Hi my name is Lynne. I am new to this site, and thought I would introduce myself. Starting last March, I had been trying to work with my insurance company to try to get them to let me get the lap band surgery. They did not seem to want to work with me at all, so for the time being I gave up on it. My step daughter became a pest, telling me that I needed to do something about my weight because I was becoming more and more unhealthy. Finally I started researching on the internet about getting loans and such to try to pay for the surgery when I happened across an advertisement for having the surgery done in Mexico. When I researched it further, I found out that the cost was about half as much there than if I were to have it done here in the states. I sat down and talked to my husband about this alternative, and after more research and discussing it with other family members, we decided that this was an excellent alternative. I contacted the woman with ISA, Patti, and she was absolutely wonderful. She answered any and all questions I had, and I felt very comfortable with making the decision to go to Mexico. Patti talked me through the whole process, and made sure that this was really what I wanted to do. After weighing all the information, I decided against having the lap band surgery and went with the gastric sleeve surgery instead. It cost a little more than the band, but to me it was well worth it, for me to not to have to travel to get fills every few months. I had the surgery done at Betancourt Medical in Tijuana, Mexico. The staff there was wonderful. They are a small facility, but that allows for more personal one on one care between the patient, doctors, and nurses. They made me feel like part of their family and treated me with respect. I was very comfortable with having my surgery done there. The facility was clean as were the rooms. My surgeon was Dr. Francisco Contreras. He was really wonderful, and answered all of my pre-op questions as well as my post-op questions. I had my surgery done on December 26, 2007. To date I have lost 85 pounds, thats in less than 4 months. I hope to have lost at least 100 pounds by the summer time. I went from a size 24 to an 18 and I am close to being in a 16. I have not seen a size 16 since I was in high school!These people were very compassionate and understanding with me and my family and treated us well. We lost one of my step daughters just a few days before I went for surgery and the staff was very understanding about our situation and offered to help us in any way they could. I can not say enough about how wonderful this experience was for me. I would recommend to anyone that if they decide to have WLS they should check into having it done in Mexico. I have no regrets having the surgery done in Mexico. I am still in touch with Patti, and with the doctors there in Mexico, and they care about my progress. I give them 2 thumbs up!
... due February 13, 2009
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