No Credit Card Pymt Accepted- Normal??

You're right, liveinphx.  I didn't mean to imply that because a Mexican surgeon doesn't accept credit cards that would mean they are in some way inferior.  There may be several reasons why they don't want to accept credit cards, such as the cost or just that it's a pain in the butt to jump through all the hoops in order to get the ability to accept them. I didn't mean any offence.    I think most surgeons offer more than one method of payment to try to make it as easy as possible.  I don' think that the method of payment offered, the deposit amount or the length of time in which you must pay the deposit is the important thing.  I think the most important thing is that you are given a clear payment and refund policy in writing. And if the company that provides you with such a written policy is a company that is doing legitimate business in the U.S., you are just as protected as if you were doing business with any other U.S. company.    However again, it's not to say that if a surgeon does not have U.S. Company handle the coordinating of their clients that they can't be trusted either. The point here is to get it in writing.

Linda,

Just curious, but everything I've seen so far shows that Dr. Rosales was/is Dr. Alvarez' assistant.  Is he the one actually doing your surgery or is Dr. Alvarez?  I would want to make sure he's very experienced performing the actual surgery and not just assisting. 

I saw Dr. Almanza and paid by credit card. I made a $500 deposit, but they told me (in writing) that it was fully refundable if I changed my mind.