Monterrey

Was very excited  & felt like I had made a good decision to see Dr. Sauceda next 5/2011 for my plastic surgery.  Now w/all the travel warnings I am growing very concerned!  Guess I should just sit tight since I still have several months & see what unveils?  Has anyone else had concerns or problems?  thanks!

I would be concerned about the travel warnings - not about Dr. Sauceda who appears from the picture sposted here to be doing excellent work. You can use this time to looks for other potential US plastic surgeons as a back up plan while hopefully the drug wars settle down in Mexico.

I understand your concerns, I was there 2 days after they had kidnapped someone from a hotel.  Since I was going alone and don't speak hardly any Spanish I was nervous!!  They are looking for specific people not just random Americans.  My understanding is more violencehappens at the border cities. There is tons of security at the hotel (24 hours a day) and even at the hospital and I felt safe.  It was unsettling the first day or two but it was no different than the first time I vacationed in Cozumel.  Guards were standing on street corners with machine guns.  You are picked up and taken straight to the hotel.  I did not venture out much besides the HEB next door and the mall.  Honestly I wish hotels here in Orlando had as much security as tourists are always targets.  Common sense like any big city should be your main concern.  Minimal jewerly, no large amounts of cash, anything to draw attention to yourself.  I traveled to Mexico 3 times this past year and had no problems at all.  May can be a bad month for hurricanes though, so I would try for early May for sure!!!  Good Luck to you,

I was there twice, July and September, and I was very safe.   As Toni said, you are picked up at the airport by a driver, and taken right to the Hotel.  Very nice and safe Hotel.  There are guards around all the time, you cannot go through the front door without seeing them.   You can choose to go over to the mall and the HEB, but Applebees will deliver right to your room.   And the Hotel has breakfast every morning and two or three finger food nights a week.  If you go to the HEB, and I did several times alone, just pick up what you need all at once.   You could also see if another patient has a husband going who can carry food for you.   Water will need to be purchased as you can get a few from the cleaning staff and the gym, but will need more than that.   McDonalds is right next door, just a stone's throw, so if you can eat there, you are safe too as they have security too.   The criminals are looking for specific people, not you, unless you're traveling with oodles of money and drugs and are announcing it.  I think I took $200 and still had enough left over to give Patty a tip.   Dr. S will pick you up at the Hotel for consult, and for surgery, and return you to the Hotel.   He will have his driver take you to the airport when you are done.  So it's really your choice if you wish to be out on your own, the main things are taken care of by Dr. S and his driver.  Feel free to ask questions, and remember to visit his board on here.

Bonnie

Can you personally e-mail me so I can get more information re: your trip?  Thanks!  [email protected]

I wanted to go to Dr Sauceda this past year and chickened out with the issues in Monterrey. I went to see another great surgeon in yet another country, but of course, there is more crime there than I'm used to as home as well (I went to Costa Rica).

I think you just need to keep in mind that you need to be more careful where ever you go, and to minimize your risks by not standing out like a wealthy traveler, and not venturing out alone unnecessarily.

Can you give me info on Costa Rica?  Who did you use, how was your experience, what did you have done & the cost?  How long is the flight back to the states from there?  Thanks!

I went to Dr Pino and had a lower body lift, inner thigh lift, tummy tuck, butt aug and face lift for $17,000. Actually, I guess that amount also covered a few thousand for the cost of the recovery center I stayed at (Villa Lemas) but it isn't actually a package with them, so you can stay where ever you want.

I would also have no reservations about going to Drs Lev or DaCruz either. They are all considered artists with faces, but do great work in general with very happy customers. I spent a long time looking at examples of all of their work, and they are some of the very few surgeons that I couldn't find ANYONE who had results they were unhappy with.

On my trip back I actually visited several people, so stopped in several cities but the flight from San Jose Costa Rica was only 2 or 3 hours to Orlando.

I'll need a small revision on my thigh, which is pretty common, but my stomach and face are amazing, and I couldn't be happier.

I did not go to Mexico, but just wanted to add that to say "they only look for a certain person" or type of person is not exactly correct.  Any American can net a ransom.  Which is why every international company I've worked for when they sent Americans to Mexico locations always provide an extensive list of do's and don'ts.  And cancel business trips when the State Dept. issues warnings.

Dr S sounds like he takes security measures seriously but you also have to remember to follow them and use common sense.

My preference to stay in the US had a lot to do with being close to my ps for follow ups and any complications.  Also, although more expensive, I prefer to pay off my ps' yatch than one in another country.  ;)

I am in Monterrey right now and have not felt unsafe one time since my arrival. Just as in any large city it is not safe to go out at night and there is no need. Dr Sauceda will make sure that you have safe transportation to where ever you wish to go and since I have been here he or his driver have transported me everywhere. There is a mall and grocery store within a few hundred yards of the hotel and you can get everything you may need right there. I would not hesitate to travel to Monterrey. This is a large city the clinic and hotel are in the business-medical center of the city. The hotel is filled with medical patients and business men.