Duodenal switch done in Mexico? How much did it cost and were you satisfied?

[Sarah Vanderburg]

So far I have started my search for wls. I am pretty set on the ds, my current insurance doesn't cover wls so I will be switching during open enrollment (starts tomorrow) with that said I have heard that some insurances you end up having more out of pocket fees than if you were to opt to go to a surgeon in Mexico. Has anyone had the ds done in Mexico and if so who was your doctor and how was your experience. Are you satisfied with the surgery?

 

[galaxygrrl]

That was exactly the case with me. My insurance only covered 1/3 of the costs. I did go to Mexico and saved a ton. It was 11K for a full, virgin DS. I went to Dr. Esquerra at Mexicali Bariatric. We have lot of his patients here.

I got great care and more attention from the Drs than I would have gotten in the US. I had 3 Drs stop by twice a day for three days and the nursing was fine. Pain management was fine. It was a very smooth process.

I thought I was crazy when I first thought about Mexico, but the more I researched it, the more I felt comfortable with it. For a DS, Dr. Esquerra is vetted. There is another Dr that is vetted and you can find on the DS facebook group, but I did not take that route.

I do think it's very important to line up a good primary care doctor for once you surgery is done. It took me a few weeks to find the right Doctor. But the fact my PCP knows about the DS made me much more comfortable with Mexico. I also think it helps to have a local in person group to go to.

It's not crazy to go to Mexico, you just need to do some extra research and have follow up care lined up.

 

[galaxygrrl]

Oh, I went and found this link for you. It's a full write up of the experience in Mexico.


Admin note: I turned it into a pdf to link here. One of the few rules I have in place is not linking to another forum that does not allow us to link to here.

 

[SmilinsShrinking]

I paid 12,500 for my surgery with Dr. Esquerra in Mexicali , because it was a revision . I would do it again in a heartbeat. The car was outstanding and I'm losing faster than I expected.

 

[Sarah Vanderburg]

Thank you I am looking into insurance coverage first but definitely considering the Mexicali facility if insurance doesn't pan out

 

[Eztli]

I know Im late to the party, but does anybody know what bowel length Dr.Esquerra does? Is it different for all patients? Does he do a standard 75/100/150, use the hess method etc...

 

[DSRIGGS]

I know Im late to the party, but does anybody know what bowel length Dr.Esquerra does? Is it different for all patients? Does he do a standard 75/100/150, use the hess method etc...

He follows a Hess type methodology where he measures the total SBL and then makes the CC and AL a % of that length.