I swear I saw gastric bypass and the lap ban surgery advertised online for $5k-8k in Mexico. Has anyone else seen it for that cheap? Has anyone had WLS abroad?

Just to let you know, you can find some helpful info. on WLS on Obesityhelp.com, it is truly a great site! Goodluck!

Jen hit ObesityHelp they have all the Drs listed there Dr Joya adn Alverez are bot in MEX and are less then 9K

Please be careful when going outside of the country for this type of major procedure. I work as the dietitian/Coordinator of a bariatric surgery program and have had to deal with complications after people go to surgeons who do not have enough training. Please check the credentialing of any professional who is going to cut on you!

I have friends that have went out of the USA for the Lap-band surgery because of no insurance coverage for WLS.. and yes the cost is less BUT you have to have adjustments for the Lap-band and unless you are planning on going back to the Dr outside the US you are probably going to have problems getting a Dr here to do those adjustments or the cost will be totally out of hand. Yes there are Drs that will take over your care but they are few and far apart!
This may give you something to think about before going out of the country.

peggy

Don't hurt yourself to save a few dollars. I have heard nothing but negative about doing it in Mexico. Your life os worth more. So please take another look at it.

quote:

Originally posted by shane_sabrina:
I swear I saw gastric bypass and the lap ban surgery advertised online for $5k-8k in Mexico. Has anyone else seen it for that cheap? Has anyone had WLS abroad?

You know, a lot of people aren't educated enough when talking about going outside for surgery. Don't most of you that post this know that Mexican doctors trained US doctors to do Lapband?? It was done there long before the US have done it. They have very good doctor like Alvarez and Joya in Mexico. I went to Venezuela to one of the best there and paid 5,200 for my Vertical Sleeve. I just hate that people put all this fear into people. Go to obesityhelp.com and you will get tons of people who go out of the country with NO problems.

Just wanted to say that I agree--Medical Tourism is a huge thing these days since so many Americans are uninsured. That is obscene, in my opinion--perhaps Bill Gates could use some of his billions to solve that problem?!!!

In any case, I personally would go overseas to the Phillipines or Thailand for plastic surgery, and would go there for the gastric bypass or Mexico for the Lap Band IF I were uninsured.

the Doctros in mexico are a reasonable option when you comp;are prices 11K or 30K. Most can't afford either but its alot easier to pay 11K for the same thing. MOST Drs in Mex have far more experience and from reviews give better care because they are NOT aprt of a HMO or a bigger clinic. they tend to own their own practices adn can manage with a heart not so much the bottom line.

When my insurance turns me down Mexico will become a very real option.
I know they will as they don't cover VSG, I am sure thats what I want.

I will be undergoing bypass surgery later this summer. I am blessed that my insurance has approved me. Please think twice about going out of the country for surgery. There are qualified doctors in Mexico but the risks are so high. I am not advocating any particular surgeon or website, but if you need to pay out of pocket here are 2 things I would suggest. Become a member of "obesityhelp.com" there are 1000's of members who are pre-surgery, and post-surgery. They have lists of qualified surgeons by state, and they even have an insurance help message board that is moderated by a laywer who is a post-op WLS patient. Another thing to check out if you need this surgery, but can't afford the $30,000+ price tag is:
http://www.laparoscopy.com/pleatman/index.htm
Dr. Pleatman is a Michigan bariatric surgeon that offer gastric bypass surgery at a much more affordable rate. Again, I am not advocating him as a surgeon. I only know he is well thought of by the members of "OH"-obesityhelp.com Please think twice about going out of the country. The risks may far outweigh any benefits.