I have no Idea where to start looking please help..

I'm interested in getting gastric bypass surgery in Mexico but I have no idea how to start my research. Can someone point me into the right direction or give me suggestions if you got it done in Mexico and with who? I'd love links or someway to do more research. 

Thanks in advance. 

I'm about two or three weeks ahead of you in this process.  But did a lot of research.   Have you decided what surgery you want?  That will help you narrow the choices down too.

I actually picked my surgery by my BMI.  If you have a very high BMI, I think the switch is the best way to go. If it's lower, try the sleeve.  As for picking doctors, it's really very confusing.   For the switch there is only one game in MX and that is Dr. Esquerra at the Mexicali Bariatric Center - this center has been doing the switch for years and are known for it. Dr. Esquerra trained their under the best and now is the lead Dr there for this surgery.

And I would look at them no matter the surgery;  they do the Sleeve too.  It's just their reputation is very, very good and they have been doing it a long time.  They are not the least expensive game in town, but they are very, very good and you stay in the hospital the whole time which I liked - though this is unusual.  I'm getting the switch and I think I could get it for 8k, but I'm paying a few grand more because i want the best Dr and care I can find. Its 35k in the US. It's the most complicated of the surgeries.  I think if you are getting a sleeve, you could shop around a bit more because there are lots of good Drs in MX that do it and its much less complicated.

Also, there are reviews on this website. I have not figure out how to get to them besides googling the doctor's name and review.  There is also a  facebook group about getting surgery in Mexico https://www.facebook.com/groups/1581358728774923/  so, you ask to join.  There is info in there (though not that much is honest) - I had picked a Dr and then, someone said to search in there for that Dr. and that Dr has had Big Time i issues. So, I'm going somewhere else.   And here is a link of a Doctor to avoid http://www.10news.com/news/team-10-dozens-injured-during-weight-loss-surgery-in-mexico  NOT to scare you, because there are bad Drs in the US too.   And very, very, very, good Doctors in MX.

Here is how I started. I found about 10 Drs in Mexico online.  You can google to find them.  I read the reviews on this website, but they are generally all good - even the bad Drs have good reviews.  So, then, I really started to think what is important to me.  Strong Dr, the whole experience is in a hospital, the nurses and Dr speaks English.  Top notch care.

Here are the questions I put together (I found them somewhere online)

• What hospital do you work operate at?
• How long would I be in the hospital?
• What percent of patients have had a leak or complication with your surgeries and how does that compare to the average?
• What percent of patients have had infections post surgery and how does that compare to the average?
• How have patents addressed complications back home (All Drs stumbled with this question with me a bit, because they really don't have a good handle on this)
  
• What kinds of leak tests do you do and how many?
• Do I get a video of the surgery, leak tests, and all medical records when we leave? In english? ( I would really like this)
• How many surgeries do they perform a day?  Is there a limit
• Does the hospital where the surgery will be performed have a trauma center/icu and a blood bank?  How many beds in the hospital?
• What kind of oversight is done when staying in the hotel post hospital?
• Private rooms?
• Room for traveling companion?
• Full time - around the clock medical staff in hospital?
• is there an extra charge for higher BMIS?
• Do you have instructions for my primary care doctor for follow up that I can share with my Dr here.
  
• What is the follow up from the Drs office when you get back home. 

I talked to the Drs too.  To be honest, I did not find talking to the Drs that helpful in terms of making a decision.  I did not talk to patients because i watched videos on youtube, joined the Drs Facebook group, and read reviewed.

Here is another thing I learned.  They are companies that can book you with the doctor, but they charge the premium for it, so try to book direct to save some money.  I would NOT go through a company.  If you reach out to a Dr first through a company, you are stuck using the company.

My Primary Care Doctor was not excited about me having surgery in MX and I had to find another one.   Make sure you have your after care lined up.

Feel free to PM me. I'm happy to help more.  I'm not an expert and did not look at tons of Drs because with the switch there are less choices.

Thank you for the advice. I just finished watching the news report and wow it sure did scare me :). 

Agencies do scare me and I would really want to avoid them. Hopefully when I do find a doctor I will have all the proof and research needed to go ahead with the surgery. 

There are bad doctors everywhere.  Don't be scared.  And good doctors in Mexico.  Just do your research and don't choose based on price alone.  Good luck

When I was looking for a surgeon in Mexico, I found comfort in finding MANY reviews on the particular surgeon I was looking at.  I ended up with Dr. Fernando Garcia of Tijuana Bariatrics.  I am 18 months out, my scars are very small and I have lost a lot of weight, so I am extremely happy overall.  Whomever you choose, do a LOT of research and see if you can find anything negative on the doctor or practice.  Good luck to you.

Hi there - the gastric bypass - whether you are talking about an RNY or "The Switch" - does not seem to be done in Mexico as much as the sleeve. So if you are set on a bypass - narrow your search to surgeons who do that procedure. You could check the RNY forum of this site and ask a few questions. Some surgeons will decide for you the best surgery based on your BMI and other personal/health issues and co-morbidities. My hubby had a gastric sleeve done with Dr. Amando Joya in Puerto Vallarta 3 years ago. Has done extremely well. The experience was top notch in all aspect - I am an ER nurse and I went with him - so was very aware and observant of everything. ( I had an RNY done here in Canada in New Brunswick in 2008 - have done well - the sleeve was not really a "thing" back then). I know several other people who have gone to Joya also. A lot depends on where you are travelling from. From Canada - the location where you will have surgery in Mexico really is not that important. It's gonna be a long flight no matter what. A lot of our US friends who have bariatric surgery and live in the western half of the US, choose to travel to San Diego - fly or drive - and be met by staff from Tiajuana, or other nearby centres, who bring them to to facility where surgery is being done. Therefore you see a lot of surgery centers close to the border. You have been given a lot of excellent info - research, research and then research some more. I can only speak for Dr. Joya because that's my only experience. He also was a bit pricier than some of the others. But in this case - I didn't think money was the only consideration. Good luck to you!

You have to do a lot of research and I mean a lot you need to know everything that comes with the surgery.

And then call doctors and see what one fits your needs. I was on the phone for days on in. But  when I called my surgeon I knew that this is the place I wanted to have surgery. The coordinator was always helping me with everything I needed to know and she her self has had surgery with the same surgeon. She was always answering my phone calls and if she was busy she would call right back. They even helped me with In House Financing because I was not able to pay the whole amount at once. I pay monthly payments and I love the way I am starting to see a new person.

I had surgery with Dr,Sergio Quinones, he was the one I decided after calling just about every doctor  in Tijuanna ,and do not get me wrong it was not because they were bad doctors but because I felt he was the best option for me. I felt he fitted the needs for me,and I will tell you one thing I was so right I do not think I could have mad a better choice in a surgeon. He his kind,caring, educated and very respectful. He told me that if I was not sure that I wanted to have surgery that that was fine. I really liked that about him when I was taken up one of his rooms and space from another  patient to be operated and for him to tell me if I was not sure he was not going to operate I felt like he was their to help his patients.

I did not fell like he just looks at us all like another cash pay out he really cares how his patients feel and what each and everybody needs.

Well I hope this helps you a little and good luck . Keep us all up to date and I wish the best to you.

Oh, the other thing is I did a lot of research at home.  I went to the groups of the doctors here.  I listened to the pitches of the Drs. here.  I decided what surgery I wanted before I started researching Mexico.   That helped.

I am having the roux-n-y in exactly 2 weeks from today with Dr. Garcia through Tijuana Bariatrics... I've read good things on him and have gotten some feedback from people who went to him. I'm excited either way.

Hi, Im searching too! Some friends recommended me Dr. Maytorena in Tijuana, im searching about him right now and it says that Gastric Sleeve is $2,999.. I mean, its a very attractive price, but does someone else in here know more about it?

Im watching other patients experiences in his You Tube Channel and everyone seems very pleased, is he a good choice?