HoosierGirl

Holly - I have contacted The Ariel Center for help with some plastics. How was your family member's tummy tuck experience? Specifically, did they need a lot of help after the procedure? How was the pain level? Any tips? I'm more excited than nervous to get some help for my poor tummy! Ha ha! Thanks!

I traveled to Tijuana in February...I had VSG surgery and have lost 71 lbs so far and plan to lose 92 total. I feel wonderful. Had a great travel experience - felt safe - was pleased with the OCC staff while in TJ and how well they answered questions once I was home. You are welcome to check out my blog where it talks all about my surgery experience. Good luck!

www.hoosierfatty.wordpress.com

I'm looking to have the sleeve procedure done but my insurance denied me. So I have decided that I am going to go the self-pay route. I have been checking prices all over the US and the best I found was $10,400 in Vegas. But the pricing in Mexico blows that away. So I have been reading and researching A LOT for several days now. I have not been able to find one bad experience. My doctor tells me that if I have surgery in Mexico, that no doctor in my area ( St. Louis) will touch me for any follow up or complications.

My concern is, what if any follow ups are needed?

I'm looking at a late Jan 2013 date.

I'm going on a cruise the 1st weekend of Jan and think it would be best to wait until after that.

Like you, my biggest concern is having complications once I get home. So I am trying to pro-actively address that concern by: 1 - having enough money set aside for an airline ticket and hotel room so I can get back to the Obesity Control Center if I have a complication that requires surgical intervention. 2 - planning to extend my stay in Tijuana for a day or two to try to ensure I am not going to have complications 3 - from what I have researched, complications seem to occur if you don't follow the post-op diet exactly. Hope to have my surgery at the end of February 2013...would love to hear about your experience in January. All the best to you!

Ellemarie - tons of great information! Thank you for answering my questions! Glad to know that you and your daughter had such a great experience with Dr. Oritz, the sleeve and your travels. I can only hope that I will be as successful with my weight loss as you have been.

Thanks....really appreciate the feedback! The more YouTube videos I see from Dr. Ortiz, the more Impressed I become. All my interactions with his Patient Coordinator Lori have been great.

Hope you are feeling well post surgery and all the best on your the first steps of a very successful weight loss! Am keenly interested in your feedback about your surgical and travel experience. As I move toward final insurance denial, I've had the time to research surgery options in Mexico and am impressed with everything I see about the Obesity Control Center and Dr. Oritz. How did your procedure go?

While I am in the final stages of being denied by my insurance company, I've had the opportunity to research surgery options in Mexico. I've traveled across the US/Mexico border and I am not nervous about that...I've had abdominal surgery and I am not nervous about that....however I would love to hear from others - Is the Obesity Control Center and Dr Ortiz the "real deal"?

1. What was the pre-op surgery testing like?

2. Did you feel the team had your best interest in mind?

3. How was your follow up care? Especially recovery in a hotel?

4. Any issues with discomfort traveling home by plane?

5. Did you ever have to call Dr. Ortiz needing post surgical support? I guess for infection or other?

THANKS!