Question:
any one recently been to mexico for surgery. what was cost?
i need to self pay and need a reasonable rate but excellant dr. any recomendations? — gogeko (posted on December 12, 2004)
December 12, 2004
Hi Cynthia!
I didn't go to Mexico - I went to Spain for my surgery - travel and surgery
together $15,000 - and Dr. Aniceto Baltasar for my surgeon - one of the
best in the world. Check out www.drbaltasar.com or www.bodybybaltasar.com
if you'd like to know more.
You might check into Dr. Ungson, if you have your heart set on Mexico. His
Yahoo group is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dr_UngsonSupport/
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
December 12, 2004
Hi. I am always the party-pooper on this one because Houston is in close
proximity to the border, and I see so many problems from patients who
travel for surgery. Remember that 80% of a doctor's time and work is in
the follow-up. That can't be done properly if you travel. Touch ups and
revisions (and complications) are a simple fact of life in weight loss
patients, too. So travelling is an issue here. Also remember that you
have no legal alternatives and no insurance coverage if a problem should
develop. My advice: shop around, explore all your financing options, and
get several quotes. Remember that American surgeons lead the way in
post-bariatric surgery reconstruction...we are the only country with this
group of patients in large numbers!
— DrL
December 12, 2004
fortunately my insurance covered my RNY very well, with no hassles. When I
started looking into plastics the first doctor I talked to wanted $30,000
for a lower body lift and brachioplasty. I nearly fainted and did shed
quite a few tears. He also told me it was a waste of time to ask for
insurance to pay, so I researcehed going to another country, primarily
Brazil, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. What I found was that I could not
actually verify their credentials other than thru word of mouth or should I
say word of internet. They might say they are "board certified"
but what Board? The American Board of Plastic Surgery has rigorous
requirements for education, experience and testing to be board certified.
Other so called "board certified" may only be a matter of paying
a membership fee. I couldn't check out the status of their licenses because
if there was a web site to check it out, well, I don't speak spanish or
portugese at all. They might email you a copy of their license, but how do
you know it is real with out 3rd party verification? I could likely make up
a certificate on my computer giving me a "medical license"
Language is the other problem. being an RN, I often have had patients who
speak little to no English and we by law have to get tranlsaters. this is
not necessarily a requirement in other countries. Let me tell you a lot
gets lost in translation. And trying to explain complications thru a
translator is a nightmare. People often don't know the medical term or what
it means and feel stupid asking so they go through not understanding what
is going on. I feel that doctors in other countries are likely just as
good as a doctor here. They are surely as intelligent and well trained. But
even here not all doctors are equal. some are better than others. some
commit malpractice, some are excellent and a rare few are incompetant. The
real differnce is , here I can verify their credentials, in another
country I couldn't. I ended up talking to more than one surgeon prior to
making my decision and I will tell you I checked out my plastic surgeons
credentials very carefully, got recommendations, and looked at people who I
knew had surgery by him in the past up close and in person. I couldn't have
done that if I went out of the country. Another thing to keep in mind, a
doctor may have a web site with lovely before and after pictures, but there
is no guarentee that that doctor actually even did the surgeries on the
websites. I also am glad I stayed here because the recovery is hard and I
needed to be at home, with my family to help me. It would have been very
difficult with only strangers to help me. I never could have handled being
on a plane for hours a week or two post op. Talk to some doctors here,
several of them . explain your situation and see if they can help you. some
will lower prices or have good resources for financing. the bottom line
for me was that I did talk to more than one doctor, Prices varied
tremendously, and I ended up having surgery here for less than going to
another country, with the comfort of being able to go home and sleep in my
own bed. No matter where you go or what your decision is good luck and
good health to you.
— **willow**
December 13, 2004
I think you're asking about WLS but to let you know, I went to Mexico for
both WLS and plastics. I had an outstanding surgeon for both. My WLS
surgeon is Dr. Alejandro Aguirre in Ensendada. I believe he currently
charges $8500. which is an all-inclusive fee. I'm 18 months post-op, at
goal, and LOVING life. I have been complication-free the entire time. I
would go to Dr. Aguirre again in a heart-beat. Most of his patients are
Americans. My local PCP did all my follow-up and insurance has paid for
all of it, even though they wouldn't pay for WLS. Dr. Aguirre's forum is:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/forums/?ID=A-1045621205 If
you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
— [Deactivated Member]
December 13, 2004
I had my RNY surgery here because my insurance paid, but my sister had her
lap-band done in Mexico because she was self-pay no matter what her choice
was. She's a nurse and checked the Doc's out before she went to Mexico.
Many Dr's in Costa Rica, Mexico etc are trained in the US and do their
internships here. Doc's can be superior or inferior anywhere in the world
including the US. Many US Dr's do their college and internships outside the
country. My sisters entire cost including hospital, travel ect was baout
$6,500 and she has had no complications. Good luck - Maggie B.
— M B.
Click Here to Return