All I can know about Dr. Joya

I am looking into going down to mexico for my surgery and really lookin into dr. joya and would like to know from previous patients about good things, bad things and all of the above.... THANKS!!!

I would not go to him but not because he is not a good surgeon but because if I am going to have surgery I want to be close to the border.  I want to be able to get back to the US in a hurry for ANY reason. I would not go to him for a band but if I wanted to go that deep into Mexico I might go to him for bypass or a sleeve.  He's not very pro-band.  He was arguing at the bandster bash year before last that the band does not work and he was pushing bypass pretty hard and heavy in front of banded people at a BANDSTER bash.  Not very diplomatic. ;o) He claims to have done something like 2500 bands and that's not true.  Contact the band makers, they have not sold him that many bands.  I'm surprised at how many doctors inflate their stats to make it look like they have done more than they really have.  Meaning, he's not the only one. He was claiming to be placing gastric pacemakers in (a new procedure) and he wasn't.  The manufacturer of the pacemaker had to contact him asking him to remove the claim from his website because it was inaccurate, they had never sold him one and didn't want him making the claim that he was doing them.  I don't like the dishonesty of claims that he's doing procedures that he isn't or the # of bands he claims to have placed. But he is a skilled surgeon, he does bypass and sleeves quite well.

WAIT.... I made a mistake! It wasn't Joya that claimed bands don't work, it was Valencia that was talking about bands at the Bandster bash. Never mind that part, he was someone else downing bands at the bash. Everything else is accurate.

I attended this year's bandster bash with Dr. Valencia. Although he says the band isn't always the most effective method or right for every patient, he has never suggested that the band doesn't work. He is also very adamant about not advertising that he's done X amount of surgeries without complications and gets very irritated when other doctors claim to do 3500 surgeries for weightloss in TEN years? That figures out to be 350 surgeries/year... or ONE EVERY DAY. This can't be correct, and I am in accord with Dr. Valencia by being outraged by these phoney stats. Word of advise: Regardless of which surgery you choose, investigate your surgeon and his staff well. Talk to other patients of that doctor. Find out their stories.  I really like Dr. Valencia. You won't find him giving fake numbers of surgeries or making false claims about his profession or skills. He's reputable and has only the best interest of his patients in mind.  Also~~He was a BLAST this year at the bash in Seattle. Jen

I think we are talking about two different conversations.  The one I refer to was with another doctor in front of about 10 banded folks.  He was arguing with the doc about the benefits of the band, he was saying there aren't many. I understand that some folks are pro banding and some are pro bypass, I have no problem with that.  We ALL have a preference and so do doctors.  But to have this debate in front of 10 banded folks was not the most diplomatic of conversations. I am floored by how many inflate their stats.  Betancourt, Huacuz (I'd expect it from them) do it, Alvarez does it, Gonzalez does it, Joya, etc. I can't verify sleeves and bypass procedures but it's not difficult to verify bands.  Many lie to appear more experienced than they are. There has to be a way to verify bypass and sleeves... I should check into that.  Some of it is common sense though, Alvarez claims to have done 405 sleeves and he's only been doing them for 1.5 years vs. the 3 he claims.  It's not a very popular procedure yet, but he claims he's done more sleeves than those that have been doing them for many years.  His numbers jumped overnight... literally! However, he also takes credit for Jose Rodriguez' sleeves too.  He counts all that he did as well as all that Jose Rod did and claims them as his own.  Sorry, but standing there holding instruments for the lead surgeon does not count to your experience.  It's deceptive, a nurse or tech can hold the instruments too and it does not mean they can take credit for actually doing the procedure.  He does the same thing with bands.  Call Inamed and verify it, these docs just aren't doing the number of procedures they claim many times.  It is wrong, people go to them based on the experience they THINK they have vs. what they ACTUALLY have.

I am the coordinator of the Seattle Bash and Band Conference and have been banded (Dr. Rumbaut) for several years .The previous poster  (Midwestgirl) goes by at least two other names on different bandster sites. I truly believe she is a facilitator for Dr. Aceves but thats another story. Her other sign in name is Bipley and I'm sure she has others. One of her aims is to attack other surgeons so she can tell you about her surgeon.The information that she posted is NOT correct similiar to several statements she has made. Dr. Joya which she has now corrected was NOT a speaker at the Seattle Bash. Dr. Valencia was NOT a speaker at the Bash a year before last. He was a speaker  last year and again two months ago. He's worked at UCLA for five years as a bariatric surgeon so I think hes quite skilled and talented. Her accusation ( that Dr. Valencia said bands DON'T work is very much in error). I listened to Dr. Valencia's talk. What he said, which other Band Surgeons would say the same is that for people who have stomach problems with especially stomach ulcers,, have esophageal sphincter problems especially if it was caused by bulemia, have had other types of stomach surgery the band is not the best choice. He puts in alot of bands, contrary to the posters claim , and also does bypass and the sleeve.  Just as a cautionary note. I would never, ever go to a surgeon who HAVE NOT been doing sleeves or bypasses  for several years. In fact I would never go to a surgeon who has not been a professor in the US or Mexico. Surgeons in Mexico who are doing this on the cheap are accidents waiting to happen. And several have, but they are not reported, just like in the US. The sleeve is created after 75% of your stomach is removed. It should only be done by a talented surgeon who has done alot of these. Dr. Joya hasn't , Dr. Aceves hasn't, Dr. Valencia has and also does bypass. Bands I'm sure are his first choice, its easier and best for most patients except when its contrary to their medical condition. Joanne in Seattle.

You are full of yourself yet again. Yes, I have different IDs, one ID for each board JUST LIKE YOU DO!  I have not hidden that fact including on this board.  Want a link?  You think you are giving out secret information and as usual, you are wrong.  All the regs know my IDs.  I am Bipley on yahoo groups because my yahoo EMAIL is bipley.  I am WASaBubbleButt on LBT.  I should tell you, I changed that ID.  I used to be BubbleButt and then I lost weight and changed it to WASaBubbleButt.  Yes... deceptive, I know. And here I am Midwesterngirl.  I have ALWAYS been very upfront and honest about that.  I have told people on the yahoo group who I am many times and YOU have read the posts because YOU responded to them.  So what is the value in making it seem as though there is deception going on? Speaking of deception... You have one ID for yahoo groups and one ID here.  I believe you have yet another ID for another board.  Isn't that WRONG?  Why the heck are you inferring I have ever been less than honest about this when you do the same darn thing?  Have you told people on the yahoo group that you are a moderator for the boards and if you don't agree with a post it does not go through?  It's deleted?  How many folks do you mention this?  Who is deceptive, you or me? My aim is not to attack anyone, my aim is to get the truth out there.  *I* am the one pushing research, *I* am the one that took a great deal of time to explain how I did my own research.  *I* am the one that does indeed expose the bad doctors.  I'm shocked you have a problem with this.  I happen to believe that everyone has a right to all the information so they can make a balanced decision on where to go.  You went to Rumbaut so obviously, you did your research.  What about those that don't know how to research a surgeon in Mexico? I went to a lot of trouble to show people how to research Mexican surgeons.  Here is an example: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/researching-mexican-doctors-101-a-43575/ Another of your deceptions... I never claimed Joya or Valencia were speakers, never once made that claim.  Quote that for me, would you?  Go ahead, show me the quotes where I claimed they were speakers.  Who is deceptive, you or me? My correction above was made within MINUTES.  See the time stamps.  Nobody even had time to read it before I had already explained I was in error and made the correction.  Yet your wording shows that I finally got around to making a correction.  Who is deceptive there, you or me? Coordinator for Aceves?  Are you senile?  I post mostly on www.lapbandtalk.com.  You find a post where I push Aceves.  You find a post where I explain that he is the best doctor in Mexico.  I do not write that.  There are at least 100 posts where I write that my personal pick for surgeons based on my own opinions and research are Aceves and Rumbaut, I say repeatedly that they are six of one, half dozen of another.  They are equally skilled and experienced as well as Jose (not Arturo) Rodriguez, and Zapata.  Those docs have the best set up, hospitals, experience, skill, ability to do the tricky procedures, reputations, patient opinions, affiliations, and education.  How the heck does that make me a coordinator for Aceves?  Don't you think I'd get fired for suggesting that there are four docs in Mexico above and beyond the others?  One of those doctors is your MD.  Hello????  Who is deceptive, you or me? So do explain, how does this make me a coordinator for Aceves?  I'm waiting you old bat! Start proving these wild accusations of yours that you throw around various boards.  At least *I* show people how to verify this information for themselves.  *I* am the one suggesting people not believe anything anyone here says and verify it for themselves.  You, on the other hand, wrote on a different board while stomping those feetings and balling up those fisties that you are right and I am wrong.  I must have written three posts asking you to call the MD office and verify it for yourself.  You refused, instead you just kept stomping those corn filled feeties of yours demanding that you are right and everyone else is wrong. One of us does not want everyone to believe what they read here, one of us insists you are right all the time and you are the goddess of WLS.  One of us shows others how to research and verify for themselves, you OTOH insist that you are just simply right. Bahhh... you don't know what you are talking about half the time. Why don't you talk to the vendors of the last bash and ask them their opinion of  you.  Why not talk to the doctors that went to the bash and ask them for opinions of you.  They are not very happy with you but due to your ego you and I both know there isn't a chance in the world you could ever comprehend that others may not think highly of you. Yes, I do my research and I'm going to continue doing it and helping newbies make the decision that is right for them.  Find the doctor that is right for them.  I have also written 100 times that no one doctor is the right doc for everyone, each person needs to find the fit that is right for them. My writing style may well indeed suck big time.  I may not be all sweetness and light but I am not dishonest, I am not a patient coordinator I am a nurse, and I am not the one trying to blow smoke up anyone's back side.  That my dear, would be you. Cheers.

Midwest Girl, First, I am not a moderator of any boards except the Seattle Bash and Band Conference site which is a discussion group about activities during the Seattle Ba**** runs only a couple months out of the year prior to the Ba****s run totally by volunteers just like myself.  Second my Surgeon is Dr. Rumbaut. My profile lists Dr. Rumbaut and don't know why it comes up on the screen as Dr. Ortiz. I'm unable to change it. Have sent an email to OH questioning how my profile was changed in the last couple of weeks and all my previous posts prior the name change have apparently been deleted. Anyway I always sign my name Joanne that's the point. I've stated your errors in the previous postings, one only needs to read your prior posts to see these incorrect statements. You present statements as fact, when in reality they are just opinions about different surgical practices. You present NO evidence that these statements are factual. I am pointing out these when you are in error. I am scheduled to talk with your surgeon -Dr. Aceves next week about a upcoming event. So I'm not even going to address your erroneous statements regarding the Bash. Perhaps you can volunteer and put on a Dr. Aceves event. Joanne in Seattle.

Oops, the text came out incorrect.  The first paragraph should read,  Midwest Girl, First, I am not a moderator of any boards except the Seattle Bash and Band Conference site which is a discussion group about activites during the Seattle Bash. This site only runs a couple of months out of the year prior to the Bash. The site is run totally run and operated by volunteers just like myself.  Again sorry for the error. Joanne in Seattle

Thank You OH for fixing the sign in error. Joanne in Seattle