Question:
Has anyone been to Tijuana to have a tummy tuck or arm lift?

I'm considering it because I've heard it's a lot cheaper. I've looked at sites on line and the surgeons seem credible but I'm still a little nervous about going out of the country. Does anyone know the actual price difference? Is it worth it? Any referrels for a surgen in TJ?    — amberskys (posted on April 13, 2004)

April 13, 2004
Hi Dicia, Honestly, I'd recommend Brazil before I recommended Mexico for PS. Have you found the MedNetBrazil yahoo group yet? There are many on that list who have been and had excellent results. Hope that helps. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

April 13, 2004
I always like to mention the possiblility of complications. Make sure you have all your bases covered if you have to return for post op or complications care. This is not a slam for Mexico or any other place, just an FYI if you go too far away from home. This happened to me,(I had to drive an hour many times when I thought it would only be a few times post op) due to many complications. You never know, so make sure you keep that in mind while planning. Good Luck!
   — ZZ S.

April 13, 2004
I'm going to Mexico for plastic surgery on May 5th. I'm having belt lipectomy, breast lift, and inner thigh lift (incision in crease of groin). I saw the doctor a couple of weeks ago and feel very comfortable in my decision. I had WLS in Mexico and had a great experience. In fact, I've done much better than everyone I know who had surgery in the U.S. That could be just a coincidence or it could be that I had a really great surgeon. I just know that I've done a tremendous amount of research on this plastic surgeon - as I did with my WLS surgeon - and I've spoken to many of his American patients. In fact, 80% of his practice is American patients. His name is Eduardo Gongora and his clinic is Genesis Clinic. If you would like information, I'm happy to share my experience. Email me, now, and/or after May 5th and I'll let you know how it goes.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 13, 2004
I would like to concur with what ZZS said about your follow-up care. You do need to have a plan for follow-up and if you are going out of the country, make sure your PCP will do your follow-up or you can afford to fly back for drain/stitch removal, or any complications that may arise. I have worked it out with my PCP to have drains/stitches removed here but if complications arise, I will go to the emergency room.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 13, 2004
Sorry if I sound like a party pooper, but I do see a number of patients with problems, some "unfixable" who have been "over there" for surgery. Reasons not to do it: You have no health insurance protection, no legal protection or recourse, limited access to higher levels of care if you need it fast, plus the followup issues already mentioned. These things are a "safety cushion" that all doctors and patients may have to rely upon. As a surgeon, I also have an ethical problem with what I consider to be "itenerant surgery," i.e. a doctor not being there to deal with all complications or issues for their patients. I would be most distressed knowing my patients would have to resort to the tender mercies of an emergency room doctor to deal with my postop problems. OK...I'm off the soap box.
   — DrL

April 13, 2004
I went to Mexico for my RNY 5 weeks ago to see Dr. Aguirre. He is a highly skilled and greatly loved surgeon and has started working closely with Dr. Gouin (both in Ensenada) to take care of Dr. Aguirre's post op patients' needs. You can see progress photos of one of their patients at http://latrisha.javajabbers.com if you want to get more info. She is one of Dr. Aguirre's first patients to post on OH and the first from the US affiliated with Dr. A. to use Dr. Gouin, so she is our little canary. The thing is, I would like to ask the doctor posting here: What would you suggest for a person who has massive hanging skin who needs surgical treatment that does not have insurance that will pay? Not everyone can afford the prices in the US. We could debate all day and night on why costs are so high in the US, but my point is this: When you don't have the means to seek health care locally, you do what you have to do. I do have one other question that I would love to have answered and that is this: Latrisha in the process of her PS had her muscles tightened up by the surgeon. She asked how much extra that cost in Mexico. The surgeon replied "nothing" because it took him 10 minutes. She inquired about this in the US and it cost an additional $3000. Certainly we are more wealthy nation, but what about those who aren't able to afford these things? Should we just ignore our distress? Of all cosmetic surgery, this is the least cosmetic in the sense of determined need. So either insurance needs to start picking up the tab or costs need to drop dramatically in order to keep people from having to travel to another country for these surgeries. Dina
   — Dinka Doo

April 13, 2004
With my history of drainage problems and incision healing, due to the drainage I would NEVER go very far away for any kind of surgery unless that was the only doc that could do something very specialized. Now if the doc from another country could set up something with a local PS to follow me once I was home, if I had problems then I might consider it, but only in that situation. My WLS was done 20 minutes from my home and in the first 11 weeks, till they did a 2nd outpatient surgery to find out the problem, I was in his office every 5-10 days. I had a LBL 7+ weeks ago and this is the first week I have only been in the office once. He is 50 minutes away, which means a 1/2 day of of work each time with travel etc. <p>I actually am a great healer and have had 12 surgeries in my 43 years and have 2-3 to go with the remaining PS, but I tend to have the strange problems and it's just not worth the money savings I would get. Thankgoodness I have insurance coverage for both phases of my full extended abdominoplasty but the lateral thigh lift portion was mine and the arms, breasts and inner thighs are all mine to pay for. Estimate $24,000, so I will be staging this over a few years to say the least. It's looking like my breasts might end up being a 5-yr wedding anniversay present from my future hubby as I'm not sure we will be able to afford it before then with all the other things we want to do. The legs are still a possibility and I think I am going to move the arms up to before my wedding in October, but that's it for now. <p>My issue is not with the surgeons in these other countries but how in the heck one would deal with aftercare problems that continue on for months.
   — zoedogcbr

April 14, 2004
I wanted to respond to Dina, as financial issues are commonly talked about here. There are standard fees that can be found online from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website...I'll look for the link. I see some prices here quoted that are high. It would help to know what the ballpark numbers should be. On how to afford it, I can only repeat what a patient told one of my patient coordinators. "See all those cars in your parking lot? This surgery is a lot less than any of those, lasts longer, and means more to me than any car I could or will ever own." I guess that's to say that everyone finds a way to get a car. And I do not have any "fancy" patients (or cars!) in my practice...just regular people. We all know this is not vanity surgery for the rich and famous. To answer more directly, people get things financed, shop around, save, and some get insurance help on a portion of the case. Price is a consideration, no doubt, but in my opinion medicine/surgery and your health are not the places to cut corners.
   — DrL

April 14, 2004
I don't know if this is the site you are referring to, but it has some nationwide averages on plastic surgery: http://www.memphisplasticsurgery.com/faq.html Just scroll down a little ways and it has a listing of prices.
   — Rachael B.

April 15, 2004
Yes, those are the ones....easier to read than the ASPS table, too! I think those may from 2002 but they are a good guide. Of course, not included are operating room and anesthesia fees. Thanks Rachael.
   — DrL

April 16, 2004
No offense to the doc here, but "internet surgery" happens every single day right here in the US for all types of surgery with no person even blinking an eye at it if its in the US. Anyone who travels any distance to their surgeon is at the same risk for follow up care problems. My suggestion is to make arrangements with your PCP and a SURGEON (not the ER!) ahead of time to care for you if you develop any problems. I did that when I went to Mexico. The difference in cost was over $15,000 when you look at hospital & anesthesia fees. I could have traveled the same distance to a clinic out of my area in the US, instead of doing it the hospital route like they do here but it still would have been a lot of money and I still would have been far from the area in order to receive follow up care from my surgeon. A lot of us who need plastics for medical reasons aren't buying new cars. And many don't have the credit available to finance their surgery. I agree with the previous poster that a lot of people go to Mexico because they simply can't afford the US route. That is why I went to Mexico originally but I also found a fantastic surgeon in the process.
   — Shelly S.

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