Armando Joya Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

I have spoken with Gerald twice today. He thoroughly explained the process, pricing, and procedure. Gave me an extensive overview on what to expect and was so helpful in the research process that I have decided to change surgeons! I have read many profiles of others who have dealt with Dr. Joya and his office - it seems as everyone has had success! I look forward to meeting Dr. Joya and his office staff!

Dr. Joya was wonderful, as was all of his staff. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to have the lapband surgery.

Dr. Joya is the best surgeon on this planet. He was very caring and patient and kind. His staff was very professional, fun, caring, and friendly. There was nothing that I did not like about Dr. Joya or his staff. Dr. Joya takes great care of you and your family while you are in Mexico.

I was very impressed with Dr. Joya and his staff. The entire staff was very efficient, friendly, fluent in English, and compassionate. I cannot think of one thing wrong with the care that I received while in Dr. Joya's care. The entire experience was great. I would highly recommend Dr. Joya and his staff for the lap band surgery. I give him, his staff, and the hospital an
A+++++++++++ - the best!
O.K. I just read below that everything cannot be the best. So I'll tell you the only bad thing about the whole experience was that my husband is 6'2" and he had to sleep on a sofa, the one night in the hospital, that was only about 5 feet long and he said it was hard as a rock. So, yes, I guess everything wasn't perfect, but, darn close to it.

My first impression of Dr. Joya was from his website, and that it seemed very professional, and he had studied many places, including the US (California, I believe). My intuition, or gut instinct told me that he was a good choice. My first impression when I met him was immediate comfort. He has a great smile, nice handshake, and is extremely easy to talk to. His staff is very friendly and accomodating. They are very gentle and willing to go out of their way to do anything for you. Anything from getting your favorite juice to a run in to WalMart. They are really great people! The thing I liked least about Dr. Joya would have to be that he went on vacation to Canada while I was there! ;-) Honestly, I ended up staying longer than planned, so it wasn't on purpose! He came directly from the airport when he got back to see me, he didn't even stop at home to drop off his things. That really tells you what kind of a great doctor he is. I have really been thinking and thinking about what I liked least.. maybe the language barrier. Dr. Joya and his staff all speak english very fluently, but some of the nurses at the hospital don't speak as well, and of course you will run into that elsewhere. The best investment before going is an english/spanish dictionary! You will use it constantly! I got one and it was a great help. What his future patients really should know is that Dr. Joya is the best doctor that I have ever met! He came to see me at the hotel many times, and if he did not, his assistant came. Dr. Joya is the most caring, compassionate, thoughtful doctor that I have ever met. He makes you feel like you are his only patient, and you can tell he REALLY cares. He treats you so incredibly well that it is unbelievable. I would recommend him to everyone, you simply can't find a better doctor anywhere! He is nothing like a lot of the doctors here in the U.S., who seem cold and business-like, with no bedside manner at all. He is more like a family member who really cares about you. Surgically, he does a great job, and really knows what he is doing. He is very experienced. To me, he is the ideal of what a doctor should be like. I can't even say enough good things about him. He really is the best. Anyone can feel completely comfortable and reassured knowing that they are in his hands. As far as aftercare, he really recommends finding a support group in your area, and following up with your usual doctor. He emails you a book about the do's and dont's for after surgery. If you have any questions, you can always email him and his staff will get any questions answered very quickly. Of course he lets you know about the risks, which all surgeons do, overall, I would give him a 12 out of 10. He is outstanding!

Dr. Joya was extremely professional, I was very worried about traveling to Mexico for my surgery. I was 500+lbs., and was ready to do whatever it took. Today, I have lost 200 pounds and thanks to the staff at the Hospital San Javier and Dr. Joya I am alive today. There really is no better way to do this surgery than in the sunny beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, and Dr. Joya has basically given me a new life!

I cannot say enough nice things about Dr Joya and his staff. They are the best! I made the trip to Puerto Vallarta from Florida being my insurance would not pay for the surgery and I just could not afford it in the states. But let me tell you I know that here in the states I wouldn't of got close to the quality of care and compassion that I received in Mexico from Dr Joya. The hospital was spotless and the staff was just great! And Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place to recover!

Please if you have exhausted all your options and just can't have it done here then do not hesitate to contact Dr Joya they will answer all your questions and will do it with a smile!

And let me tell you Lap Band is wonderful I had my surgery a little over a year now and I am down 80lbs and only have had 1 fill. I am so close to my goal 20 more pounds!! YES!!!

Following is my testimony right after surgery and I still feel the same way.

Hi Everyone, I had my surgery less than a week ago. If surgery can ever be a positive experience, this was the top. Between being met at the airport and being guided through all the hospital checking in processes by Natalie, an EKG and respiratory tests and bloodwork by Dr. Aldo, meeting Dr. Joya and Cecee (Dr. Joya's nurse) and before I knew it being wheeled into surgery. I remember the anesthesiologist talking to me and then saying sweet dreams. The next thing I knew I was waking up and my husband and Dr. Joya was there. I know I asked for more pain medication and the nurses were right there to help me. The next day, I was checked out and brought to the Krystal where we had a lovely room and slept quite well. Natalie picked us up right on time for the airport and we came home. I have had virtually no discomfort since I've been home other than a little gas that makes the band feel tight but I live at a very high altitude and Gerald said that's what the cause probably was. There is no down side to that as if the band feels tight, then I won't need as many fills. We shall see. At any rate, I would recommend this to anyone with the kind of weight problem I had. The doctor and his staff are like angels at the end of a dark tunnel. Thank you so much for being there for me and to Susan Vincent, the patient who posted just before me, thank you for sharing your experience at the airport when you were going home from your surgery. It was your encouragement that allowed for me to have this experience and perhaps a new life. Thanks you Susan. Bobbi Harner
Bobbi Harner <[email protected]>
Pine Mountain Club, CA -

I truly feel, their aftercare program is great. It is free for fills and the fluoro is only $80 per visit, lifetime.

Dr. Joya is a very concerned doc and wants to be sure that you are healthy and happy. His staff is incredible and I still deal with them frequently for fills and aftercare checkups and always have had a positive experience.

I had lapband surgery on 7/8/04. I have since lost 60 lbs. It was the best thing I ever did. Dr. Joya and his staff were as professional a group as I have ever seen. My impression of them was, and has remained, very positive.

I had had surgery on my knee in New York City in February of 2004. San Xavier hospital was cleaner, newer, and provided faster attention to my every need than the hospital in New York. I had very small and neat incisions from my surgery, which I saw as a sign of surgical comptetence. They started healing the next day. I was up and around the next day as well. There were no complications of any kind.

The people who provide my aftercare up here in New York are impressed by my progress. They also couldn't believe the price I paid!

I found Dr. Joya by extensive researching on the web. I had been working with a bariatric surgeon (Dr. Albert Wetter) in the S.F. Bay Area, and had intended to proceed with him for a lap band procedure. However when my insurer denied my request (twice!), I had to look at paying about $26,000 out of pocket for the surgery, vs. about $9,000 for the same procedure in Puerto Vallarta by Dr. Joya.

My experience with Dr. Joya and the hospital and staff was terrific. The surgery went smoothly, the hospital was as good as - if not better than - hospitals around here, I spent one night in the hospital and the next day (and night) in a nearby luxury resort, and flew home the day after that. No complications.

I've since had one fill, and have lost about 65 lbs. in about a year. Could have lost more had I been able to exercise more, but I also wound up with progressive arthritis and had to have a knee replaced, and was a couch potato for about 5 months. Have since recovered and am exercising and losing more weight.

I love the fact that I can eat anything, just not much of it. Oh, and I had the surgery done when I was 64.