What is the word on Dr. Jaime Ponce DeLeon?

I would NOT go to any surgeon that is not vetted. You can see vetted surgeons on dsfacts.com. This is a complicated surgery and you don't want to risk your one and only body to save a few thousand dollars. Wait until you can afford it. There is another girl on the ds board that went to someone else besides a vetted surgeon and she has had nothing but problems and is in and out of the hospital.

NOT worth it!

Also, I REALLY recommend visiting the ds board. There are so many been-there, done-that people with experience that I highly recommend it, especially since you need a lot of follow up with ds.

Aftercare MATTERS!  Having REAL nurses MATTERS!  Having access to your physician MATTERS!
Who owns/runs the clinic MATTERS!  Do your research, because in the end, it MATTERS!

Wow, I thought he was a good doctor. His credentials look great. I also saw that he is on several other sites but none seem to say that he is a partner. So are you all saying that he isn't good or he isn't good for the DS? I read on another post where someone said not all docs that advertise are good and not all that don't are bad. I truly am scared and don't wanna die or be ill from a incompotent doc but I honestly don't have 12-14k to spend on the one highly recommended.

So please, if there are any others than the 2 I see are great in most people's eyes, please let me know. And yes, I will research away on dsfact.com as well. Thanks you guys for all the help!!!!

I'm not saying he is not a good doctor, I'm just saying he is not vetted. dsfacts.com has a list of surgeons that are experienced and trained to do the ds. You do not want to go to someone who is not experienced.

DSfacts.com lists the best of the best in several countries.

MX isn't the only country with surgeons. ;o)

I know nothing about that surgeon. And you see that in itself is a telling statement.  I have been posting on OH for many years now, mainly on the DS forum and I have never seen this surgeon's name mentioned, nor have I seen a DS patient of his post.  The DS is a complicated surgery and it takes a great deal of skill to perform it correctly.  There are many surgeons out there who claim to do the DS and then once you start talking to them -- they will discover that another surgery is a better fit for you for this or that reason.  When the truth of the matter is -- they just plain do not do the DS.  Or they will attempt the DS without having the expertise or experience to perform the surgery and you are the one who ends up paying the price.  Just because a surgeon has a good reputation doing other surgeries does not mean he is a good DS surgeon.

You said you are interested in the biliopancreatic diversion or the duodenal switch.  These are two different surgeries -- the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch is what we refer to as the DS or simply the duodenal switch.  The biliopancreatic diversion is a very different surgery that is very rarely done in this country anymore due to the high complication rates. 

I would delay the surgery and continue to save, get a second job or do whatever it took to go to a real DS surgeon, an experienced DS surgeon.

Red

Oh and why not post this on the DS Forum where you will get more responses from people who have had the DS. 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/a,messageboard/board_id ,5357/

My 2 cents worth:

The only surgeon in Mexico that I would use for a DS is Dr. Ungson.  This is one area where you can not afford to go with the cheapest.  Try for best & cheapest, making sure that the best comes first.

Just because a Dr. does excellent with the sleeve does  not mean he is excellent with the DS.

Michele

Thanks everyone for the considerate words of advice. I have decided to hold off on the DS and possibly go with the sleeve eventhough I really hate the possibility of having to pay extra for a revision in a couple years But I am in agreeance with everyone else in that my life and health is more important to me and my family than to save money.
This site really is a great help and I am glad I posted. I have yet to hear one person say anything about the surgeon's skills with a DS and therefore I am off to the sleeve forum to see who is a great yet reasonable doctor for that procedure. Thanks again everyone!

I just called the coordinator for Dr Ponce De Leon.
Even before she spoke, I heard a baby in the background. Then she told me she'd call me back in 10 minutes. I waited at least 1/2hr for her call.
I gave her a second chance to give her the benifit of the doubt.

She told me about the VGS surgery that I inquired about and I unfortunately had to put her on hold for 5 minutes. When I got back to her she had hung up on me. She hasn't called me back yet.