I want to share my honest experience with Mexico Bariatric Center so others know what to expect. There is a huge language barrier between patients and a lot of the nurses and doctors. Some doctors speak English very well, but many do not, which made communication stressful at times. Another big issue was unexpected costs. I was told upfront what my package included, but once I was discharged, I was charged for every medication given during my stay. I was also hit with a BMI fee that I was originally told was already covered during my first consultation and paid before arrival. At discharge, I ended up paying an additional $835 on top of the $6,000+ I had already paid. On top of that, I paid for a full gastric bypass, but I was actually given a mini gastric bypass. This was never explained to me by the surgeon--I only found out afterward from the aftercare doctor. I do want to say Dr. Martin was great. She spoke excellent English, explained everything clearly, and I really appreciated her care. However, after surgery, I experienced complications and was throwing up blood. I was given medication to help with clotting, but I was continuously charged for it without being told. I assumed it was included in my surgical package, but it was not. Overall, I would say be very cautious and ask detailed questions about costs and procedures before booking with Mexico Bariatric Center. Make sure you fully understand what is included--and what is not. read more

This experience was nothing like I was told. It was suppose to be hotel recovery all the things included in the price, IT IS NOT. Once they get you there and your stuck they charge you for hotel stay, medicine, drivers the list goes on. The staff was horrible. I came out of surgery with bruises in places you can't explain. My drain tube or wounds were never checked or the dressing changed or cleaned. Then when I finally left the medicine that was suppose to be included in the price I was given a photo of it to go to the pharmacy and buy it. I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy. read more

DO. NOT. GO. HERE. I am leaving this review to warn others considering Mexico Bariatric Center. My loved one put their trust in this company to coordinate a gastric bypass surgery in Tijuana. What was promised as a safe, professional process turned into a nightmare. The facility conditions, lack of communication, and failure to provide adequate care contributed to a tragic outcome. Instead of transparency and patient-centered treatment, the entire process felt rushed and unsafe. Patients are led to believe they will receive high-quality care, but the reality is far different from what is advertised. No family should have to go through this experience. If you value your health and your life, please do not trust your medical care to this company. Seek care with licensed, accredited hospitals in the U.S. or with providers that have proven accountability. Your health is not worth the risk. read more

Dr. Montalvo was beyond amazing. The care staff were great especially nurse Angel. He is extremely nice and very caring as well as very professional. This is Angels calling in life. You can tell he takes pride in the work that he does. He is truly an angel. Thank you 1000 times Sir. They did better work than what I would have received in the United States and at a fraction of the cost. If anyone is in search of Bariatric surgery, please choose this facility. I was safe and I will return for more work next year. Thank you Dr.Montalvo and all Bariatric staff. This facility is very clean. read more

This is strictly for their scheduling staff. My very good friend has researched the doctors and had his heart set on this business. He has had many unanswered requests. Even I myself stopped by the office to speak to someone on his behalf. I was not impressed with the lack of interest in someone that walked in. When I FINALLY was able to speak to someone I gave them my friends name and told them that he was trying to get an appointment for a surgery. They did answer one of his mails. He replied and a week later has still not heard from them. If you are experiencing this I suggest you don't waste any more of your time and find a provider that has time to get back to you. read more

I recently about a month ago started my Bariatric journey with Mexico Bariatric center. My main contact through setting up the payment and getting the info altogether has been a lady named Laura. We have texted several times and spoke on the phone. Anytime I have a question and have sent her a text she has promptly responded with the information I was needing. I spoke with her earlier today and she is super sweet and helpful in regards from setting all this up to answering questions about the care I will receive. I am eight weeks away from having my weight loss surgery and hope my entire experience is as pleasant as she is! read more

This review will be lengthy as it is important for anyone considering weight loss surgery to review all their options. This review can also serve as advice in getting weight loss surgery as I will add important caveats. When I got serious about weight loss surgery after suffering the up and down weight gain and loss from PCOS I researched a lot of places on different countries. I could have done the surgery under my insurance but I wanted it done right away. This hospital was on the top of my list. They have many coordinators and liaisons to help you through your whole process. Karla is awesome!! She takes care of every practical detail and makes sure everything is fulfilled to your standard. To qualify for the surgery you will need to go to their website and put in your info with height and weight. You get accepted right away if you qualify then you are contacted by a representative of the hospital. They do require a list of meds, previous surgeries, allergies, and medical history. There are certain conditions to prevent you from having the surgery and they won't risk your life for money. An internist sees you before surgery to review meds and blood work. He will also instruct you when to retake meds or stop taking certain meds altogether. Before surgery they obtain blood labs, Covid test, lung CT, and EKG. You get all your records, imaging, and prescribed post surgical meds upon discharge. I had the gastric sleeve which lasts 45 minutes. You are placed under anesthesia and they remove 80% of your stomach through laparoscopy. I have 4 scars on my stomach that will heal nicely. They do put a drain in you to remove any excess blood so your body doesn't have to go about absorbing it all. The most painful part of the surgery was the drain. It hurt with movement and deep breathing. I did well with my incentive spirometer but it was hard with that drain. Other patients complained about it too but we all realized it was very necessary! When it came out I felt 1000 times better. They do encourage you to drink fluids slowly after surgery and provide bottled water, Gatorade, and juice as well as ice chips. They had normal saline running the whole time and also hung antibiotics, pain medicine, steroids for inflammation, and meds to prevent nausea and reflux. Okay, so this place is as modern as it's going to get. As a nurse there were a lot of things I would do different but I was a good patient ;) The stretcher I was on had blood splatter (I hope) from another patient and one nurse gave me a breathing treatment with a mask that had been on the floor. I did my own cleaning in my room. I am so happy to have had this procedure here. They do a leak test the next day to make sure you're stitched up tight, by the way. read more

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I need to say 1st that this is how I perceived the events that took place . I am not a doctor. This is my opinion on how I seen things happen & the information that was given to me. I went with my family member on 11/17/24, as a companion, to Mexico bariatric in Tijuana, Mexico. Where she was to receive a gastric bypass procedure on 11/18/24. Unfortunately my family member did not return with me to Minnesota as planned. I want to start off with, what Mexico bariatric promises you is not true. They promise you all the staff are bilingual. Which is totally incorrect. I would say probably 2% of the hospital staff are bilingual. They promise you a state of the art hospital. This state of the hospital was not even equipped with MRI equipment. It is three floors in a business complex building. It is not what they make it out to be. A hospital that is fully equipped like hospitals we have here in the USA. The information they provide you about visiting with your companion is totally inaccurate. The visiting hours are from 10 AM to noon and 5 PM to 7 PM and even if you're a couple minutes late, a security guard will be waiting at the patient's door to escort you from the building. The care that my family member received, was definitely not the Care that was promised nor was it a good quality of care. The doctor caring for my family member, at the time when the medical emergency arose on 11/2024 at or around 5:15 until 8pm, insisted the discomfort and pain she was having was merely gas. As her blood pressure plummeted and she begged for help. He (the Dr kept being more & more dismissive as the complaints increased) saying it was merely gas from the surgery while she was literally bleeding internally. When another Dr arrived at 8pm & examined her, she was immediately taken into emergency surgery. The Doctor concluded she was /or could be bleeding internally. I was given updates all through the night from a doctor, at Mexico bariatric, that were not truthful nor were they accurate. Because of the state/condition that my loved one's body was in, when she was examined and tests were ran by the ER doctors & the ICU doctors at Sharp Chula Vista Hospital in San Diego, who verified the inaccuracies. They also verified that there was no brain activity. My cousin also had some sort of infection that they discovered by a blood test. I would love to be able to give you more information about this, but at this time I don't have the medical records from the hospital. I know there is a huge concern at the hospital where the surgery was done. My cousin was not the only one who left that hospital with an infection. Obviously multiple infections prove that there is a problem. There was another gal that had to go in for emergency surgery after her bypass, because she had a leak, thank the lord she did recover, and did go home to the southern USA. But shortly after returning home she found herself in the hospital for 6 days with an infection at her surgical site and pneumonia. My Family (her husband) reached out numerous times, by numerous means of communication to Mexico bariatric after this tragic event. Just trying to find out exactly what happened. There was no kind of reply until 16 days after her death. After reading this review, if you still decide to go to Mexico bariatric, please make sure you have a very high limit credit card with you or cash. If something was to happen to you or your loved one while getting surgery or being cared afterwards. You are required to pay for the blood given by transfusion in any emergency before they will let you leave the hospital. You also Pay for the ambulance to be transported to the US before the transport . Otherwise you will not get the care that is required to help you or potentially save your life. read more

In July 2022 I made an adventure over the boarder and I NOT regret one moment! I decided with medical staff to have the gastric sleeve surgery. Best decision I've very made! Beautiful hospital, impeccably clean, amazing staff, met ALL my care needs and/or concerns, quality of care was 110%! Don't think twice...GO!!! Pic in pink t-shirt I was wearing a 2XL. Pic in pink scrubs I am wearing a SMALL top and SMALL bottoms!!! SW:301 CW: 153 ( I've lost some more since pic in pink) GW: naaahhh don't need one! I feel good now! Sleeved July 2022. Dr Ceja ‍ Best decision I ever made! read more

This was a fabulous experience that I highly recommend to anyone who has struggled with obesity and the roller coaster of dieting. I am a nurse, and I can say I was impressed. I had 5 star care and coordination of my care from the time I was wheels down in San Diego. All payment details related to my surgery were as discussed prior to arrival. I was able to meet my surgeon Dr. Rodriguez Lopez, this was helpful and informative. I loved the continuity of care with nursing staff, they were caring, compassionate and made me feel like I was their only patient. There was only a slight language barrier with aux staff, without any disruptions of quality of care. The hospital was beautiful!! A well thought out plan to meet each patients needs. The large rooms with on suite showers were clean and tidy and had great city and mountain views. The drivers were all very informative and made me feel safe and secure during my travels to and from Tiaguana, Mx. The aftercare has been helpful with the dietitian available whenever you need him as well as live webinars on zoom. Mexico Bariatric Center has by far exceeded my expectations,and again, I highly recommend! By far the BEST decision I ever made for myself. read more

Mexico Bariatric Center - Meet and greet my surgeon. - Surgeons Near Me - Tijuana, BCN

Let's start with the hygiene issues: 1. The showers in the hotel and the hospital had mold growing in them and were clearly not cleaned. 2.) The hallways and carpeting in the Hyatt smelled like mildew badly. 3.) The nurses left needles and equipment all over my room. They left a cup full of the blood they drained on my nightstand for hours until I asked them to move it. Then they dumped it down the bathroom sink. Shady Billing: 1.) I was charged for services not rendered. Including CT scan, Covid testing, and more. When I asked about it the accountant said too bad! 2.) When I asked for a receipt they told me that it would cost $45. 3.) I received a separate bill from the hospital which I had to pay before I could leave. Coordinators: 1.) My American coordinator Cathy was useless. When I called her for help she hung up on me. When I found out several of the other patients had received a lot of help and detailed information, I felt pretty terrible. 2.) When you're in Mexico 10 minutes means 30, 30 minutes means an hour and a half, and so on. 3.) When you arrive at the Hotel you meet your Hotel coordinator who acts all nice and charming and says he's going to take care of you and your companions which is a lie. Hospital Staff: 1.) They could not run an IV to save their lives. They blew out a lot of people's veins. Our IV tubes would be red because they weren't working correctly. 2.) I woke up out of surgery with 2 men just yelling "move!" At me over and over. I was in soooo much pain and they just wanted me to switch beds. 3.) The hospital staff was not very helpful. We would ask a question and they would say "let me check" and we would not see them again. 4.) The people of the first floor were treated so well! When we shared stories it was so crazy. I get like a second class citizen. It turns out the first floor had 5 patients and the second had 15. The floors had the same amount of staff. 5.) When I got to the hospital my bed was not working, the TV had no remote (we never got one), and my bed had no pillow. Bring your own pillow and blanket! 6.) You'll have very little room for your stuff. I'll keep adding to this as I remember. I'll keep posting reviews. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you can view all of the reviews MBC has gotten yelp to hide. Shady!!!!!!!!! read more

I greatly recommend Dr Valenzuela She's the BEST, the hospital staff was so friendly they took good care of me thank you all.

My doctor suggested bariatric surgery to avoid losing the last cartilage in my hips. I reached out to a local bariatric surgery center, and they were all hip to talk to me until they found out my insurance doesn't cover weight loss surgery. Instead of being upset, I hopped online and started looking at alternatives. Mexico Bariatric Center kept coming up at the top of my different searches as a safe and effective place to have surgery. I filled out the "I'm interested" form, and the ball started rolling quickly. Before I knew it, I was on a plane and having surgery the next day. MBC was awesome! They picked me up from the airport in San Diego and escorted me to Tijuana, and I was always in their care the entire trip. The hotel was clean and safe, the drivers were fantastic about getting us around in the craziest traffic, and I can't say enough about Karla. Everyone was excellent and friendly, from the people picking you up at the airport to your surgeon. The hospital facility I stayed in was outdated but super clean (they are finishing up on a brand-new facility). The nurses kept on top of your medications so you never had to chase them down and beg for something to help with any post-op symptoms you might have. I am now three months post-op and have lost nearly 50 pounds. But more than that...I am no longer taking medication for my blood pressure, my pre-diabetic symptoms are all resolved, and I no longer need a CPAP to support my breathing at night. I have gone from a size 24 to a 14! Post-op support continues with the most awesome Facebook group with plenty of admin support. There is a nutritionist available to help you if you need support. The website is full of information, and I continue to refer to it when I have a question about what I should be eating. I know the thought of surgery out of the country can be scary but believe me when I say they do everything to help alleviate that, and you won't regret your choice to do something for yourself. Going out of the country to MBC was an economic option I didn't have in the States. I hope my review helps, and I sincerely hope you reach out to MBC for the tools to help you in your weight loss journey. read more

Awesome, awesome, Amanda walked me thru the entire process. But YOU have To make the decision. I don't regret for an instant going to MBAC read more

Mexico Bariatric Center - Surgeons Near Me - Tijuana, BCN

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I was a patient of MBC ( Mexico barriatric center) may 2022 and had a gastric sleeve surgery. My weight maxed at 308 lbs and my blood pressure was so high I needed medication. A gastric sleeve seemed like a good way to go. In the United States the surgery costs around 25k and my insurance refused my request. So I looked at Mexico to see what was offered. I am an RN with 40years experience so I asked a lot if questions. It took about 3 months of research to finally locate MBC IN TJ, Mexico. It looked really good and turned out to be very good. Cost was inclusive, so surgery, hospital, post op xray leak check, pain meds, nausea meds was all included and less than 6k. I was really impressed with the people in Mexico. Doctors, nurses. Ancillary staff were all great. Only con was poor engligh skills but hay thats what google translator is for. I had no post-op complications and pain was minimal. I know the painful process of looking for a place to have surgery so i am available for questions, my email is masonbeeman123@gmail.com. Recovery and back to work in about 6 weeks and no problems. They even give you some medical notes for your American doctor with the info on your procedure and a CD copy of your x ray leak test . Yea i cant say enough good things about MBC. I offered to give this review and i was not paid or compensated in any way. Just remember that surgery alone will NOT solve your weight problem. There is a need to make some life style changes but everything good takes some effort. I was having trouble with significantly increasing blood pressure and had to take medication. After a year i am able to have a normal BP now, near what it was 40 years ago and i will soon be off that medicine. I have asthma and had to use an inhaler daily. Now i dont even fill that perscription anymore and have not used it in 10 months. Be sure to tell your doctor your going to Mexico for surgery. You will not get any take home petscriptions in Mexico because they won't be filled in American. So any medication you need after surgery has to be obtained from your American doctor. Your doctor may try to tell you the surgeon in Mexico is not as good as in American but i am here to tell you that is not true. Be sure and do your homework on the places you consider. I took a relative with me just in case of emergency, but like i said everything went off well. Best of luck on your journey. read more

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I posted a review on Yelp this morning regarding this Center and a refund that has never shown up. The Center answered by wording the reply as if I had done something wrong, and then instructed me to get help from an email account that doesn't exist. I did everything asked by the Center's refund guidelines to get my money back. In response, I was given 1) silence, or 2) vague assertions that it's "in the final stages" or is "under review." I have never submitted a negative review about any business on Yelp or otherwise, much less two. This is the first time I've run into a company that has blatantly taken my money and seems to have no intention of giving it back...? I don't know what to think. According to three different people with the Center, my $5000 was supposed to be returned to me 12 weeks (at the latest) following my formal refund submission. It has now been almost 5 months since that submission and nothing has happened. More than this, I am legitimately shocked that Mexico Bariatric Center response to my review was to leave the impression that I was at fault, and then direct me to a dummy email account for help. I'm just a regular person. I didn't do anything wrong. It took a lot for me to procure $5000. Since the Center won't give me my money back, I've had to get a second job for the summer. Any plans I had, I've had to cancel. This was particularly heartbreaking. I just wanted my money back. read more

Postoperative surgery care and pain management left a lot to be desired. PLEASE bring your own pain medicine and whatever else you need medication wise with you because they will 100% NOT effectively manage your severe pain or other postoperative needs. Facility is run down and TV doesn't work. Furthermore, IV Tylenol and Toradol (Ketorolac) are NOT effective for moderate to severe postoperative pain. They stated that they provide patients with Buprenorphine for severe pain, that's interesting because not only was I not offered or given any buprenorphine, I was told by the surgeon on postoperative day 2 that there were ZERO narcotic pain medications at the facility available to me . My husband was on the three way call and subsequently heard EVERYTHING. Instead, five minutes later I was offered Klonopin (clonozapam) a benzodiazepine, which is a psychiatric medication for anxiety or panic attacks. The only anxiety or panic that I experienced was being in SEVERE PAIN for my entire stay! Again, while my surgery was uncomplicated, my postoperative care and pain management was atrocious and I do not appreciate their initial response, which seems like an attempt to discredit or downplay what happened to me! read more

i paid close to $700o prior to having barriatric surgery and traveled all the way there and they refused to do the surgery. they said i had a heart problem which i do not. i had never been informed by my primary doctor that i have issue with my heart, however when arriving back home i had it checked out and there is no problem. they will only refund me 35% percent and it took them 17 weeks to do that. i had saved for years and years to do this surgery and was completely devestated when they refused to do the surgery because i was so looking forward to a healthier life . then to financially keep most of my money when they did nothing for me . its just plain wrong and i wonder how many other people they have done this to. they are a billion dollar co im sure . why do they have to keep my life savings . i live check to check and this has destroyed me in more than one way. read more

My experience at Mexico Bariatric Center was good. Our driver picked us up at the airport, took us to the hotel, where he waited on us to take us to the hospital to get our labs done. We were then taken back to the hotel to prepare us for surgery the next day, I loved my doctor, Dr. Gutierrez. He was very friendly and had a good bedside manner. Surgery was on a Tuesday and I was released on Thursday. The nursing staff was OK. The drivers are phenomenal. They make you feel safe. Mexico Bariatric Center is building a new hospital. I would recommend that anyone wanting to go. There would wait until it was finished. I got to meet Ron Eli, founder of Mexico Bariatric Center. read more

My experience with Mexico Bariatric was overall very good. The surgeon I chose, Dr V. Was superb. All of the staff are respectful, kind and hard working. When making the choice to have a procedure outside the US, just know you are not getting state of the art equipment, rooms are not updated, equipment works, but is older. A lot of things are done the old fashioned way, and it still works fine. Mexico Bariatric puts patient care as a priority, wanting the best outcome for each person that comes to them. They are very clear and strong with their protocols and that is for your best outcomes! Mexico Bariatric is the number one choice for patients all over the world for a reason! Sincerely, Kevin Husted read more

I had a very good experience with Mexico Bariatric Center. The process they have for taking care of patients from the time they land at the airport in San Diego to several days later when they brought us back was very efficient and easy. The hotel was very comfortable and the hospital liaison stationed at the hotel, Jesus, was the sweetest, most accommodating man who was very happy to be involved in patients' getting healthy. My patient coordinator, Tabatha was so helpful and available. And, being able to follow-up with a nutritionist is invaluable. For people who are accustomed to staying in updated American hospitals, the hospital in Mexico feels more like a college dorm room. It's not swanky, but it's perfectly adequate for what you are there for. The staff is kind, even though interaction with the surgery staff is minimal. I speak Spanish, which was helpful with some nursing staff. The only complaint I had the entire time I was there is that the hospital room did not have a call button (that I was aware of) - oh, I went alone even though you can bring someone with you. There was one time where I needed some help and could only call out loud enough for the person across the hall to help me. This mother of another patient was very sweet and helpful - those who are thinking of going alone shouldn't hesitate. There will be people there to help you and take care of you. I am 3 months out from surgery and I would do this again and would recommend Mexico Bariatric to anyone interested. My surgery went well and I am very happy with my recovery process. read more

I know it sounds scary to go out of state for bariatric surgery however, it was the best decision I have ever made. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The drivers drove us to and from the hospital to our hotel. We never had an issue. Surgery went great. read more

Mexico Bariatric Center is absolutely amazing. From scheduling your procedure with the friendly, prompt, courteous and professional Ms. Leili Kohan to the driver that transports you across the border to the amazing staff at the Hospital and the excellently talented surgeons like Doctor Rodriguez Lopez to the stay at the luxurious and contemporary Hotel everything about my experience with Mexico Bariatric Center has been above and beyond perfect. read more

If I could give it less stars I would. I had surgery at OCC in Mexico over ten years ago (lap band) and the surgery center was state of the art, clean and everyone spoke english. The care was impeccable. This time, after reading many positive reviews, I chose Mexico Bariatric Ctr. Unfortunately, my experience there was the opposite. They were extremely fraudulent in their advertising and the entire was nothing less than DANGEROUS! Here is a list of things that were fraudulent: 1. Only one nurse out of about 20 spoke English. When I asked for jello, they brought me a pillow. They did not know how to use translators on their phone. When I began having complications this is where things could have gone very wrong. I'll explain more later. 2. The conditions of the hospital (pictures below). There was no hot water in our bathroom. The shower was full of thick green mold. The shower doors were broken off and unusable. The floor drain is held by duct tape. The mirror fell off the wall and sat on the floor. We had no handsoap (luckily I brought sanitizer to Mexico with me). The air conditioner was BROKEN. It was so hot they opened the window for us for our entire stay. Unfortunately there is ALOT of construction and traffic noise 24 hrs p/day so sleep was impossible. The trash was overflowing and never changed over a 4 day stay. Needles, bloody bandages were on the floor. The hospital building is dilapidated and should be condemned. Many patients were told that MBC is moving to a new building in April, but when I asked the administrators they said maybe next year and they have no building chosen yet. Ice was made into chips by the pulling a bag out of the freezer and smashing it with a metal weight (like for fishing) for each cup ...this went on outside our room 24 hrs per day. They picked it up with their bare hands, off of a counter that was not wiped clean first, and put it in a cup for you. 3. My doctor never met me before or after surgery until I finally told a specialist doctor and she reached out to him. The anesthesiologist also did not speak to me before surgery. 4. The toilets in the waiting area were dirtier than most gas station bathrooms. The one in our room was about the same. 5. When we requested pain meds the first 24 hours after surgery the nurse stated it was only allowed every 12 hours and we had to request them. On the third day when a specialist had to come see me, we learned that they were written for every 6 hours WITHOUT request necessary. Both my roommate and I were in excruciating pain the first 24 hours and only got two doses of pain meds rather than four. 6. DANGEROUSLY LOW OXYGEN LEVEL. I let them know ahead of time that I brought my cpap and sometimes have difficulties with oxygen exchange after anesthesia. Right after surgery my oxygen level dropped to 80 (normal is 95-100). They gave me a canula (hose that goes under your nose to administer oxygen) but it wasn't giving me enough. So they gave me a full mask. But when night time came and I needed to use a cpap they told me to not use my cpap, but for me that is super dangerous so then they said stop using oxygen....my level dropped to 78! Organ damage can begin at that low of a level. The nurse stated I didn't need oxygen anymore (luckily this was the nurse who spoke english). I asked for a doctor and the specialist came in. They did not have any idea what to do for me. So I decided to wear the canula under my cpap mask. Karla (administrator for MBC came by and said "Don't worry about the canula, the water in your cpap will mix with the air and make oxygen". Ok, first of all Karla is not a medical professional, not a nurse and clearly had no idea what she was talking about and luckily I knew enough not to listen to her. My oxygen level did straighten out the next day thank goodness. 7. I came home with two of my incisions infected. They were red and swollen in about a 3" radius each. Two weeks of doxycycline before they cleared up. Nothing was sterile at this hospital. Nurses did not wear gloves for wound care but when you ask them to, they CANNOT UNDERSTAND YOU! With all that they charge it seems they could buy an ice machine for sterile ice chips, a/c that works etc. Even our toilet seat was broken and you had to be super careful how you sat on it. It doesn't appear that ANY MONEY goes into the hospital. 8. I was charged 450$ in extra fees that they refuse to explain what they are for. You must pay before they will take you to the border. 9. I was overcharged, their receipt shows a $300 overpayment but they won't send it for 12 weeks! 10. I called to speak with Mr. Ron Elli in San Diego who is the director. He refused to speak to me, hear my complaints or respond in any way. I am now 5 weeks post op. I understand that there are quite a few good reviews, but in reviewing them upon my return home I realized they are from 2019 and 2020. Perhaps the hospital was in better shape then, I don't know. read more

I have had 3 surgeries in Tijuana, with 3 different surgeons at 3 different facilities. All Doctors were extremely professional and knowledgeable. And, I would highly recommend TJ Dr's provided YOU do your research and find whats best for you. Dr Corvalla at Hospital Angeles was my 1st and it was state of the art and immaculate. I was treated professionally and was very happy to return for follow ups. Dr Manuel Gutierrez at his clinic, which was not as large and was not a hospital but it was well equipped none the less. The assistance at his facility while I was there was spot on and I actually thought the ladies that cared for me knew a little more than the ones in the hospital. Dr Rodriguez Lopez Christian here at the Bariatric Center. I can attest that whatever the Dr did, he is a genius. I had zero pain, nausea, or gas from the moment I work up until now (5 days out) which is the MOST important part of this process to me besides not waking up. He checked in with me before & after surgery and was very professional. Upon entering their office there is a desk that looks like reception, it is not. The youngster there didnt speak English, didnt care to try and really didnt appear to want to help. There were about 3 ladies at any given moment conversing amongst themselves. My companion spoke Spanish and they still couldnt assist. At this center, the the recovery room staff did a lot of fumbling though. A few appeared to be new or not as experienced and made me feel as though they did not know what they were doing. Some were great and were in and out with no issues. Blood was transferred around my bed and door knob when my IV was adjusted which made sense why I saw blood on the bed switches and wall upon arrival. I was given plenty of meds via IV and was offered plenty of ice chips, water, apple juice and Gatorade. The IV blew my vain twice which caused my blood to seep into the IV and "specialist" needed to find a new vain but messed that up by poking too much in the same place with the needle. Another specialist was called in and he just couldn't find 1. It was decided by I dont know who not to give me an IV my last night in there which made me very happy. I agreed to let them know if I had any issues and to drink lots of water. I was allowed a companion to stay in my recovery room which was the same as my 1st visit to Hospital Angeles who was given a hotel room, but not allowed 1 at the clinic (most likely due to space). They provided him a hospital bed which most likely was broken since he couldnt get any of the buttons to work. The facility was bare essentials and no frills, nothing like the other 2 which is why I say you get what you pay for. I shopped around for the least expensive gastric sleeve procedure so I was not shocked. I used flip flops in the shower, it just didnt look too clean. I stayed in room 203 and was not comfortable or at ease with noise outside my window, but I did not complain. If it wasnt construction it was a "concert". I highly recommend ear plugs in this room. I was smart enough to bring eye patches because there is a window above my door which allowed 24 hour bright lights to come through. The TV channels were 90% Spanish so I am glad we had our laptop to watch Netflix. The room was VERY cold and the 3 blankets were super thin that they gave me, I was glad it was only 2 nights. I needed to wear my PJ/nightgown because the hospital gown they gave me was like a 4X & I was a XL. So I just used it as a robe when I decided to get up and walk around. Overall, the 2 stars is for the Bariatric Center & NOT the physicians. Dr Rodriguez Lopez Christian comes highly recommended by me and I would use him in the future if needed. read more

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I had VSG surgery with Dr Alejandro Gutierrez at Mi Doctor Hospital on 01/09/18. I had a fantastic experience! Dr Gutierrez met with me before surgery, spent time answering what little questions I had and took time to reminisce with me about my time coming to TJ back in the 1990's and how much it had changed! He is very kind and relaxed. My surgery went extremely well and I'm happy to report that between pre-op (12/26/17) and today (11/05/19) I've lost approximately 115 lbs and my body has maintained a weight between 139 and 142 for the past 8 months which is so much better than my HW of 256 lbs!!! Thank you Dr Gutierrez, Mi Doctor Staff and MBC for the gift of a better life! read more

I had sleeve surgery in May 2016. I have lost about 115 pounds, feel great, and have zero regrets! I had Dr. V. She is wonderful, as was the entire MBC staff. I loved how the hospital specializes solely in weightloss & cosmetic procedures, so you don't have to be insecure about walking around the halls & having people judge you. I also love that I have free access to a dietician...for life! The hotel was the cleanest hotel I have ever stayed at. They also are very accomodating to the WLS patients. My one suggestion would be to definitely bring your own pillow, especially if you have to have a fluffy pillow. The hospital pillows are super flat & have paper covers. You will not regret going with MBC! read more

Hello, everyone! I had my surgery on 02/10/2021, in fact I am still at the center. I honestly didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into before coming here. I read all the reviews, asked previous patients questions about their experience, and researched the doctors who perform the surgeries as well. This journey has been a blessing. I live outside of Los Angeles so partner and I drove to San Diego the night before and stayed in a room. On the drive down is when Willie, our driver, texted me to confirm where I would be picked up and what time I can be their. Needless to say, the morning of he picked myself up along with four other patients. It was never wrecking, but meeting everyone who is going to go through the same process as you was welcoming. Since I'm alone now, meeting new friends right away made this experience so much better. We drove over the boarder where Willie explained to us the process of what was going to happen. We get the the beautiful Hyatt hotel, and you are welcomed by one of the staff members. You filled out paper work then checked into your room. After everyone was able to check in and drop their stuff off (helpful note.. you have to use or key first in the elevator, then hit the floor number). After you drop your bags, you come back down and get taken to MBC. Where you will meet Karla and Danny!!! They make you feel like your at home. You fill out more paperwork, give you "food". Try the coconut jello it's soo good. You get blood work done by Jessica, the Olga does your ekg, they are super nice. Then you get back in the van, and go to a local hospital to get a CT scan, then back to your room. SURGERY DAY: SUPER NERVOUS!! Dr. Alejandro gutierrez is my surgeon and came to my bedside in the hospital before surgery . He is very personable and charming! He answered all my questions I had for him and he explained the surgery to me as well. He really calmed me down without telling him I was anxious. I then get wheeled away by the hospital staff, Roman and one other. I get to the surgical table, I lay down, and Dr. Martin, who is assisting Dr. Gutierrez. She was also very personal able. I dont remember even falling asleep for surgery. We were talking next thing I knew I was waking up in my room, on my bed. The nursing staff is AMAZING! Helpful, when I called they would come. Nicole, Arthur, Eduardo, adiana, and a few more, I forgot their names. Just amazing. The friends you make you see them in the hallways, and you check in on each other. You became a family . THANK YOU MBC FOR THIS EXPERIENCE. I AM REALLY HAPPY I CHOSE YOU FOR THIS EXPERIENCE. JOHNNY read more

I did it because of a friend at work who did it recommending it to me. I don't regret it at all. The staff was very friendly and professional. The place is very clean, and the hotel they book you in is very nice. Would recommend to anyone thinking about it. read more

This company made it all so easy. Package taking care of everything. I ended up having a Hiatal Hernia (Duh why didnt I know I had been having terrible acid reflux my doctor never found it) They fixed it for $500 while in there.I would have had to oay more than that even with insurance and another surgury. Doctor Cabrera is changing people's lives! 3 weeks out. Down 18 pounds. Feeling better than I have in 11 years. Excited about the rest coming off. read more

My former husband had surgery at Mexico Bariatric Center in 2013. He suffered a pulmonary embolism and died the following morning! Our children had no idea he was going to do this type of surgery, let alone in Mexico! They received a call from his girlfriend saying he was GONE! I can not emphasize the pain, and hurt they have had to endure due to this poor decision! Dra. Valenzuela did the surgery and we have yet to receive a report or explanation. We had to contact the U.S. Embassy in Tijuana to assist us to get his body. He had to be cremated in order to be flown back to California. Bariatric Surgery is a delicate surgery! Do not resort to low cost, at the expense of your life! read more

This was my first surgery outside of the US and I was extremely pleased. The hospital was small and simple, but exactly what I needed for this procedure. This staff was amazing and took very good care of both myself and my travel companion. I have been on this journey since mid-November with surgery 12/29, and I have already lost 40 pounds. I could not be happier with MBC and Dr. Rodriguez. Thank you for giving me my life back. read more

No issues with surgery at all. The facilities are very clean. They were doing construction when I was there. In the floor I was on. They were building a new surgery suite. I think you should get your records including your OP report in your packet when you leave. They used additional meds on me (I had to pay an additional $39 but in no way complaining...if I needed it then I needed it) but was not aware of this until after discharge when at the hotel and flying out the next morning. read more

I went to MBC for my revision surgery, I went from the sleeve to DS, yes I had my first surgery at MBC also. Both times that I was there I was treated with the utmost respect and taken care of better than any hospital in the US. The moment I walked in the door and was greeted by Karla, I knew I had nothing to worry about. I am an extremely hard blood draw, and Karla came with me to speak with the phlebotomist to explain to her how to draw my blood without issues, (some of the nurses and staff do not speak English). After my surgery my vein blew and they could not find another vein for my IV, they had 2 nurses on each arm, the head nurse, even my anesthesiologist came in to try. After an hour of being poked and bruised Karla came in asked them to stop and immediately called Dr. Rodriguez and had me put on oral medication because that was very traumatizing. The nurses and Doctors at MBC are very competent and my IV issues and blood draw had absolutely nothing to do with their competence, that issue is with me and happens at every hospital I have ever been to. Dr. Rodriguez was amazing, my incisions are so much smaller this time than last time and are almost completely healed 10 days later. He came to my room and checked on my daily and made sure that I had no worries or concerns. The day of my surgery after I got to my room, my muscles spasmed in my side and I felt like I could not breath or move. I text Karla and just said "I need you", I am serious when I say she was there with a nurse in less than a minute to help me and they did not leave until after I felt alright. Karla was my main contact at the hospital, I would watch her go from room to room, floor to floor every night to say good by to every patient there before she went home, I was there for 3 nights. I have friends that work in hospitals here in the states, and if I could talk Karla into moving here and work I would she is that invaluable to any company she works for. I truly hope that MBC realizes the asset that they have in Karla and appreciate her as much as I do. read more

(Read in Anthony Bourdain voice) They say you get what you pay for. In a world where modern medicine means having state of the art equipment and the most knowledgeable doctors, in Mexico, I guess it means having windows and a roof over your head. Maybe a little extreme but for this place, if you choose an establishment like this, you can expect no frills and a few raised eyebrows throughout your stay. In what seems to be a questionable neighborhood, in TJ, this place appears to fit right in. Construction sounds adorn your day from sunrise to sunset. As you close your eyes to try and sleep, the random loud conversations in the adjacent apartment buildings reverberate through the thin pained window just big enough to stick your head out if you care to scream at the people that won't shut up. On the second floor of the Mi Hospital building, you'll come face to face with a dividing desk of clueless ambassadors posing as if they could possibly answer a question. They know nothing to include the slightest ability to translate a name if you try to ask for a point of contact. But just when you begin to feel your heart beat a little harder and faster wondering if this is a good idea, a voice of surety greets you and puts you on your path. On with the paperwork. Leading up to the arrival seemed to be as flawless and accommodating as can be. You're set up with a hotel and because we drove, we could park our car at the hotel for the duration of the hospital stay. Without a doubt the most assured feeling. After processing in and completing the necessary blood work, we checked into the hotel to find the recurring theme; no frills. Thankful for the free WiFi, the room was nice enough to not complain. We could've been happier with a bigger bed (two full size beds). The staff coordinating transportation again was spot on and extremely attentive. Very happy with that especially with the extra info provided regarding the neighboring establishments providing alternate meal sources. Ok, time to cut it short because no one wants to read all day. Back at the hospital; given a sense that I'm watching the nursing staff perform as if they're Privates in the Army fumbling with what their duties required them to do on a daily basis. I performed a brief cleaning session after finding old blood stains on the bed which later was explained by their handling manners when dealing with patients. While cleaning up an IV mess, they allowed blood to leak carelessly on the floor and onto the bed. No clean up from them afterward. At shift change in the evening, an odd practice of either miscommunication or bad manners had about five different people coming in and out performing the same check with each saying they were taking over for the previous shift. As they entered in the late hours, prefacing the switching on the bright light and walking in without a care for noise discipline for the sake of a sleeping patient they honored us with a quick loud double bang on the door to announce their assistance. Definitely not what anyone in the US would be used to but when the end justifies the means, you're happy this place is here. Patients are in and out and while it may appear this is a mass assembly line, there was never a rushed feeling. Quick tips: Bring towels and shower shoes (bathroom pic posted). Bring eye masks if you can't sleep with light. There's a small window above your door open to the hallway which allows the staff lighting to beam directly into the room. Bring entertainment. You will have WiFi but if you want to watch TV, there's only one channel in English. read more

Top notch surgical team. They actually listen, and hear you. Amazing, English speaking team and staff, so communication is not an issue. Immaculately clean hospital, OR, and recovery...feels more like a spa than a hospital. Hotel is nice, and accommodating...and they may even arrange a trip to town or the beach for you. Absolutely 5 star. I would prefer going to them for any future surgeries that I need than stay here in Canada!!! And it doesn't end there...someone is always available to help with after care suggestions. read more

Mexico Bariatric Center - Surgeons Near Me - Tijuana, BCN

I know . I went to Mexico for surgery. I did my research. I relied on the good reviews that I found on their Facebook page. So while I was in Mexico waiting for surgery , I had a little more time to look at the MBC facebook page. I started to notice a bad review here and there and then those reviews disappeared. Since I have been home I have noticed a lot of bad reviews get taken down. Then you get banned from their Facebook page . That is a big red flag. I am sure some people have a good experience . Buttttt if you have any issues that is where the problems begin. I had a reaction to a medication they gave me. I figured out after the second IV. I told them no more just give me tylenol. That was hard to communicate to the nurses. I was really scared because my heart rate and blood pressure was up. My head was shaking like I was having a seizure. My entire body was having involuntary movements. I don't think the nurses even understood what I was telling them. They just said "that's normal". Those were all side effects of medication. I was so wired from the medication they gave me that I did not sleep from the time I got out of surgery at 1PM until the next afternoon. I was awake all Wednesday night. They tell you there will be someone there to help you if you do not understand Spanish. Not exactly true. My roommate and I had to scream to get the nurses to come to our room to give us our call buttons. When you use them they come to the room turn it off and throw it back on the floor. We had to ask repeatedly for ice, tv remote and other things. My roomates IV was leaking and the nurse said he was going to get someone to change it. No one came back for hours. She had to call again, then they changed her IV. Then the next morning she woke up with her sheet soaking wet because her IV leaked again. I could go on and on. I am just saying do your research and explore other places in Mexico. I was told Go Light bariatics is nicer and more modern equipment . But do your research. I will probably add more as I remember. I just know I was afraid and did not think I was going to make it back home to my family. Oh one thing I remember is that they moved me to a private room. Hours would go by and nobody checked on me. They only come in to check your vitals every 8 hours. My Dr. was nice. I just did not to talk to her much about my surgery . Maybe 2 minutes and that is because I kept demanding to see her. read more

Had my surgery with doctor Valenzuela on September 30, 2015. She came in to meet me shortly before surgery, and let me tell you I was scared to death before then. Absolutely amazing lady, she made me feel so comfortable! Had my surgery came out of recovery and had some gas pains but that was about it. Love to everybody so much there at that I brought my niece back in May of this year to have surgery with Dr.V. I have recommended Mexico Bariatric Centers to several people! If you decide to go there just remember that hospitals in Mexico are not like hospitals in the United States. When you get to the building it is smaller than what you were used to. It is clean and very well equipped. For your traveling companions there is a cafe on the 1st floor and there is also a really awesome taco restaurant on the next block over! The area is safe, I walked around there a lot when I took my niece back to have her surgery! read more

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The best place ever. I am down 100lbs and in the best health ever. NEVER did I have one problem at all it' s been little over a year.

As an RN, there are a few things you should know before you decide to have your wt loss procedure done with Mexico Bariatric Center. The Cordinator Leili was great at what she does and responds to your question and concerns. On my planned day of surgery, I was not informed of a time until the I contacted several staff and was finally informed of a 12 noon surgery time which enddd up being 8pm. The surgeon Dr Ponce and his arrived to introduce themselves just prior to the surgery. Great bedside manner but never saw either of them again for a check in or f/u at my hotel as was advertised. There was a planned drive into town for a bit of sightseeing which turned into a pharmacy run were the driver spoke to pharmacist in Spanish and the pharmacists wrote out a prescription and liaddd the counter with medications we all thought were prescribed by our doctors and we paid for them(big mistake) but later found out that the Mexico Bariatric driver set the whole thing up. I requested a few items and was of course ready to pay for them. My internal surgery site turned into an infection and went septi and required me to spend 5 days in the hospital after returning home. There are many other honest, safe, cleaner and Supportive wt loss programs in Mexico and I encourage you all to consider them. Live well, Alta read more