Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

My arrival into San Antonio on Thursday April 12 was seamless. I was met by Dr. Alvarez’s pleasant driver within minutes of arriving at the hotel. My husband and I were loaded into a new, large comfortable van and we headed south towards Eagle Pass. We drove through downtown San Antonio which was nice to see, all while the driver, Rosy, showed us the sights. We then exited onto a country road. We were treated to the sights of beautiful Texas ranches, cattle, pecan trees, etc. Rosy was great in pointing out all of these things to us. She is very informed and it was really great to see this part of the U.S. Sometimes we take for granted where our food comes from and how much work goes into getting it to our local supermarkets. ? We finally arrived in Eagle Pass. We were checked into the Holiday Inn. It was clean, comfortable with all down bedding, etc. Rosy informed us that she would be picking us up at 7:30am to take me to the hospital. We rested for a little bit and then called a taxi to take us for my “final” meal for the next four weeks. We chose the Mexican restaurant that Dr. Alvarez recommended. I can still remember how delicious it was. The best beef I have ever eaten. The taxi driver was kind and friendly. He came back for us after dinner, took us to a store to buy drinks, etc. and brought us back to the hotel. We felt 100% safe at all times. Rosy arrived promptly in the morning to pick us up and take us to Piedras Negras. I was nervous. Yes, about the surgery, but mostly about crossing the border. There is so much negative stuff on the news. I was shocked as to how nice, smooth and quick it was. I also got a lot of comfort out of the fact that there is a military base as soon as you enter Piedras. How much safer can it get? The drive was short and before we knew it, we were at Dr. Alvarez’s office. Not only is he a skilled surgeon (I did my research before I chose him), but he is a kind, gentle and positive man. He lives and breathes these surgeries. You and your outcome are clearly his most important priority. Let me just add that Dr. Alvarez and his entire team, not only speak English fluently, you would think they were your neighbors in the Midwest. Not even an accent! So, if you are worried about any language barriers, don’t. That is a non-issue. The hospital was quiet and very clean. It was different from the hustle and bustle of an American hospital and I grew to appreciate that. Our suite was large, clean and comfortable. We had a computer, Wi-Fi, and a private bathroom. We also had access to a phone that you could use to call the US whenever you wanted. We were very comfortable. A nurse came in, placed my I.V. and I was taken to surgery. Before I knew it, I was back in my room and resting very comfortably. I slept for most of the day and by the morning I was off the I.V., taking in ice chips and walking, walking, walking. I was also visited by Dr. Alvarez at least 12 times. I couldn’t get rid of the guy. ;) I was discharged Sunday morning and Rosy was there waiting. The drive back to San Antonio was a little quieter for obvious reasons. Once we arrived back there, we checked into the hotel near the airport (La Quinta) and my husband walked the 2 minute walk to Wal-Mart and bought me some drinks and popsicles. We had a good night’s rest and then headed home in the morning. I was in constant touch with Dr. Alvarez or his coordinator for the first several days and those needs seemed to taper off as the healing process continued. Although, it has been 4.5 weeks since my surgery and anytime I reach out to Dr. Alvarez I am promptly and kindly responded too. Having this surgery was the smartest decision that I have ever made. I went to see my family doctor at 4 weeks post op. I was down 24 pounds, my blood pressure was 110/78, my cholesterol was 150 and for the first time in 8 years, my liver functions were completely normal. My fatty liver was healing itself! I can’t be more pleased with my choice of Dr. Alvarez. I honestly don’t think I would have had the same results with anyone else. I could be wrong, but that is how I honestly feel. All of his positivity saturates your body and you become so positive yourself. It’s just an amazing dynamic! If you are considering this surgery, don’t wait. I wish I had done it years ago!!!!!

Dr.Alvarez is so informative,skilled, and kindhearted.He has picked a staff that is second to none. Traveling to Mexico was not even an issue.Really, not at all we felt completely safe. We were so impressed with the whole experience we told them to please send people to us so we can tell them how wonderful everything was that we experienced. So people would not be afraid to come to Mexico.We would refer anyone who is thinking about weight loss surgery to Dr. Alvarez. He and his staff are A+++. My surgery was May 4th 2012 and I am so happy I had it done in Mexico with Dr. Alvarez. Thank you Dr. A for your kind bed side manner it really makes the difference. Thanks so much- Michelle

I HAD MY SURGERY DONE ON APRIL 10TH WITH DR. ALVAREZ, AND COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER SURGEON OR STAFF HE AND HIS TEAM ARE SIMPLY AMAZING.
I WEIGHED IN AT 268 PRIOR TO THE 10 DAY LIQUID DIET AND WAS 261 THE DAY OF SURGERY I AM NOW DOWN TO 245 AND FEELING FABULOUS. I HAVE TO SAY I OWE DR. A MY LIFE BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM I COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR. I AM PLEASED WITH MY DECISION OF GOING TO MEXICO IT IS THE BEST THING I COULD HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF AND THIS FAR IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY.
DR. A IS NOT ONLY MY SURGEON BUT MY FRIEND AS WELL AND YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT ALOT OF DOCTORS HERE IN THE STATES.


THANKS SO MUCH DR. A LOVE YA !

I am writing a review from two visits to Dr. Guillermo Alvarez. One as a caregiver to a dear friend who made the choice to get a Vertical Sleeve Gasterectomy (VSG) a few years ago, and then as a patient myself to have the VSG this past September, 2011. The first visit, I was on heavy alert because it is over the border, and I like all of the world have heard the stories about border towns and had concerns for the safety of my friend. I was pleasantly surprised the first time. Piedras Negras is a quiet town right off of Eagle Pass, Texas. Both trips were very uneventful which is great! His offices are right off the hospital. His rooms have been designed for his patients and staff. The nurses of the hospital speak Spanish, but he has an English speaking nurse on duty while you are there and if you have any questions. There are some times when the English speaking Nurse is not there but I believe is accessible if needed. There was a place for the caregiver to sleep, a Futon Type bed, not the most comfortable thing, but really, it wasn't about me as the caregiver, as long as my friend was taken care of. If you are planning to have a visitor with you, and they have back problems or want accomodations, I'm sure Dr. Alvarez can give you some local hotels. The impression I got from Dr. Alvarez was his great attention to detail. I can tell he has worked very hard to accomodate his patients in a way to ease their fear and make them as comfortable as possible. There is something about his demeaner that is unforgettable. He knows what he is doing. He answered the thousand questions I had with facts, knowledge and experience. Why he believes in this surgery, what the risks are (very low I thought) and I felt comfort in his competency and genuine love and concern for each and every one of his patients. I felt that both visits. I live in Florida, and my insurance would have covered my surgery if I did it here, but when I went to a seminar in Florida with a surgeon there, I did not feel as comfortable. I thought because it was close and in the U.S. it would be a better choice, but he did not have the experience or knowledge of Dr. Alvarez. He had only officially performed 5 VSG's because it was a "new procedure" and the Florida Surgeon presented the options he did, Gastric Bypass, Duadenal Switch, Lap Band and Gastric Sleeve. When I asked him which one he would suggest for his patients over the other, he was very non partial. The Florida doctor said he just wants to present all the options and work with me on my decision. I did not like this because I had known people who had complications with Gastric Bypass and I had no desire for that surgery. I knew the risks were greater and that someone has to fight malnutrition for the rest of their lives with the Gastric Bypass. There are serious differences that patients should know when looking at surgery options. I was not happy with the Florida Doctor not giving me these differences. How can someone be impartial and not tell their patients the important differences, like the pyloric valve remaining with VSG. No re routing of my internal "pipes". Those are some biggie differences. I've had years to research these surgeries and other options and I wanted my surgeon to be confident and guide me in what was best. Dr. Alvarez, even though he has performed these surgeries in the past, he felt strongly about the VSG over Bypass or other surgeries, and since Lap Band wasn't for me (no desire for the follow up Dr. visits and needle in the belly fills) I wanted a surgeon who had the experience (Dr. Alvarez' thousands of surgeries vs. Florida Doc's 5) Who believed in what he was doing (not be wishy washy about which option he felt is best. I felt Dr. Alvarez did his homework and believed in something safer and less evasive. Plus I think the last I checked, he is over 3,000 surgeries performed. Needless to say, I chose to go back to Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras when I was ready for surgery myself. 7 months ago I had the VSG, I have lost 73 pounds to date and still losing. His book is invaluable! He is welcoming, kind and makes you feel at home! You only spend 2 or 3 days over the Border, and I felt very safe. The room I was in was a little different than my first caregiver experience there, but same decor. He had 2 other surgeons and his offices I believe had expanded since the last time I was there. My husband came with me and I told him of the restaurants that were near, we skyped from our I-phones as he drank Cerveza at the restaurant accross the street, and I was in my hospital bed. After the surgery, they get you walking pretty quickly to reduce the risk of blood clots. They also do a swallow test before you leave the hospital. Some surgeons don't do sewing over the staple line, and some surgeons don't do the swallow test to check for leaks, and I don't understand why. I felt that Dr. Alvarez was taking every precaution and I was glad. I know he wouldn't have let me leave that hospital if there was a problem. The office was excellent on informing me of everything before surgery, follow up at the hospital and post op. Even after leaving the hospital they called me at the hotel in Texas and checked on me to make sure all is well. Not only did he take good care of me, I was there with another friend from Florida. She was there with me to get the surgery, she was in the other room with her visitor and I was in another with my husband as my visitor. She did not get the sugery at that time, because Dr. Alvarez found a growth in her stomach. She was disappointed not to be able to get the surgery but credits him for saving her life. She came back to the states where other doctors had examined her and missed what Dr. Alvarez found. She is healthy today after having the growth removed and credits Dr. Alvarez with saving her life. Another surgeon may have continued to do the surgery, risk rupturing the growth, but he took the safe route and what was best for the patient. I have a tremendous amount of respect professionally and personally having these experiences and would suggest Dr. Alvarez to do your VSG surgery. I trusted my life to him. Thank you so much, and I hope this helps someone in their journey!

Dr Alvarez performed my VSG on March 2, 2012. In these last 8 weeks, I have lost 40 pounds, my blood pressure has dropped from 189/120 to 120/80 (consistently), my Type II diabetes has completely reversed and I no longer require any medications. This procedure has been nothing short of miraculous! I have had no ill effects, my energy level is high and I am excited to get up in the morning. The areas that have been a struggle for me revolve around my own behavior modification and perception. Portion size and eating slowly are still a huge challenge for me. The procedure itself is a tool. What goes on inside my head requires a little more work!

There are risks involved with any surgery and it truly is a very personal choice. It is important to do your research and feel very comfortable with your decision. I did about 4 years worth of research before reaching my decisions - firstly, the type of surgery that was best for me and then who would perform the procedure. Initially, I had hoped to have the operation done in Canada as I thought it would be safer. But once I looked into it further, I realized how far behind the Canadian surgeons were. They are skilled surgeons, but they just did not have the opportunity to practice their craft with this new procedure due to limited funding under Medicare. I had been sitting on a never ending waitlist to have the procedure done in British Columbia. I decided that I had to take matters into my own hands.

I will be honest, I questioned my sanity. The night before my surgery, I remember thinking that I had lost my mind! Here I was going to Mexico to have some random doctor perform major abdominal surgery on me. But I knew once I met with this Dr. ... if it didn't feel right, I would just walk away. There were a number of reasons why I chose Dr. Alvarez such as his accreditation, his track record and the fact that the procedure is done in an actual hospital. He may be a little more expensive than other surgeons in Mexico but I was more than willing to pay that ....and I am so glad I did!

My fears soon evaporated. Dr Alvarez is competent, professional and open. I was immediately at ease. His staff were all highly professional and extremely competent. The hospital was spotless....FAR cleaner than the hospitals in Canada. I felt safe and each and every person involved in my care was exceptional. The surgery itself, took 35 minutes. I was up and walking within a couple of hours. I was able to call my family immediately with the free VOIP phone. It was great to have that immediate communication with my friends and family as I knew they were worried. The friend that accompanied me was also very well taken care of. The staff were very helpful and she had a great time.

One of the major complaints that I read about with this type of surgery is with the gas cramps after surgery. And this is is an example of Dr Alvarez's attention to detail. The gas is injected during the operation and most other doctors leave it for the patient to pass. But Dr. Alvarez uses a special machine that extracts the CO2 before we leave the operating room. No pain!! Not even a little! He is continuously tweaking and taking the steps to make the surgery better for his patients.

As I mentioned, choosing this or any surgery is a very personal choice. For me...this was definitely the best choice. Dr. Alvarez is an exceptional doctor and surgeon. I have no reservations in recommending him to my friends. The entire experience has been amazing! From the moment I contacted Susan to the follow up emails from Dr. Alvarez asking how I am or if I have questions ...nothing could have been better. I am much healthier than I was 2 months ago. I will continue to become healthier and stronger every day. I am so happy to be enjoying a new healthy life. Thank you all so much for helping me change my life!

After researching Bariatric Doctors, some local and some great distances, I decided on Dr. Guillermo Alvarez. His credentials were impressive; as well as, all of the positive testimonials of his former patients. Many of these former patients were in the medical field several were nurses and doctors. If other doctors trusted him to do their surgery, then this really eased my mind. Dr. Alvarez and his staff were absolutely wonderful. I've never had such a good hospital experience as I did in
Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mexico. My husband went with me and Dr. Alvarez's staff helped him navigate. They accompanied him to a near restaurant and helped him order due to the language barrier. Dr. Alvarez is such a sweetheart unlike many of the pretentious U.S. doctors I've met. He treats you like a dear friend even after you have returned home. He is always an email or phone call away. I've never had a U.S. doctor ever give me his personal email address or phone number that I could reach him at any time day or night. As for the surgery, I'm 4 weeks out and I had the Gastric Sleeve procedure done and I've lost 23 pounds which is great, but another great benefit of the surgery is that I'm no longer hot and sweaty all of the time. The morning of surgery I was hot and sweating and Dr. Alvarez said he had good news for me; I wouldn't be hot and sweating after the surgery and he was so right. This has changed my life immensely: I'm no longer self conscience about sweating in front of my clients and I feel so much more presentable. I always look forward to my weekly updates from Dr. Alvarez. I have not had any complications and I contribute that to Dr. Alvarez. Thank you for everything Dr. Alvarez and your wonderful staff.

First of all I would like to start by saying this was a life changing experience, my trip to Dr. Alvarez it was safe, I know a lot of people are scare or concerned about going or having surgery in Mexico. Overall everything is safe upon your arrival at the hotel in eagle pass you are picked up at the day of surgery it's about 5 minute drive to the hospital,when you arrive at the hospital you are greeted by Dr. Alvarez and he sits with you to talk about any questions or concerns you might have of the procedure. The procedure is very safe for me personally it took 40-45 minutes there was no pain or discomfort been my first surgery I assumed pain or discomfort but there was none of that. Also after surgery dr. Alvarez checks up on you frequently to make sure everything is okay. The overall treatment in the hospital was good. Now talking about Dr. Alvarez he is a great doctor, a great person and truly cares about his patiences. Talking to him before the surgery and having my concerns he made me feel at ease and comfortable that everything was going to be okay. Even now that I'm one month out, If I have any questions or concerns, I can email him or call him and he will get back with me to answer my questions or concerns.

Personally I would like to thank Dr. Alvarez for changing my life .
Anybody that is thinking about having this surgery to change their life's I would highly recommend Dr. Alvarez.

Where to begin....Dr Alvarez and Dr Gabe were AMAZING!!! They were so attentive and there anytime a question came up. Their staff was right there with information and details of the process, in most cases, answering questions before I had time to even ask them! The after care program is based on the book he has written and the manuel that he provides. They also give you an email and phone numbers to get in tough with him as needed post op. I can not say enough great things about Dr A. and his staff.

My first mpression was a goodlooking, intelligent man who was polite and friendly. That did not change. His office staff was friendly and willing to answer any questions. I did not dislike anything about him. He is a caring man. Aftercare, he made me sign a contract with him agreeing to his after care, and gave me a written copy as well as access to videos describing the same careful program of post surgery.
He did go over the risks of surgery, but not in a scarey way. I think he did a wonderful job and I could not be happier in my care. I liked his bedside manner, and his surgical competence. Both were outstanding. I am nurse and I have seen many doctors over the years. This is a good one.
The hospital was good, a lovely old fashioned place, outstanding care. My husband is shy, but was made to feel absolutely welcome and comfortable. Valerie W. Peery

Dr. Alvarez is a very personable man. He is very handsome and treats everyone as if you are his long time friend stopping by for a visit. He checked on me personally throughout my stay in the hospital. He employs his own staff to be close by at all times in case you need anything since the hospital staff does not speak fluent English. I have no concerns about him, his staff, or his surgical skills. Dr. Alvarez expects to hear from you when you get home so he will know you are safe and feeling well. He answers all emails quickly & personally and sends reminder emails as you progress through the phases of your diet. He has a very thorough aftercare program & I never feel alone knowing he is just an email away. His scheduler, Susan, is also just a call or email away. She is also a patient and a great resource!

When I was checking into my room there was a power outage. It lasted about 15 minutes & I was almost ready to run. Dr. Alvarez & his assistant, Dr. Gabe came right over to assure me it was temporary. Apparently a pole had been hit outside & the outage involved 3 blocks. It came back on & never even flickered after that. That was the only negative thing that happened. I have no regrets!