Dr. Betancourt at Molding Clinic, Tj Mexico

Tamela · 12-19-2006, 11:11 AM

Did anyone else go there for their banding? Can you give me any information at all? Did you like the surgeon? I think his name is Martin Lopez Dominguez? I talked with Andres on the phone and he sounded so wonderful! It is almost like to good to be true... you know? They have the best price I have seen but I would love to hear anyone else's opinion. Thanks so much!!! I can't wait to join you guys and all your successes!

NataliesMommy · 04-09-2007, 03:45 PM

OH MY GOODNESS! I realize you posted this in December, but please don't tell me you used this medical group!!!!!
I used them and Dr. Lopez banded me. Andres swept me off my feet and when complications came up, he threatened to sue me, yeah.. me.
I've talked to SEVERAL of their former patients that have had life threatening complications (Including myself!!!!)
Please let me know what your progress is. I'd be happy to give you more detailed information.

Tamela · 04-09-2007, 09:53 PM

First I have to say I am deeply sorry for your anguish and disappointment plus all the unexpected medical bills. I really am but your experience is not at all refective of my experience or many other people that I have met in the last 4 months. I have never been treated so well by any physician or medical group in this country (I am a nurse and work with doctors at a large world renowned medical center). Though I think the outcomes in most cases is impressive I find the bedside manner and the compassion missing in so many of the Surgeons and physicians I have worked with.
My finacee and I were picked up at the San Diego airport promptly and taken to a wonderful hotel in Tijuana. We had an interpreter all the time and were treated like VIP's!
The day of my surgery I had no problems at all and the next day I was taken shopping for some unbelieveable bargains on sterling silver and other things. I was up and about for several hours. Andres brought a nurse over in the eveing to massage my legs (ooo la la what a treat!) He checked me and reveiwed once again all the instructions I needed to get off to a great start. I went back to Tijuana in March for a fill and once again had all the same treatment.
The anesthesiologists as well as the surgeon Dr. Lopez were competent and thorough and I have no complaints with them at all.
I have lost 30 pounds. Down from a high of 210 and it goes without saying that I am a different person. At 50 I am given a second chance to escape from the prison of having no energy, low self esteem, shame and NO clothes to wear comfortable!
I will be returning in May for my fiancee to have his band. I have also met people that have had tummy tucks, breast lifts/ implants and used the dental part. All with good satisfactory results and having not spent their lifesavings or paid the price of a nice new car. Only on Lapbandtalk have I heard of these very sad outcomes. Of course any surgery has risk and if you research anyone can read about problems with getting the Lap Band in the US or anywhere. I have heard it is about a 3% failure rate but I do not have any data for that. I have just seen that figure in a book written about the procedure.
Without the prices Andres Betancourt offers I would not have had this opportunity. I am very grateful.

Tamela

WASaBubbleButt · 04-30-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamela

I have never been treated so well by any physician or medical group in this country (I am a nurse and work with doctors at a large world renowned medical center). Though I think the outcomes in most cases is impressive I find the bedside manner and the compassion missing in so many of the Surgeons and physicians I have worked with.

If you went to Betancourt and survived, you are one of the lucky few. Most don't come home quite so lucky.

Betancourt medical is an absolute horror. If those from Mexico wouldn't go to him, why would anyone from the US?

BELLA1113 · 03-28-2008, 12:53 PM

I am not sure what the real meaning for posting your message but i had surgery there on 2/14/2008 and i had a great experience with them! I have never been treated as well as i did while i was there!!

WASaBubbleButt · 04-14-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BELLA1113

I am not sure what the real meaning for posting your message but i had surgery there on 2/14/2008 and i had a great experience with them! I have never been treated as well as i did while i was there!!

The issue is not how people are treated, the issue is how many come home with problems, infections, and bands placed incorrectly. They are great until you have a problem. Attitudes turn drastically at that point.

One person here (I'll ask her to post if you wish) was frustrated because Andres and Patti Lissberger made bets on whether she was black or white and told her about it. Andres won $10 out of that one.

The patient coordinator made inappropriate comments about the color of the patient's husband. It was horrible, this went on for the entire time they were there interviewing Andres, Patti, and the doctors.

Needless to say, she went elsewhere for her surgery. She was looking for someone a little more professional.

moosemama · 06-04-2008, 02:49 PM

Hi:

I had surgery with Betancourt and Dr. Lopez too. I ran into problems and now can't find them. There is no betancourtmedical.com website there is no Andres or Dr. Lopez either. I only hope you don't ran into any problems because they seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth.

WASaBubbleButt · 06-11-2008, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosemama

Hi:

I had surgery with Betancourt and Dr. Lopez too. I ran into problems and now can't find them. There is no betancourtmedical.com website there is no Andres or Dr. Lopez either. I only hope you don't ran into any problems because they seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth.

Oh man, soooo many comebacks to this, so little time in a single lifetime. ;o)

What problems did you have with them?

No doubts they are still around just not at Moldy clinic. They have a new clinic now.

moosemama · 06-11-2008, 10:19 PM

My tubing to my port came out my port incision. Then they took my port out and instead of cleaning it or putting in a clean sanitize one they put in the same one. This caused an infection from my port up to my band and I had to get my band removed. When I called to talk to them Andres who was suppose to be a friend all the sudden stopped talking to me and had a patient cordinator call me instead. I coulden't get them to help me so I looked into getting another doctor to help me. I knew because of no insurance I was looking into Mexico. I emailed everyone that seemed to have good reps and only Dr. Oritiz and Dr. Valencia emailed me back and only Dr. Valencia called to talk to me and told me what I needed to get done. I only hope that others out there are not having problems and now have no where to turn. I also heard Andres was running from the FBI. I just wish I had saw your research before I went three years ago then I could have picked a better doctor and not had all these complications.

WASaBubbleButt · 06-12-2008, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosemama

My tubing to my port came out my port incision. Then they took my port out and instead of cleaning it or putting in a clean sanitize one they put in the same one. This caused an infection from my port up to my band and I had to get my band removed. When I called to talk to them Andres who was suppose to be a friend all the sudden stopped talking to me and had a patient cordinator call me instead. I coulden't get them to help me so I looked into getting another doctor to help me. I knew because of no insurance I was looking into Mexico. I emailed everyone that seemed to have good reps and only Dr. Oritiz and Dr. Valencia emailed me back and only Dr. Valencia called to talk to me and told me what I needed to get done. I only hope that others out there are not having problems and now have no where to turn. I also heard Andres was running from the FBI. I just wish I had saw your research before I went three years ago then I could have picked a better doctor and not had all these complications.

I have heard this same scenario so many times I can't begin to count them. Time and time again I hear that Andres Betancourt was so nice, so sweet, such a good friend but as soon as a problem sets in, those days are over. Phone calls go ignored, messages unanswered, problems blown off. It just never ends.

I doubt there is a bariatric doc in Mexico that hasn't fixed problems from one of Betancourt's doctors. It's all very sad.

I'm so sorry you had the problems you did. What are you doing now? A new band? Different procedure?

moosemama · 06-13-2008, 01:29 AM

I got my band removed and gained back 60 pounds. So Dr. Valencia did a bypass but I have not lost any weight. I think because it is harder the second time and I'm not as motivated this time. I also miss my band and the restriction it gave me. I don't have any restriction with the bypass so I eat and eat and eat.

heberz · 06-20-2008, 07:56 PM

I also had my tubing come out my port incision and ended up having my band completely removed due to an infection and compromised bowel after just 3 months!
by the way Betancourt is now Emmanuel Medical Center.

WASaBubbleButt · 06-20-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heberz

I also had my tubing come out my port incision and ended up having my band completely removed due to an infection and compromised bowel after just 3 months!
by the way Betancourt is now Emmanuel Medical Center.

I figured they just changed their name (again) to dodge the horrible rep they have. Sounds like a "patti" suggestion.

Thanks for the info.

heberz · 06-20-2008, 09:11 PM

I just shouldhave done more research....just maybe I would still have my Lap Band!

recov1 · 07-22-2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heberz

I just shouldhave done more research....just maybe I would still have my Lap Band!

I did a little more reasearch and I still ended up loosing my band as well as my health. Please folks don't get the wrong Idea here. One of the first Dr. I went to was a DR. in Mexico, he advised me to think long and hard about living with a ristriction device inside of me, he also felt my BMI was too low and he offered simple ways to help speed up my weight loss nature way. I was stubburn and went to the first place that would do "it" at a price I could afford. Well I was talked into the French band and had the surgery. What was not made clear is the fact that the french band can tottally cut the patient off from intake of fluids as well as solids. Thus the surgeon has you virtually at his mercy. This means you will be "faint" and lose lots of weight while not being able to concentrate and make a living much less wize desicions conserning your very life. Keep in mind that it is hell finding a surgeon to take you on while you still have a band placed by another surgin. you will most likely end up back at your original surgeons office and they'll be ready to hike up the removal fee as well as do whatever they waNt to do or take from you while you are under general aneshesia. DO YOUR RESEARCH NOW!!
THERE ARE VERY GOOD LAP BAND DOCTORS IN MEXICO....and
unfortunately Vey Bad ONes, EN you really need to Go by more than just a low price.