Another website goes to the Dark Side

[chubby4life]

Did you guys see that the are promoting other doctor, DR. CORVALA, do you guy know anything about him? is it true??

[chubby4life]

Have you seen that they now work with dr. corvala?? I see that members here refer to him as a the master of doctors..is it true??

[Sleevedup]

If it is, that would be pretty interesting since they banned so many of us for even discussing him.

[Ann2]

"Master of doctors" is a meaningless, marketing term.

It's like saying, "I have the best mom in the world!"

Oh, really?

[Kindle]

Hey, Sleeveroo, they might let you back on, now!

But apparently OCC isn't willing to climb into bed with them, yet. I just got a PM from another member that tried to start a new OCC thread and it was immediately deleted. Alex PM'd her and told her the topic is strictly off limits. He also posted some lame ass announcement that two surgeons weren't following BP rules, so they were banned.....easy guess who one of them was. But it's OK for HIS coordinators to break the rules by soliciting patients in the forum and via PM's. Of course he immediately locked his own thread so no open discussion is allowed. His censorship and double standards are really getting ridiculous.

[Sleeveroo]

No interest in Alex and his cronies. Half of the Mexico surgeons including Dr Almanza claim they are reknowned surgeons.
Dr Corvala has been called many things but is known internationally as a lecturer at IFSO and ASMBS Congresses and workshops in the U.S., Latin America and Europe. He trains many general surgeons at his mini and 2 year fellowships at Hosp Angeles.
I think he did a very good job on me. Time will tell.

He is one of about 4 superb surgeons in TJ.
I also liked Ariel Ortiz, J. Kelley and Jose Rodriguez as well as a few of the surgeons in Mexicali.
I am sure there are several other fine surgeons in TJ.
I ruled out a bunch of surgeons after looking at credentials, hospitals and watching surgeons perform in the OR.
Money was a secondary factor and no shortcut deals for me.

[Ann2]

I've been on online WLS forums for a year and a half.

My conclusion after reading so many Mexico WLS surgeon wars threads like this one goes like this: If a forum member manages to mention their doctor's name or to dis' other Mexican surgeons by name every single frikkin' time they post, they're a sales person or are financially benefiting in some way by influencing others to choose their surgeon.

And anyone who private messages you to tell you how great their Mexican surgeon was is DEFINITELY a sales person.

Period.

Caveat emptor.

[Euphoria]

I do hope this site stays the way it is, it has helped me, and so many others who are going through the same process, or thinking of..it would be such a shame, if they changed, hope they dont!

I did 2 days in the clinic and 1 at the hotel and I was happy with that. I really don't think I would like going to a hotel or a recovery house (apartment) within 24 hours of my surgery. I am just picky like that. It is sad that the forums are not like they use to be. When I was searching for a doctor there was great support and information given it also was a safe place to share your experience. I have noticed over the last few years that the forums are turning more to selling than helping. This is one of the last forums that is still good for finding help not saying there are not a few bad apples out there attacking people but all and all here you can still express your opinion without being banned.

[zmdh39]

There is another website, B p that used to be a solid support site. However in the last 6 months they have been aggressively promoting their Mexico special deals and doctors. It seems that their coordinators just bombard the threads providing details of their specials. Those who challenge or disagree with their statements have their posts removed or can get banned like I did. It is interesting that the owner of the site AB, previously has strongly advised against having surgery in Mexico. Things have changed and they promote 5 surgeons with varying experience at low costs. Several of their surgeons are young and trying to build a business. Two have good experience although one of the them is a convicted felon.
When Kindle, BBTravel, Freddie 8 and Rocky1 provided input which was perceived as not in the best interests of their business, the posts quietly disappear. Their coordinators are assisted by shills who have little knowledge other than to state that their Doctor is incredible..These folks only post on this topic and offer minimal useful infom
I have lost all respect for their website, in particular the Mexico and Self Pay section.
Money ruined their website. What a shame.

Bariatric Pal just makes me sick. I used to really like the site until I noticed the rapidly trending threads of people that work for BP either hard pushing their surgical deals, or were insanely quick to try and discredit surgeons they were no longer affiliated with. When I raised question about the verification of the surgeons credentials that they were so quick to promote Alex Breecher banned my profile from their site. It's just pathetic! Breecher receives $1,000 commission on any surgery booked through the BP deals. I have no problem with the man making money from advertising on his weight loss forum, as it used to be really helpful for people seeking good information, but to manipulate the threads, ban anyone that dares to raise question to the shady practices, and skew the information to his own benefit. I mean come on! There are people out there whose very lives could be greatly effected by this. Its a shame that they choose to put profit over the they very lives that depend of solid information. I so wish more people who visit that site had the ability to see though all the BS that is going on. So sad!

[Joe Poppa]

I've been on online WLS forums for a year and a half.

My conclusion after reading so many Mexico WLS surgeon wars threads like this one goes like this: If a forum member manages to mention their doctor's name or to dis' other Mexican surgeons by name every single frikkin' time they post, they're a sales person or are financially benefiting in some way by influencing others to choose their surgeon.

And anyone who private messages you to tell you how great their Mexican surgeon was is DEFINITELY a sales person.

Period.

Caveat emptor.

"Members" who have financial gain or a vested interest that promote or denounce surgeons and/or hospitals, without divulging that fact are on this website, BP's website (this site blocks that name) and other WLS websites. So is censorship.

I strongly recommend "newbies" to be careful of them and to perform research from many different sources before selecting their surgeon.

[Kindle]

But in BP's case they simply ban whoever they want, just for talking about other surgeons. I've been a member on there for over 2 years and it only got bad after Alex started BP Deals. Now the Mexico subforum it's a blatant sales site for his surgeons. Patients of Dr. Quinones, Corvala, and Ariel Ortiz have all been affected. Of course the newbies don't know that, because anyone offering alternative suggestions just disappear, along with their posts. There are a lot of OCC patient members over there very pissed that he deleted a 1 1/2 year old 2000+ post thread about OCC. I get PM's about it all the time. that thread was created by members, not paid coordinators and contained invaluable info for newbies. No rules were broken, no other doctors were discredited, but now it is gone just so Alex can make more money. Anyone that publicly asks about it has their post removed and Alex threatens to ban them (or just bans them) So much for free speech. It's all about the money now.

Very disappointing.

[Sleeveroo]

Kindle, for what it's worth:
your 2000+ thread was the most informative thread on having surgery in Mexico regardless if one used OCC or not. I felt it was unbiased and chock full of solid medical info. Alex does not care about this since he is transforming the section to a b pal club. They do not want to hear anything but positive experiences about their group.
The posts from the coordinator David speak for themselves.
At least they informed all who they were.
The Mexico Self Pay section is useless for many of us.

[Luann]

So far I have not seen any of my posts go poof over saying something negative re: any surgeon. I am sure there are lurking or posting coordinators here on the board, but I don't believe any of the Admins have censored my posts even when it said something less than flattering on one of the sponsoring surgeons. Its still a site where people are allowed to express dissenting opinions, I hope it stays that way.

[Belle22]

Wow. Stupid me. I thought this was just a support group. I had no idea that politics were involved.

[freddie2]

I agree that so far there appears to be less censorship on this site than b-pal. Hopefully it stays that way.