Mexico and the Gastric Sleeve

**Imanurse** · 01-28-2012 05:28 PM

When I decided to have the surgery done I started looking at where to have it done at. In many areas of the US the Gastric sleeve is a relatively new procedure. It has been being done much longer in Europe and Mexico. I wanted the person who had the most experience to do my surgery. I had my surgery done by Dr. Almanza the end of October last year with no complications and had a wonderful experience.

I could have had the surgery done in the hospital that I work at. The surgeon there had only done a few. That wasn't enough for me. Currently I know of a patient that had it done and has been hospitalized 4 times because her stomach keeps flipping. They are now resorting to trying a stent.

I guess the reason I felt I should write is because I don't want anyone to be afraid to go to Mexico to have this done. If you were having brain surgery you would want the best right? Well the same should be true of the sleeve and if you have to travel to Mexico to have it done then so be it. Dr. Almanza has done over 5000 of these.

This is for you. The rest of your life will change after this surgery so just be sure to have it done by someone who knows what they are doing.

Best of luck to all that go for it. It is so worth it!

**BigGurl32** · 01-28-2012 05:37 PM

IM so happy that you made this post! I am having my surgery done on Feb 8th with Dr. Almanza, Im glad to see he has such a good reputation and im glad you had an excellent outcome. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

**Imanurse** · 01-29-2012 12:24 PM

Send me a private message and I will email you some pointers

**donewithdieting** · 01-29-2012 03:00 PM

So true Lisa, I did this for me. I have so much more energy. I worked nights last night, 3 co-workers came up to me and said they noticed my weight loss and it is good. Even back from a 2 week vacation I had a weight loss. Yeah.

**Sunflower** · 01-29-2012 06:48 PM

Thanks for posting this. I am pre-op at the moment, but have decided that going to Mexico will be a good option for me. Why? Well, first of all, I like the idea of having choices--instead of being assigned to the one or two doctors covered by your insurance. My insurance covers the sleeve 100%, if I am willing to lay down on an operating table and let a surgeon operate on me even though I find him to be rude, arrogant, and far less experienced at doing sleeves than most surgeons operating in TJ. Secondly, the price is great. This surgery will be a great financial hardship to me, but every penny will be well spent, and the cost is still within reach. My friend did a self-pay sleeve in the US and had to pay $14,500.00. She had to do yard sales, and all sorts of fundraising to make it happen. This option makes the procedure far more affordable to a greater number of people. Thirdly, there are so many negative opinions and sterotypes floating around out there about Mexican, or any foreign medical care that these surgeons and the hospitals that they use absolutely HAVE to be superior to what we can get here--not as good as, but better. People post on this and other forums every minute detail of everything that went right or wrong while they were in Mexico, so ensuring that people have positive and memorable experiences ensures the next wave of patients for the Mexican surgeons. Surgeons here, who are paid by our insurance companies only have to show up and make sure we don't die on the table. They really don't have to compete. I'm not saying they're all bad or complacement, but I've met more than my fair share to know it's prevalent here in the US.