Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

I just had my lap-band done by Dr. Alvarez in Mexico and I CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW EASY IT HAS BEEN !!! I am 23 years old, never had any type of procedure done, never been under anesthesia for ANYTHING and i was ScArEd! My Dad and I had the Lap-Band the same day. We arrived in San Antonio to be picked up by Rosy (who is a sweetheart and assured me that everyone she took down there, ALWAYS came back, lol) and taken to Eagle's Pass, TX to stay the night. We were put up in The Holiday Inn Express and it was A+. Tuesday morning Rosy came to pick us up and take us across the border to have surgery where we met Dr. Alvarez. My first and last impression of him was GREAT! He is very friendly and knows what he's doing. He answered all my questions and quelled my fears (to the best of his or ANYONE elses ability). His office is Super nice and clean. Arianna, his day nurse, was a great help with translating and the overall care. She is a sweetheart. They took us across to the hospital and showed us to our room and let us put our luggage away. The lab girl came in to take our blood and she got me on the FIRST try and i didn't feel a thing, she was awesome. Same with the IV... first stick and no pain. Then came happy juice, then came... nothing, lol I don't even remember leaving my room. I was up walking as soon as i fully woke up after surgery (about 2-3 hours). I was ready to go... I can honestly say i have felt ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN from the time i woke up to now, 4 days later. Sure, my stomach was a little sore like i had been doing sit ups or something, but i've taken no pain medicine, not even tylenol. Today, 4 days later, i was hanging Christmas decorations on top of our door arches in our house... I FEEL GREAT!!!!! I am still not eating and i cannot WAIT for some mashed potatoes, lol I have lost 31 lbs and am soooo happy :) I know this has just started for me, I am 4 days into the rest of my life, but so far... it's been a breeze. I would recommend Dr. Alvarez to ANYONE for your Lap-Band Surgery. My experience has been FIRST CLASS!!!!! Susan is also great, i can't leave her out :) She is always a phone call or an email away (as is Dr. Alvarez). That means the world. If you have any questions or would like to follow how i'm doing, please feel free to contact me on my email ([email protected]) and i will be happy to try to answer any questions you have... GOOD LUCK !!!

Thank you, Dr. Alvarez, my experience was beyond expectations!rnrnDr. Alvarez is a world-class surgeon. I also appreciated how he cared about me as a patient. This was demonstrated by rnrn* Smiles, a touch of the hand, frequent hospital visitsrn* Answering questions throughly and patientlyrn* Ensuring easy contact any time after I returned home; rnrnProviding a feeling of comfort in the hospital through rn* Christina, his private nursern* the international phonern* computer and internet access in each roomrn* remodeled and pleasant rooms. rnrnEnsuring comfort and security in travel rn* wonderful Rosy, who provides personal, comforting, and private transportation over the distance from San Antoniorn* great hotels with comfortable amenities, including refrigerators in each room. and free shuttle to/from the airport and to proximate shops and malls. rnrnComprehensive Patient Education to promote safe self-care rn* the WLS guide and accompaning attachmentsrn* Susan, our Bariatric Coordinator, who is always there to answer quenstionsrn* the Medical Alert ID bracelet. rnrnI cannot think of any detail he has forgotton, or any suggestion for improvement! rnrnThank you, Dr. Alvarez and staff, for starting me on the path to much improved health!rn

I am now at my 2 month surgiversary. I have lost a total of 61 lbs, this is the best thing, I have done for my health. I topped out at 309, this spring, and made a decision to stop, and get healthier, or soon I would be a full blown diabetic. My mom is diabetic and on Insulin, and I do not want to be, I was on the road. I researched and watched Dr. Alvarez's video of the Vertical Sleeve, working in healthcare, I admired his skill, and chose him, to do my VSG. This is THE BEST thing I have ever done, I am wearing smaller clothes, and my sleeve is small, I am not hungry!!! The grehlin went out with my extra stomach, I am having my protein shake every morning. rnChristina and Susan were very helpful. Thank You Team, Dr. Alvarez, Staff for making my dreams possible.rnCarol Gonzalez, Naples, FLrnEmergency Room Auditor

I had my gastric sleeve surgery on sept 3. Dr Alvarez was my surgeon. At first i was very worried about going to Mexico for the surgery. I was more worried about the post op care. what if i have questions? What if i need help? etc etc. rnSusan, the patient coordinator was very helpful. But still i had my doubts, how she is gonna help me once i have had my surgery and frankly speaking,once no one is getting any more money. But my fears proved to be wrong, infect very wrong.rnOnce i met Dr: Alvarez, i knew it, i was in safe hands. His staff was very friendly and helpful. The hospital does have old 70's look. Just ignore that and pay attention to the quality of service and the procedure. rnOnce i came back, susan has been there for me. I have called her so many times, she always answers my questions. If its an urgent matter and i sent her an e-mail in off hours. She responded promptly. Really i feel as if she has only one patient, which is me. I am sure she has a long list of patients calling her but she gives you her time and full attention. My doubts about the after care went down the drain. She helped me so much. I have had three prior surgeries in US. This is the best after care i have ever received. I highly recommend Dr: Alvarez and his staff. These are very fine people who are there every step of your weight loss. I am very happy that i had this surgery at endobariatric and can't thank Dr: Alvarez and his staff enough.

Susan has been so helpful and wonderful in coordinating everything. She makes me feel so comfortable and is always eager to answer any questions. Susan totally ROCKS!! I look forward to meeting Dr. A and his staff.

I had a wonderful trip to Mexico, Dr Alvarez and his staff was WONDERFUL! I had little to no pain and my recovery time has been great. I am now 4 weeks out and eating solid food well. Getting ready for a fill!! If anyone has any questions about this dr or his staff plase feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]

October 5, 2008rnOK, here goes.rnrnI was 60 years old and 290 pounds. I had to ask myself, “How many 70 year old men do I see on this earth who weigh 290 pounds?” My guess was that there were very few. My grandchildren are two years old and seven months old and I really want to see them grow up. For me, dieting had been hit and miss, mostly miss. Blood pressure medications side effects made it difficult to exercise. I needed something that was permanent and irreversible. My wife, Janis, did the research and found the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.rnrnDr. Alvarez’ credentials were outstanding and the package offered in Mexico was very complete and attractive. We had no concerns at all about having this surgery done in Mexico. Our experience coming to San Antonio and then across the border to the hospital for the surgery and recovery were pleasant and right on schedule as advertised. We found Dr. Alvarez, his staff, and the hospital staff very helpful and knowledgeable about all of the things we would encounter pre and post operation. We highly recommend Dr. Alvarez, this location, and this procedure for anyone for whom the Gastric Sleeve is an option.rnrnOur experience in Mexico was simply excellent. I had virtually no pain or nausea that was not handled by the medication given me. My wife was able to stay in my room with me for the two days recovering in the hospital. Since the surgery at the end of June everything has gone exactly as we were told to expect.rnrnI am still 60 years old and my surgery was just over three months ago at this writing. I have lost 54 pounds so far. My rate of loss has slowed but is a steady 2 to 2.5 pounds per week even now. I have stopped snoring. My energy level is amazingly higher than during the heavy years. My blood pressure is better controlled now but I have not yet had my blood pressure medications re-evaluated. I have not stepped up to an exercise program yet, other than walking to work, but will when the blood pressure meds re-evaluation is done. I did not have any diabetes or cholesterol issues before the surgery.rnrnI am almost never hungry these days. I am free to eat what I want and when I want but it has become very easy to stick to a reasonable eating plan. I have had to learn a few eating skills. For me eating anything fast creates an immediate boomerang effect in that whatever I ate quickly will want to escape. I have a pretty good idea now as to the volume of foods I can handle because of my smaller stomach. The key to success is being very deliberate at meals to not be the first one finished. As I pace myself with reasonable sized bites and lots of chewing I can finish my four ounces at about the same time as others finish their normal sized meals. In my mind I am content with the possibility that these new eating restrictions will apply for the rest of my now extended life.rnrnI have no idea where the weight will level off but I have a goal set for myself which I do not see coming until maybe nine to 12 months after surgery. But I am so very happy about the results in the last three months. We have retired a lot of baggy clothes from the pre-surgery days. We have resurrected a lot of clothes I wore 10 years and more ago. I have told my family no new clothes until Christmas. I am looking forward to a new wardrobe. rnrnThe decision to go ahead with the Sleeve is one of the best decisions we have ever had to make. I have known that the secret to long-term weight loss was “change of lifestyle”. The Sleeve has force me willingly into changing my lifestyle and I am now pretty certain will see my grandchildren grow up.rnrnDan W.rnSan Diegorn

I haven't met Dr. A yet, but thats ok because susuan his coordinator has been by my side for such a long time. I cant wait to have my surgery on Thanksgiving 2008

Dr. Alvarez is a warm man with excellent bed side manner...He's an excellent surgeon and I could't be happier that I chose him!

El doctor Alvarez ha sido uno de los doctores mas amables que he tenido en mi vida. Muy profesionalmente, me explico todo el procedimiento de la operacion, nunca tuve duda de su capacidad como cirugano y despues de casi 8 meses de mi operacion puedo decir que pondria mi vida en sus manos en cualquier momento con la misma confianza con que lo hice la primera vez. Todo el personal del hospital me atendio muy bien, siempre respondieron a mi llamado con una sonrisa y dispuestas a ayudarme. Para mi El Dr alvarez es el mejor cuando a la operacion vsg se refiere.