Question:
any one recently been to mexico for surgery. what was cost?

i need to self pay and need a reasonable rate but excellant dr. any recomendations?    — gogeko (posted on December 12, 2004)

December 12, 2004
Hi Cynthia! I didn't go to Mexico - I went to Spain for my surgery - travel and surgery together $15,000 - and Dr. Aniceto Baltasar for my surgeon - one of the best in the world. Check out www.drbaltasar.com or www.bodybybaltasar.com if you'd like to know more. You might check into Dr. Ungson, if you have your heart set on Mexico. His Yahoo group is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dr_UngsonSupport/ Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

December 12, 2004
Hi. I am always the party-pooper on this one because Houston is in close proximity to the border, and I see so many problems from patients who travel for surgery. Remember that 80% of a doctor's time and work is in the follow-up. That can't be done properly if you travel. Touch ups and revisions (and complications) are a simple fact of life in weight loss patients, too. So travelling is an issue here. Also remember that you have no legal alternatives and no insurance coverage if a problem should develop. My advice: shop around, explore all your financing options, and get several quotes. Remember that American surgeons lead the way in post-bariatric surgery reconstruction...we are the only country with this group of patients in large numbers!
   — DrL

December 12, 2004
fortunately my insurance covered my RNY very well, with no hassles. When I started looking into plastics the first doctor I talked to wanted $30,000 for a lower body lift and brachioplasty. I nearly fainted and did shed quite a few tears. He also told me it was a waste of time to ask for insurance to pay, so I researcehed going to another country, primarily Brazil, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. What I found was that I could not actually verify their credentials other than thru word of mouth or should I say word of internet. They might say they are "board certified" but what Board? The American Board of Plastic Surgery has rigorous requirements for education, experience and testing to be board certified. Other so called "board certified" may only be a matter of paying a membership fee. I couldn't check out the status of their licenses because if there was a web site to check it out, well, I don't speak spanish or portugese at all. They might email you a copy of their license, but how do you know it is real with out 3rd party verification? I could likely make up a certificate on my computer giving me a "medical license" Language is the other problem. being an RN, I often have had patients who speak little to no English and we by law have to get tranlsaters. this is not necessarily a requirement in other countries. Let me tell you a lot gets lost in translation. And trying to explain complications thru a translator is a nightmare. People often don't know the medical term or what it means and feel stupid asking so they go through not understanding what is going on. I feel that doctors in other countries are likely just as good as a doctor here. They are surely as intelligent and well trained. But even here not all doctors are equal. some are better than others. some commit malpractice, some are excellent and a rare few are incompetant. The real differnce is , here I can verify their credentials, in another country I couldn't. I ended up talking to more than one surgeon prior to making my decision and I will tell you I checked out my plastic surgeons credentials very carefully, got recommendations, and looked at people who I knew had surgery by him in the past up close and in person. I couldn't have done that if I went out of the country. Another thing to keep in mind, a doctor may have a web site with lovely before and after pictures, but there is no guarentee that that doctor actually even did the surgeries on the websites. I also am glad I stayed here because the recovery is hard and I needed to be at home, with my family to help me. It would have been very difficult with only strangers to help me. I never could have handled being on a plane for hours a week or two post op. Talk to some doctors here, several of them . explain your situation and see if they can help you. some will lower prices or have good resources for financing. the bottom line for me was that I did talk to more than one doctor, Prices varied tremendously, and I ended up having surgery here for less than going to another country, with the comfort of being able to go home and sleep in my own bed. No matter where you go or what your decision is good luck and good health to you.
   — **willow**

December 13, 2004
I think you're asking about WLS but to let you know, I went to Mexico for both WLS and plastics. I had an outstanding surgeon for both. My WLS surgeon is Dr. Alejandro Aguirre in Ensendada. I believe he currently charges $8500. which is an all-inclusive fee. I'm 18 months post-op, at goal, and LOVING life. I have been complication-free the entire time. I would go to Dr. Aguirre again in a heart-beat. Most of his patients are Americans. My local PCP did all my follow-up and insurance has paid for all of it, even though they wouldn't pay for WLS. Dr. Aguirre's forum is: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/forums/?ID=A-1045621205 If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 13, 2004
I had my RNY surgery here because my insurance paid, but my sister had her lap-band done in Mexico because she was self-pay no matter what her choice was. She's a nurse and checked the Doc's out before she went to Mexico. Many Dr's in Costa Rica, Mexico etc are trained in the US and do their internships here. Doc's can be superior or inferior anywhere in the world including the US. Many US Dr's do their college and internships outside the country. My sisters entire cost including hospital, travel ect was baout $6,500 and she has had no complications. Good luck - Maggie B.
   — M B.