Pedro Kuri Bariatric Surgeon M.D.
24 yr Experience
25 yr in Bariatrics
12 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
12 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
98% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is Teens
Max Age of Patient is 70
24 yr Experience
25 yr in Bariatrics
12 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
12 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
98% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is Teens
Max Age of Patient is 70
My first impression of Dr. Kuri was pleasant. He was very informative. Of course, I didn't meet him until the day before surgery, but I had done so much research on the surgery docs in MX that I was very confident in him. His office staff are extremely nice. They speak English better than I expected and Dr. Kuri is fluent in English. Dr. Kuri is very compassionate and skilled as well. He has done over 1000 lap band surgeries. I cannot say enough how pleased I am thus far and I'm about 1 month post-op right now.
Background: I first looked into WLS about 2 years ago, got cold feet and decided I was not that desperate yet and should try diet and exercise again (no big results - just joint problems now from overdoing it). I looked into it again several months ago and started researching the LapBand and RNY. I had a consultation with a doctor a few hours away and decided to have the Band. I was also going to have this doctor perform my surgery, but due to my finances I chose Mexico. Once I decided to have the Band, it took me a few more weeks to decide which doctor to choose. After researching, inside I felt a connection with Dr. Kuri and knew he was the doctor. I contacted his office on a Friday and left a message that I wanted surgery. I was contacted on Monday and a day or so later I had a surgery date for Wed. of the following week. Everything was very quick in order to fit into my schedule. It was an amazing experience and yes, at first I was hesitant about going to Tijuana as were my parents who went with me.
My first impression of Dr. Kuri was of a caring doctor who is serious about helping people get the tools they need to lose weight. He was kind, patient, gentle, and compasionate and openly answered all of our questions. He also spoke fantastic English as did his office staff. His staff was friendly, helpful, prompt, and also spoke good English. Dr. Peterson is also fantastic, gentle, kind, has a sense of humor, and also speaks great English. He took all of my background information himself instead of having a nurse do it which I thought was great.
When I was looking into having surgery in the US the policy was pay everyone upfront before they would do anything and the cost was @$15,400 without any complications. Dr. Kuri was different, after our appt with him, we tried to pay him and he said no, to pay after the surgery. That was a big switch and we were surprised! Then right before I was released from the hospital, he just asked if we had something to give him and we handed him the payment and that was it.
Dr. Kuri addressed the risks of surgery and has a great support group who sent me information, the post-op diet plans, etc. and even became concerned when they didn't hear from me when they thought they would. I know I bugged them constantly the day I was going to arrive (when I realized I forgot to bring my papers with me), but they were always helpful, kind, and e-mailed me info. repeatedly when I needed it. 3 members of his support group/patients also even visited me and another patient who had surgery the same day as me in the hospital after our surgery for hours and described their experiences, what it was like, and answered our questions! This was priceless along with Mrs. Kuri also coming to check on us and see if we needed anything.
I chose the Hospital San Fransico due to the costs and found it to be small, clean, and cozy. They didn't have lots of decorations, but the tile in the bathroom was really nice.
The nurses were also gentle, nice, and friendly. They also responded promptly to our needs. I don't remember being bugged constantly either about temperature, etc. (which I found nice) and they were very good about keeping the pain medication in the IV.
I don't remember feeling any pain afterwards and was pretty knocked out that day. However, it was interesting communicating with them as they mostly spoke Spanish and we mostly spoke English which added to my big adventure. However, I did get some short Spanish lessons and already knew Gracias so I was ok.
Dr. Kuri does have an aftercare program and did a follow up visit with a patient who thought she had a problem. He examined her and she was fine. I haven't been able to join his support group yet, but am looking forward to it.
Overall, I really liked him and am glad that I chose him. The hotel was also nice, clean, had secure parking for our rental car, & had good food. I've had 2 c-sections before in the US and did not have very good experiences as the med's wore off before they were through, the epidural wasn't placed right, I was given a stool softener while on a liquid diet after the surgery(yes, you know what happened!), had a pregnant nurse who said she couldn't help me, and was even billed for a circumcision that was not performed on my Daughter! Because of these experiences (and more) I was hesitant about another surgery, but I did not have any of these problems this time. I am not knocking the US medical profession as I think they are good, but in my case the little details (that make a big difference) were overlooked.
The negatives? The distance to travel there for the surgery (although I still saved over $5,000), the language barrier (next time I will remember the electronic translator) although there always seemed to be someone not far away who could translate and after all, knowing more than 1 language is a 2 way street. The city was also a lot different than I was used to and a little intimidating at first. Also we needed quarters for the parking meters (which we didn't know we needed until we needed it). I don't really have anything negative to say about Dr. Kuri or Dr. Peterson or their staff. They performed their jobs well, I have not had complications after surgery (except being hungry) and feel that he is a very competent surgeon and also has a great bedside manner. They are the only doctors I have ever had this kind and caring. They exceeded my expectations and I am happy with the care I received.
Will wait for further contact with Dr.Kuri to give an impression everything I have heard has been great.The office staf and his american caontacts have been profesional and suppotive and will ing to give any info they could including this site to check out. The other questions will have to wait till later.
I can't say enough nice things about Dr. Kuri. His manner was very professional and courteous and friendly. He answered all my questions - returned all my calls promptly and made the whole process very easy.
His office staff was very courteous and friendly. Their english was not as good as Dr. K's but we were able to communicate the basics without problem.
If I had to pick one thing I liked least about him it would be his office location - it was a little on the scary side to me as a foreigner in a foreign land but I never felt in danger.
Future patients should know that with Dr. Kuri you are getting a band doctor for life. He checks in with me (either email or call) to see how I'm doing. His service is above and beyond what I've had in the US.
He is very adamant about aftercare. His motto is "I've done my part now you do yours". He gives you a gameplan though and I'm proof if you stick with it, the band will work.
My mom came with me. She's a nurse. She made sure he was very thorough in explaining all the risks and potential future issues I could experience with the band.
I would rate him 100 out of 100 overall.
I
MET WITH DR. WEILAND AND HE WAS VERY NICE AND EASY TO TALK TO AND WASN'T IN A HURRY TO GET ME OUT OF THE OFFICE. HE ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS. I'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL THE STEPS. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE STAFF. IF I DON'T HEAR BY MONDAY I WILL CALL AND FIND OUT IF THIS WAS SUBMITTED TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. DR. WEILAND EXPLAINED ALL THE RISKS AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN DURING AND AFTER THE SURGERY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WITH HIM SOON TO SET UP A DATE FOR SURGERY.
My first impression was that here before me is a very compassionate & dedicated man.
I still think this of him.
Dr. Kuri's staff spoke english very well, and were very organized.
I did not dislike anything.
Aftercare is very important to him, his statement to all of his patients is "I have done my part now it time for you to do yours"
Yes, he sent instructions home with me on diet and exercise and when to seek post op care.
He addressed all risk pre-op and answered any concerns I had.
Both were great!
Dr. Kuri was very nice. He explained everything to me until my husband and I understood every detail of the surgery. His office was very clean, the hotel was very clean and the hospital where we stayed was very clean. His staff was very nice and very helpful. His staff all spoke English which was very helpful in Mexico.
The aftercare I checked into before I went to Mexico. I know of at least two places close to where I live to have fills. I could go to Mexico and have free fills,but I would have to fly down there and that cost about the same as a fill.
I don't know of a structured aftercare program.
I would rate Dr. Kuri overall as 95%. He could have said more about the aftercare. I did not know enough to ask some good questions about it. This is the reason I need to contact some Bansters.