Mexicali Bariatric Center Bariatric Center

My surgeon for my DS was Dr Ungson in Mexico.
I chose Dr. U after consulting with a local Dr here in Arizona who advertised he did the DS surgery, yet he refused to do it on me, saying my BMI of 44.5 wasn't high enough. I really believe this Arizona surgeon prefers and pushes the lapband, so my consult with him was all a waste of my time, although I did buy an interesting and informative book from his office that I used as a guide both pre and post op. I have BCBS insurance that would have paid up to 8k for my weight loss surgery, however I decided to self-pay and go to Dr. U. in Mexico, since my out of pocket costs here in the US over and beyond the 8k would have been many times more than Dr U's 11k total package.
I did briefly consider another Dr in Washington who did some VGB/DS type surgery, but I decided that this one time in my life, I deserved the best! I strongly believe that DS is the best for long term results.
Dr. U answers emails promptly and pleasantly. He has an assistant Sylvia, who meets you at the airport, holding a big sign with your name on it, along with a big smile! After my plane from Phoenix on AeroMexico arrived 4 hours late, I was so relieved to find Sylvia waiting there for me, as I was worried about arriving in a strange country in the dark without speaking hardly any Spanish! But Sylvia was there, as scheduled, and from that point on, everything else went along like a well oiled machine.
Dr U has a team consisting of an internist and an anesthesiologist, who are competent and pleasant. The hospital in Hermosillo, Cima, was clean and modern looking and I had a lovely suite with a private balcony and a separate sleeping/sitting room with TV for my husband to stay with me.
After the hospital stay, I transferred to Hotel Colonial, where the beds are hard as rocks, but I rented their recliner, so I was more comfortable. The Hotel had free internet access, so I was able to stay in touch with my friends and family back home.
I think Dr U is a wonderful surgeon, my incision is horizontal, about 12 inches long, but I have not had any problems with it. I did experience some post op lung problems, but I believe that was related to my former smoker status...I should have stopped smoking well before the surgery, instead of only 2 1/2 weeks before.
Dr U really has No real aftercare program, other than telling you to take ADEKs and Calcium...but it would be extremely difficult to have a long distance aftercare program anyway in my opinion. I have easy access to my PCP and have had blood work, urine tests, and Xrays done here within 2 weeks of the surgery, so I feel quite comfortable with everything.
I would not hesitate to recommend Dr U...and I am grateful that he accepted me as his patient...I realize that at my age of 60, other doctors would have turned me down cold...

Dr. Udekwu.......First impression was "worth waiting for" . and do mean waiting. Apt. was at 10:45am saw him at 3:00pm. Office staff was very nice and they will probaly remember me as that girl that would not go away. But I was determined to see the Dr. and reschudling was not an option for me. I would have him work on his ability to be on time but hey he is the Dr. I guess its part of the job. The main thing I wanted to know from him was if he would do a revision and if so did he think I was up to one. He said yes to both with of course the speech on the higher risk factors involved. He did say something that I havn't been able to forget.... that WLS could give me 15 more years to live emphasising live not just take up space. I also left with a new since that my WLS in 1987 had failed me not me failing it. I also got the reminder that this a still a small town. One of the girls on the front desk I once lived across the street from and his nurse prac. is also a firemans wife and her hubbie works with mine. SMALL TOWN....... I am not going to use Dr. Udekwu afterall the insurance will only pay for RNY and after doing all this research on the DS I will not choose to go that way I want the DS. So I have been in contact with Dr. Ungson I am *****switching****** I am going to Mexico. and Self Pay

I was impressed with my e-mail correspondence with Dr. Aceves patient coordinator Nina. She was always prompt, informative, and courteous with her replys. I decided to proceed with Dr. Aceves, but have to admit that I was a little aprehensive because I was going to Mexico, and we have all heard the horror stories. The minute I meet Dr. Aceves and his wonderful staff, I was completely reassured I had made the right decision. He was so down to earth, approachable, informative, competent, ect. I only wish our doctors here in the states had such a great bed sidemanner. He completely made sure I understood every aspect of my surgery from the surgery itself through the aftercare. I have been so impressed that I would definetly use him again and would recommend him to anyone considering lap-band surgery.

My only negative would be that if you are hot-natured, you should request a fan before going there, or bring one with you.

My first impression was that this man knows what he is doing simply by looking at his website. There were not wheel and deal prices or cluttered advertisements, Dr. Aceves is first concerned about getting the information out to his patients and potential patients. He has been certified by INAMED which only 8 of 10 doctors in Mx have that, and he has had the same training as the doctors here in the US. What really impressed me was his time as a doctor in bariatrics, especially in the laproscoptic technique which is about 7 years.

His patient cooridinator Nina is awesome. She is very quick to answer any questions via email or telephone. We have a forum online and she is there giving advice, answering questions and giving LOTS of support both pre-ops and post-ops. I've heard that the rest of the staff is very professional and that the hospital is very clean and well kept.

Dr. Aceves is very caring and he has a strict regiment that he wants his patients to follow so they obtain the maximum weightloss SAFELY!!! He emphasizes that this is a tool, and that diet/exercise is very crucial to the weightloss management as well as how we "Think" about food. I believe you have to keep in regular contact for up to a year, via email/telephone. He offers 1 year free fills for his patients, though many live far away and few are able to make trips back to Mx. However, he does provide information for those that are unable to come to Mx for fills on which doctors in their local area accept his work. From I've heard many of the US doctors are very impressed by his work, once they understand the situation they have a better impression of the work done in Mexico. Dr. Aceves has a very structured pre-op diet for those that need their liver to shrink alittle so it is easier to operate as well as a structure post-op, they even give out information about the type of foods you can have.

Since, I have yet to have the surgery (Jan 27, 2006 is the date), I can say that what I have heard from many of his patients that he rates a 9 out of 10...I mean no one is perfect but he is darn close to it. I've heard how polite and courteous he is to the patient and their family and his bedside manner is ACES!

As well as addressing risks/complications: it's all on his webiste: www.mexicolapband.com

Again, this is based on my research of Dr. Aceves, I will post my own experience as soon as I come home from the surgery. Till then if you have any questions go to www.mexicolapband.com email and you can find out for yourself :)

Dr. Gilberto Ungson (Beltran) is a excellent doctor.

I emailed him many times prior to my decision to allow him to do my DS. He always responed within a matter days, usually hours. He has an excellent record with the DS. He actually does a variety of gastrointestinal surgeries, not only bariatrics so his experience is extensive. He was very thorough in his questions to me. I was very impressed with him prior to meeting him. His written English is not always grammatically correct but I had no problem understanding him.

When I met him, I was not disappointed. He is very kind and instilled on me a sense that not only did he know what he was doing but that he wanted me to know what he was doing. He explained everything and had a wonderful "bedside manner." His spoken English is excellent. He did an excellent job with my surgery. I had no complications and actually left the hospital in only 4 days post-op with no drains and only pain and anti-nausea medicine. He did come to my hotel room to check on me when we needed him. He is very professional but also very talkative and personal.

His staff of other doctor and nurses are excellent. Overall, they were the best, most caring group of medical professionals I have ever dealt with.

I would reccomend learning a few basic phrases in spanish and taking a spanish/english phrase book. Not all nurses speak fluent English. This in no way hampers their ability to care for you but being able to communicate better and more quickly is always good.

I would rate Dr. Ungson and his staff a 10 out of 10 and would reccomend him to anyone.

Hi everyone! I would just like to tell you about my wonderful experience while having my lapband surgery. A doctor in Mexico referred him to me. So I did some homework and could only find good results. So off I flew to San Diego on July 25,2005. A driver was there to meet me. Ernesto is his name, a nice man who was like a tour guide through the mountains. Two hours later we arrived at the Almater Hospital were I met Yolanda my coordinator and she saw to it that all my tests were done. After that I was swept off to the Hotel were I spent the rest of the night. A few hours later Yolanda came with a antibiotic and shortly I was off to sleep. The next morning Yolanda came to pick me up to go to the hospital were they started my IV and then I met Dr. Aceves. At this time he told me all the goods and bads about the surgery. Which made me feel real comfortable because it wasn't all sugar coated. Dr. A. speaks perfect English so I completely understood everything that was going to happen. Finally I was taken into surgery and Sergio my head nurse held my hand til I fell asleep.
About five hours later I awoke in my hospital room and never once did I have to ask for pain reliever the nurses were always there before I even needed it. Dr. Aceves and Sergio checked on me 3 to 4 times a day. I have never seen that in the states. Always willing to listen and answer questions that I had. The second day while resting in my bed I watched the cleaning lady and she washed he floor outside of my room 6 times that day. I have never seen the cleanliness that was in this hospital.
Finally Dr. did the bariatric swallow xray and let me watch how the liquid was going down, so I would know everything was working. After that off to the airport and home.
All in all I can not say one bad thing about my experience and can only tell you if you are thinking of having the surgery put your mind a ease if you pick Dr. Aceves.

I emailed Dr. Ungson many times and he was always quick to answer my questions. When I met him in person, he was funny and energetic. He spoke English very well and tried to make me feel as comfortable as possible. He addressed all of my needs immediately after surgery and I was visited by him and/or his internist several times a day. He and his staff were exceptional and the care was better than I have ever received in the United States. Not once did I have to ring for the nurses for pain medication or any supplies. I can't say enough good things about my experience with the doctor or the hospital. Because of distance, aftercare is limited to contacting him if I have any questions or concerns, as well as following up with my local PCP and keeping him posted of my progress. He stresses vitamin supplementation for life but what he recommends is minimal and can be adjusted based on future labwork. This puts the responsibility for my aftercare on me and I'll have to be my own advocate, which is fine since I'm more familiar with this surgery than my own PCP. I find it empowering. Overall, I found him to be a skilled surgeon with a wonderful personality.

Dr. Aceves came across as very professional in our first meeting. His staff was great and they did everything they could to keep me happy. I had some minor complications after surgery and he called me daily (2-3times) until I was better. I have never had a Dr. personally call me to check up on me but he did. I would reccommend him to anyone.

DR.ACEVES WAS A WONDERFUL, CARING SURGEON. HE IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND CAUTIOUS IN HIS TREATMENT. HE MADE ME FEEL COMPLETELY AT EASE AND HAS AN OUTSTANDING BEDSIDE MANNER. HIS ENTIRE TEAM IS FIRST RATE AND IS THERE FOR YOU 24/7. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF CARE ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE CONSIDERING WLS SURGERY!!

Dr. Aceves was a very kind and caring man. His staff was extremely concerned and cared for your every need. From the time they picked me up at the airport, I was in very good hands. The Altmer Hospital where Dr. Aceves practices is like going to a spa. It is beautiful. They have all state of the art equipment, the rooms are beautifully tiled and well maintained, doesn't even smell like a hospital would. I can not express enough, if you are self pay and are thinking of having WLS, you will not regret and will be thankful that you choose Dr. Aceves in Mexicali over any other doctor in Mexico. I would rate my experience a 10, out of a 1 - 10.