Dr. Miguel A. Zapata

I am looking for any input on Dr. Zapata as far as Gastric Bypass? I see that he get's great reviews as far as Lapband goes.

I didn't use Dr. Zapata, but I just got back from having my surgery with another surgeon in the same hospital (Hospital San Jose Tec de Monterrey).

So, I'll tell you what I know about the facility.  In a word, it's AMAZING.  The people are so wonderful.  They have an International Patient's Office that handles your paperwork and your transportation.  They speak English.  There is an office that overseas the nursing care of international patients and you'll be visited by an English speaking woman who will tell you that you can call her office any time you need translation services for any of the nurses.  But, the nurses are pretty good at communicating their needs and understanding yours.

They have 11 operating rooms.  The waiting area in the surgical wing is huge and has big comfy recliners for anyone who comes with you (and people coming with you is never a problem.  They encourage it.  I had two guests.).  In that waiting area is a huge flat screen TV that shows the progress of each patient's surgery.  They'll tell your loved ones what room you're in and they jus****ch a bar move across the screen showing how far along your surgery is and when you'll be in recovery.

The guy who started my IV in pre-op numbed my hand before starting the IV.  Love that.  And while I was in surgery, they started a second line in my arm just in case the one in my hand blew.  That way they wouldn't have to stick me again while I was awake.  How cool is that?

The hospital is JCI accredited.  It's top of the line.  They have technology there that my local hospital doesn't have.  It's beautiful.  There's an art gallary.  It's spotlessly clean.  Not kidding... when I got there the first time, there were people dust mopping... THE PARKING GARAGE.  Seriously?  Yes... cleaning the parking garage.  I was floored.

I've heard great things about Dr. Zapata.  And if you search his name on YouTube, I think he's even made some videos.  Check them out.

Oh, and hands down... best coordinating service I could have hoped for is Travel For Care.  www.travelforcare.com

My personal opinion...

I think Zapata is a fantastic band surgeon. I suggest him to everyone asking for banding. For sleeves, bypass, DS... not so much. I think he cares about his patients, I think it matters to him if folks do well. Surgical skill? I have my doubts for the more complicated procedures.

His coordinator will come here slam dunking me as she usually does. But I stand behind my words.

For the record - Dr. Zapata does not perform DS, he refers those patients to Dr. Gilberto Ungson in Hermosillo who is the most experienced DS surgeon in Mexico .

I dont slam dunk anyone - we leave that to MidwesternGirl / Wasabubblebutt or whatever alias she uses now.   Dr. Zapata has done nearly 3 times more lap RNYs than bands - but I am not going to debate this on a board.   Call Dr. Zapata's 800 number and I would be happy to direct you to the statistics from the main hospitals he uses and he would also be happy to speak to you and give you his CV and numbers.

I typically stay off these boards because there are several toxic personalities that have their own agendas and will do anything including lying, slander, libel to dimish other surgeons.  The best way to get correct information on a surgeon is to call the director of the hospital(s) he/she works at and ask your questions and then call the surgeon.  

Go to the source for direct information rather than relying on hearsay others or patient representatives (and when I say patient reps - dont kid yourself - many of them linger on here and use alias's to push you to a particular surgeon).  

I know for a fact that WasABubbleAss has never spoken to Dr. Zapata or the hospitals he works at.

Well I thought I would put in my 2 cents regarding Dr. Zapata's surgical skills.  From my 9 years of experience in this field, it's my understanding that Dr. Zapata is one of the most skilled Roux en Y gastric bypass surgeons in Mexico.  While he has done many bands and sleeves, he is known as a specialist in the Gastric Bypass.  The information that Judy stated regarding the fact that Dr. Zapata has done more Roux en Y's than bands just confirms what my understanding is.   

To state that Dr. Zapata is "a fantastic band surgeon, but not sure about his skills regarding a Bypass" is a ridiculous statement made by someone that knows nothing about the skills of Mexican doctors.  If someone were to have an understanding of "who is who" in the community of Mexican surgeons, they would never have made such a statement.  In fact I'm pretty sure Dr. Zapata is probably at least in the top 4 or 5 providers of Roux en Y.   

I’m not completely sure about the statistics, but I have a pretty good idea.  I'll bet the number one spot regarding the amount of Gastric Bypass surgeries done would be #1 Dr. Alejandro Aguirre in Ensenada (who performs open Gastric Bypass and has done so for many, many years).  #2 would probably be Dr. Martin Salvador Valencia of Tijuana/Mexico City/UCLA, who specializes in Gastric Bypass Revision and is probably the most skilled and credentialed surgeon in Mexico.  If Dr. Zapata doesn't fall next, then I'm sure he wouldn't be far behind these very, very experienced surgeons. 

In fact I do believe that Dr. Zapata taught many of the surgeons in Tijuana how to perform the gastric bypass.  At least those that learned several years ago.  If they learned recently, like in the last 3 or 4 years, they may have been taught by someone else.  Probably someone that was taught by Dr. Zapata.

So the bottom line is, if you are considering Dr. Zapata for a Gastric Bypass, you are considering a very good surgeon.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/3993119/Everything-that-could-go-wrong-went-wrong-2-months-and/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4168738/Bi-lateral-Mastectomy-05-27/#34114094

 Thank God Jagator88s went to a skilled surgeon like Dr. Zapata!  Sounds like she was a very difficult case.  I could only imagine what could have happened had she gone to a surgeon with less skill!

Any bariatric surgeon who claims to have never had an extremely serious or life threatening complication is a liar.