Obesity Control Center Bariatric Center
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I havnt met Dr. Ortiz yet, I wont meet him until I arrive on Feb. 14th for my pre-op.
The office staff is amazing, I had contacted many offices in Mexico and none of them were as professionsl and helpful and compassionate as them. She took the time to talk to be for about an hour and answered every question I had until I was completely saticfied.
I received a very thourough package in the mail that required the same types of information and precare that is exspected here in America. I was told that if it looks like my WLS isnt safe to do for any reason, Dr. Ortez will not do it.
So far, I only have phone conversations and paperwork to judge by.. and compared to the other resources I had been checking out in mexico...and factoring in a very bad obesity program here in my home town and A most excellent one in Portland with Emma Patterson... I would rate Dr. Ortez (so far) and 8.
When I called to find out about Dr. Ortiz the receptionist connected me with him. I was very suprised. This never happens in the U.S. The doctor answered all my questions and didn't act like he was in a hurry or had other things to do. Dr. Ortiz has a number to contact his office any time of day or night. I haven't had to use it, but I know he would be there if I needed too.
I chose to go to Mexico alone for the surgery, since I got myself into this mess I needed to be responsible for getting out of it. I was leary of going to Tijuana for the surgery having heard all kinds of horror stories. I never once felt that I was not in a safe place and everyone was kind and helpful. It was also fun dealing with the language thing.
Another reason I chose to go to Mexico was the cost. In my area the cost in Mexico was half what it was here. Since my teacher's insurance Premeria Blue Cross, has a special provision that they will not cover this surgery I had to pay for it myself. It wasn't a choice of getting it or not I knew that I didn't have the energy or stamina to teach another year without it. I felt I didn't have a choice.
In many ways I feel I got better service with Dr. Ortiz than any doctor in the states. His office staff even called after I'd been home for four weeks to find out how things were going. That has never happened here, maybe I just don't pick the right doctors,hummmm..
One of the things that I wasn't prepared for was not being able to find someone in the states who I can get fills from. When asked who did my surgery and they find out it was in Mexico I'm suddenly someone whom they don't seem to want near their office. It dosen't matter that Dr. Ortiz has been doing these bands for so long or that he may have taught the very surgons in the states who are now doing the surgery.
America has good doctors but there are good doctors in other places as well.
This was one of the most grand adventures of my life. I'm so happy that I finely did what I wish I could have done at 13. This changes your life.
He and his staff were great. Over this time they are still in my opinion very nice and very helpful.
The only negative thing that I can think of is it was too expensive to go to Mexico all the time for fill ups. Unfortunetly I only went once and have only been filled once since my operation. It has taken this long to finally find a doctor around here that will do the fill, but since he has wanted so much information before the fill I haven't gotten it does yet, even as I write this note on January 16, 2005. Therefore if you can imagine,I have gained back some of the weight I lost. I'm looking forward to getting the next fill.
No insurance I know would have paid for this.
Dr. Ortiz , and his team, are amazingly competent, professional, caring and experienced. He works with two other surgeons, Dr. Lopez and Dr. Martinez, the most fabulous anesthesiologist - Roberto - and a surgical assistant - Randy. All of them are extraordinary - both in professional skills and personal empathy.
My first impression of him was that he was too young to be experienced. However, his looks are deceiving, because he is exceedingly knowledgeable and experienced. He, and those on his team that I had encounters with, were attentive, caring and empathetic to all of my concerns and needs. The aftercare, at the hospital, was unusual by American standards because all of the doctors are continually around checking in on you.
His team, which includes his mother, who is the sweetest, kindest, loveliest patient coordinator -- his sister, who is a cute, charming and funny nutritionist -- a beautiful-bright psychologist, whose name I forget - and an extremely astute cardiologist - were all professional and got the job done beautifully!!!!! The cardiologist was, in my opinion, probably more aware and competent than many here at home.
The only thing I would change, if I could, would be to speak better spanish or request nurses who spoke better English. Other than that - it was a great experience.
Dr. Ortiz is available by email - with almost immediate replies to questions. He can be contacted via his website at www.obesitycontrolcenter.com.
He, and his team, are competent, professional, caring and great!!
My first impression was that he was too young to be a practiced surgeon, but, I was wrong. He has had several years experience and has been the teaching surgeon for Inamed for American doctors wishing to learn the procedure.
Dr. Ortiz did my surgery 7/19/02. He is a very talented surgeon. Caring, concerned
and amazingly gifted. There is no other surgeon I would have chosen. It changed my life, no doubt about it. I went in one day
went thru all the pre-pr tests had surgery the next morning and went back to the hotel that afternoon. 64 yrs old with type II diabetes, Hypertension, arthritis - I wanted
to give myself the best chance to make it thru and Dr. Ortiz was the man. I would rate him TOP Notch in evereything.
Dr. Ariel Ortiz is absolutely wonderful, as is his team and staff.
From the time I arrived at the airport in San Diego, I was well taken care of, from being picked up by Junior to Dr. Ortiz's own mother, a wonderful woman! My surgery went very well and thus far I have lost 36lbs. My weight DOBanding was 210. Today, 170. My goal is 145. Should see that by February 05.
Both Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez were friendly, took lots of time to talk and explain everything to me! They are fun too!!!
Because I was self-pay and had an aquaintance who had this surgery done, I went to Mexico. I had never heard of the "Lap-Band" until July 04.
The follow-up was outstanding!!!
I am now looking for a surgeon here in Central CA to do my fills.
My first impression of Dr. Ortiz was that I thought he was very easy going in a professional way. I spoke extremely good english as I was expecting a Spanish accent since I was in Tijuana. His staff was very kind and took time to answer any questions that I had. I had the need to call Dr. Ortiz's assistant Dr. (Dr. Martinez) after my surgery. He had a local San Diego number and all of their patients are incouraged to call anytime. I had the need to call twice on both occasions Dr. Martinez answered his cell phone. We are encouraged on obesityhelp to not rate 100%, in my case I didnt feel that Dr. Ortiz deserves anything less. For my experience everthing went just ass I was told over the phone. I had an excellant experience.
