ever experienced in the US, and he was our 4th child.  In fact, the OBGYN was a Johns Hopkins Grad, and the anesthesiologist was Mayo Clinic. Their faciliy was state of the art, with all the bells and whistles, and there were more support staff around than you could count. When I decided  to have RNY, I wanted a very experienced surgeon, staff and a high quality facility complete with a trauma center. There are several of those available in the US as well as other countries. What made the difference for me was the length of hospital stay. Here in the US, they want you out the door as soon as possible. I think too soon, considering the magnitude of RNY surgery. When I had my RNY, I spent 4 nights in a private room at a great facility with great support staff. Then, I spent an additional 4 nights at an oceanfront resort down the street to continue my rehab, with one of my doctors coming to check on me daily. I figured that if I were going to have immediate complications, I would have them within the first 8 days. Living in Central Texas, Mexico is very accessible to me. I can be back there in an emergency before you can say, "Please fill out all these forms and wait over there", at a local emergency room. I have my surgeon's cell phone number, and he answers it unless he is in surgery. I have never waited more than two hours for a call back. My surgeon had far more than 500 Lap RNY's under his belt, and only one mortality. She lied to him about her comorbidities and then her family medivacted her out before she was stable.  The surgeon I talked to in Austin had 35 RNYs experience. Not enough for me. A few facts to ponder: Many fo the surgeons performing the LapBand in the US mentored under Mexican Doctors who are the Proctors for Inamed, which manufactures the band. Those that think high-end private medical care outside the US is inferior to care in the US, are simply misinformed. I have had first hand experience with several great hospitals in the US, and did my Internship (I am a degreed therapist, but have not practiced in 15 years) at the Rehabilitation Center of The Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh which is one of the best in the world.  Going to Mexico, Europe, Cost Rica or somewhere else overseas for surgery is not for everyone. If I were having the LapBand, I think I would have stayed in the US, so my follow up, fills and ongoing support could be performed by the same dorctor that did the surgery conveniently. Having decided on RNY and, having easy access to Mexico, having the time to take a month off of work, past experience with private medical care outside the US and speaking conversational Spanish pretty well, it was a no-brainer for me to go to the Mexican Riviera for a few weeks of RnR to go along with my RNY surgery. It is certainly not for everyone. It is very important that you have faith in your doctor and facility no matter where you go. Some people will not be able to get over their perception issues involved with care outside the US. For them, I think it is important that they stay in the US. Finally, my decision had nothing to do with money. I am very blessed with ample resources and could have had the surgery anywhere I wanted.  My suggestion to anyone considering having any surgery is to research your doctors, facilities and support staff as best you can, and then make the very best decision for you.  For me, that happened to be my chosen doctor and facility in Mexico.  Just my experience. Your mileage will vary. JP

I think you did a really good job of describing the specific things about your situation that made having a Mexican surgeon & hospital something you were comfortable with. Very informative.

Thanks, Eric. BTW, Just wanted to thank you for providing such a wonderful resource. Specifically, The Men's forum has become a primary resource for me. I did more research about WLS than I care to admit. One can find volumes upon volumes of references, resources and rhetorical information concerning women and WLS. Finding empirical information about MEN and WLS was a real concern for me, until I found OH's Men's Forum.

 

 

Thanks again.

 

 

JP

 

Greetings Men:

Some of my questions regarding surgery out of the USA would be:
If you have complications, will a US Doctor/ER room treat you?

If the above case is true, would your insurance cover it?

My first response is NO, any comments or thoughts?

Have a nice weekend
KIM

A US ER has a legal obligation to treat anyone that comes through the door, to a point. I have complete medical records of my procedure, and keep an electronic copy on my PDA justin case. My PCP here in Austin still treats me just fine. I have it in writing from Humana that they would cover complications that develoepd in the US, even if I had RNY outside the US, as it was a major question of mine. JP

Men: I have nothing to add; but must say I have learned alot !! Kev-