Dr. Adrian Manjarrez-Mexicali LONG
I am now 12 days post op from an extended TT, lipo and breast lift in Mexicali. Time to report the good, the bad and the ugly!!!
I used Travel for Care as the coordinating agency for my planned plastic surgery. Leslie McDeavitt was at first very attentive and I do feel she went out of her way to find a doc I felt comfortable with and could afford. Most of her contacts seemed to be in Tijuana. I just didn't find a doc there that was the "cat's meow" for me. That doesn't mean there weren't qualified docs, it just wasn't a fit for me.
Leslie then looked further afield and tag teamed up with Mexicali Healthcare and Dr. Juan Luque. I felt very comfortable after reviewing his pictures, experience and the whole package. The price I felt was very good for a BL/BA, extended TT with lipo and butt lift - 4 nights hospital and 4 nights hotel - all pre-op labs, EKG, meds while in hospital and compression garments and followup visits/transportation while in Mexicali was $8,000. After hospital discharge antibiotics and pain meds were not included (about $20).
Unfortunately, Dr. Luque was called out of town due to a family emergency. They suggested using Dr. Adrian Manjarrez instead. I was uncomfortable with this last minute substitution until I started doing research. WOW, he was eminently qualified and pictures of his work were great. Also, a lot more experience (22+ years).
So, I arrived in San Diego and was told I would be met at the Delta baggage carousel by someone holding a sign with my name and then I would be transported in an official marked van. This is where the WEAKEST LINK appears: Mexicali Healthcare in the form of Carlo . After searching for several minutes, I had to call him. He showed up with a less than professional appearance. He was very friendly (I had talked to him on the phone previously and recognized his voice). Next he walks me out to a dirty car. Yep, it was an expensive car, but as dirty as my teenager's and unmarked.
When we arrived in Mexicali I checked into the Hispano Americano Hospital-very nice and clean to a fault. After check in, Carlo handed me off to his co-worker, Alejandro, the next weak link. I was taken to meet Dr. Manjarrez and after a TWO hour consult I was very comfortable. Not only was he obviously skilled with 22+ years of experience but he was concerned with what I wanted the outcome to be.
I had three local PS consults and sent my pics off to many docs through the internet for review. Many of the docs wanted to do what I considered too many procedures at the same time. Dr. Manjarrez was conservative and thoughtful about what I wanted to look like months down the line. I had planned on having a breast lift/BA, extended TT with lipo and butt lift. After long discussion with Dr. Manjarrez, he bluntly said that I did not need an implant. I questioned him thoroughly about this because every single other doc said that I did! Even though I had tube sock/golf ball boobs, he said I had plenty of breast tissue and would remain a D cup. Yep, I know I still have some swelling, but holy cow, I have a great set of BOOBS!
Next we discussed my TT with lipo, he agreed I definitely needed one. When he started marking me I almost passed out when he told me how much skin he would be cutting out. I guesstimate, he excised about 8-9 inches from my abdomen...and hubba-hubba it looks pretty good. The mons lift was included and now I can look down to some good-looking girly parts!!!!
He said he cut off about 3.4 pounds of belly skin and lipo'ed about 200 cc.
Dr. M did not really want to do the butt lift at this time. He is conservative and felt front and back surgery is tough on a patient (keep in mind I had an upcoming 7 hour flight in a few days). He would have done it if I had insisted, but I plan on going back next year anyway.
I went ahead and asked about future face work trying to get an idea of what I may need (thinking maybe just my eyes). Well, my balloon was burst when he said "A total face lift". Wasn't sure if I should crack up or cry!!
Alejandro tried to get me to pay for this consult along with a few other things. I started out delicately reminding him of my signed contract stating what was included and finally had to lose a bit of charm and told him my financial arrangement was with Travel for Care - his financial arrangement was also with Travel for Care and he needed to work out payment.
Next came the EKG and labs. Once again he attempted to have me pull out the credit card and the same discussion occurred. Also, while in the van going from one place to another he brought up money and I really did lose my patience with him on the issue.
Checking into Hispano Americano Hospital was a breeze. It was clean to a fault and the nursing care was great. I have no reservation in using that facility again.
The surgery came and went and I am happy to say went very well. Days 1 and 2 post op were the worst and I rate my pain maybe a 6 on a scale on 1-10. On day three, the pain med was changed to Torodol and that managed it very well. I won't say the pain was a breeze but not near as bad as what I have heard. I made sure I got up and moving as soon as I could.
Here comes the ugly: leaving the hospital and going to the hotel (Fiesta Inn). We were originally supposed to go to Hotel Lucerna but Carlo recommended we change (right then I should have had a bad feeling). The Fiesta Inn was okay but removed from everything. If they had kept us at the Lucerna, we would have been a block from Dr. Manjarrez's office and could have walked there.
When Alejandro dropped us off...he disappeared. We were supposed to be picked up daily for an office visit and bandage change. Phone messages were ignored. Finally I got in touch with Carlo via email. To make an even longer story short-Mexicali Healthcare was useless, frustrating and a waste. Yes, a company administrator was notified. If there had been a complication to either myself or Green Bay Girl (we met down there as PS buddies) it would have been a bad situation. We were assured repeatedly by Carlo and Alejandro they were only a phone call away.
So, we did finally make contact with Dr. Manjarrez and I believe he also followed up with Mexicali Healthcare on the lack of service we received.
So far, my incisions look great, I feel great and there is less of me!!!! And some of what there is of me is now in the correct places!!
Dr. Manjarrez was fabulous. I will use him again without reservation.
Hispano-Americano Hospital, was great - also a keeper.
Mexicali Healthcare was a joke and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.
Travel for Care should also have been more involved but I don't lay a lot of the blame on them.
Sorry for the length but wanted to provide feedback.
I used Travel for Care as the coordinating agency for my planned plastic surgery. Leslie McDeavitt was at first very attentive and I do feel she went out of her way to find a doc I felt comfortable with and could afford. Most of her contacts seemed to be in Tijuana. I just didn't find a doc there that was the "cat's meow" for me. That doesn't mean there weren't qualified docs, it just wasn't a fit for me.
Leslie then looked further afield and tag teamed up with Mexicali Healthcare and Dr. Juan Luque. I felt very comfortable after reviewing his pictures, experience and the whole package. The price I felt was very good for a BL/BA, extended TT with lipo and butt lift - 4 nights hospital and 4 nights hotel - all pre-op labs, EKG, meds while in hospital and compression garments and followup visits/transportation while in Mexicali was $8,000. After hospital discharge antibiotics and pain meds were not included (about $20).
Unfortunately, Dr. Luque was called out of town due to a family emergency. They suggested using Dr. Adrian Manjarrez instead. I was uncomfortable with this last minute substitution until I started doing research. WOW, he was eminently qualified and pictures of his work were great. Also, a lot more experience (22+ years).
So, I arrived in San Diego and was told I would be met at the Delta baggage carousel by someone holding a sign with my name and then I would be transported in an official marked van. This is where the WEAKEST LINK appears: Mexicali Healthcare in the form of Carlo . After searching for several minutes, I had to call him. He showed up with a less than professional appearance. He was very friendly (I had talked to him on the phone previously and recognized his voice). Next he walks me out to a dirty car. Yep, it was an expensive car, but as dirty as my teenager's and unmarked.
When we arrived in Mexicali I checked into the Hispano Americano Hospital-very nice and clean to a fault. After check in, Carlo handed me off to his co-worker, Alejandro, the next weak link. I was taken to meet Dr. Manjarrez and after a TWO hour consult I was very comfortable. Not only was he obviously skilled with 22+ years of experience but he was concerned with what I wanted the outcome to be.
I had three local PS consults and sent my pics off to many docs through the internet for review. Many of the docs wanted to do what I considered too many procedures at the same time. Dr. Manjarrez was conservative and thoughtful about what I wanted to look like months down the line. I had planned on having a breast lift/BA, extended TT with lipo and butt lift. After long discussion with Dr. Manjarrez, he bluntly said that I did not need an implant. I questioned him thoroughly about this because every single other doc said that I did! Even though I had tube sock/golf ball boobs, he said I had plenty of breast tissue and would remain a D cup. Yep, I know I still have some swelling, but holy cow, I have a great set of BOOBS!
Next we discussed my TT with lipo, he agreed I definitely needed one. When he started marking me I almost passed out when he told me how much skin he would be cutting out. I guesstimate, he excised about 8-9 inches from my abdomen...and hubba-hubba it looks pretty good. The mons lift was included and now I can look down to some good-looking girly parts!!!!
He said he cut off about 3.4 pounds of belly skin and lipo'ed about 200 cc.
Dr. M did not really want to do the butt lift at this time. He is conservative and felt front and back surgery is tough on a patient (keep in mind I had an upcoming 7 hour flight in a few days). He would have done it if I had insisted, but I plan on going back next year anyway.
I went ahead and asked about future face work trying to get an idea of what I may need (thinking maybe just my eyes). Well, my balloon was burst when he said "A total face lift". Wasn't sure if I should crack up or cry!!
Alejandro tried to get me to pay for this consult along with a few other things. I started out delicately reminding him of my signed contract stating what was included and finally had to lose a bit of charm and told him my financial arrangement was with Travel for Care - his financial arrangement was also with Travel for Care and he needed to work out payment.
Next came the EKG and labs. Once again he attempted to have me pull out the credit card and the same discussion occurred. Also, while in the van going from one place to another he brought up money and I really did lose my patience with him on the issue.
Checking into Hispano Americano Hospital was a breeze. It was clean to a fault and the nursing care was great. I have no reservation in using that facility again.
The surgery came and went and I am happy to say went very well. Days 1 and 2 post op were the worst and I rate my pain maybe a 6 on a scale on 1-10. On day three, the pain med was changed to Torodol and that managed it very well. I won't say the pain was a breeze but not near as bad as what I have heard. I made sure I got up and moving as soon as I could.
Here comes the ugly: leaving the hospital and going to the hotel (Fiesta Inn). We were originally supposed to go to Hotel Lucerna but Carlo recommended we change (right then I should have had a bad feeling). The Fiesta Inn was okay but removed from everything. If they had kept us at the Lucerna, we would have been a block from Dr. Manjarrez's office and could have walked there.
When Alejandro dropped us off...he disappeared. We were supposed to be picked up daily for an office visit and bandage change. Phone messages were ignored. Finally I got in touch with Carlo via email. To make an even longer story short-Mexicali Healthcare was useless, frustrating and a waste. Yes, a company administrator was notified. If there had been a complication to either myself or Green Bay Girl (we met down there as PS buddies) it would have been a bad situation. We were assured repeatedly by Carlo and Alejandro they were only a phone call away.
So, we did finally make contact with Dr. Manjarrez and I believe he also followed up with Mexicali Healthcare on the lack of service we received.
So far, my incisions look great, I feel great and there is less of me!!!! And some of what there is of me is now in the correct places!!
Dr. Manjarrez was fabulous. I will use him again without reservation.
Hispano-Americano Hospital, was great - also a keeper.
Mexicali Healthcare was a joke and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.
Travel for Care should also have been more involved but I don't lay a lot of the blame on them.
Sorry for the length but wanted to provide feedback.
Pre Op-Surgery-Current-Goal232 - 213 - 153 - 150
5'4" tall
Stage 1 Plastics 10/20/10 with Dr. Adrian Menjarrez-Mexicali
Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck
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