Dr. Felipe Cantu

    Felipe J. Cantu Jr., MD, FACS., Bariatric Surgeon

    The only bariatric surgeon Certified by the Mexican Medical Board in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico, awarded in 2014

    Bariatric, it’s a strange word for weight loss surgery but it means just that. Bariatric is the branch of medicine in the field of weight loss surgery and it’s what Advanced Bariatric Institute is totally dedicated to.

    Advanced Bariatric Institute was founded in 2005 by Dr. Felipe J. Cantu, Jr. and is located in Reynosa, Tamaulipas.,Mexico. Reynosa is located just less than five miles from the border cities of McAllen and Mission Texas. Advanced Bariatric Institute serves not only patients from all areas of Latin America but from the United States as well. While many of our patients come from the area of Reynosa and other Mexican cities, others live along the U.S. Rio Grande Valley. Still many other patients come to Advanced Medicine Institute from as far as the East Coast areas and the Central United States for their weight loss procedure.

    Dr. Felipe Cantu and his wife are a bi-cultural couple raising their two sons in Mission Texas. Through Dual Citizenship, Dr. Cantu too was raised in between two cultures, receiving multicultural learning, language and education. His thriving practice, Advanced Bariatric Institute, was built on a strong referral base foundation that continues to be their foremost source of advertisement.

    An insightful student who excelled, Dr.Cantu, was accepted to the most prestigious university in Mexico, Tecnologico de Monterrey, at the age of sixteen. Having been selected from a large number of applicants, he was the youngest student in the entire university in his first year of medical school and came to graduate with honors. In pursuing his residencies, he worked at Baylor University in Houston, Texas, the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida and the Endosurgery hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He completed his laparoscopic training from the Texas Endoscopy Institute in Texas, returning to the Tecnologico de Monterrey for his Field of Specialty in Bariatric Surgery.

    Dr. Cantu is one of approximately only 38 surgeons in all of Mexico, who perform bariatric surgery, to have Certification awarded by the Colegio Mexicano de Cirugia para Obesidad y Enfermedades Metabolicas, A.C., and is the only one surgeon to have been awarded this certification in his entire State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Having this prestigious certification is equivalent to having the achievement of being a “Center of Excellent” Awarded to bariatric centers in the United States.

    A leader in Advanced Laparoscopic Techniques, Dr. Felipe Cantu has been a supporter in transforming many highly invasive surgical procedures into minimally invasive operations.

    Today he stays abreast of developments in technology through memberships in the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases.

    Board-Certified by the Mexican Council of General Surgery, Mexican Society for General Surgery, Latin American Association for Endoscopic Surgery and The Mexican College for Surgery of Obesity where he serves on several committees.

    Of the thousands of patients that have come through Advanced Bariatric Institute, most have probably forgotten Dr. Cantu’s educational background but what they probably most remember about him is his warm personally, his caring bedside manner and their quick and easy recovery.



    Medical schools, their location, and your year of graduation:

    Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Medicine School)

    Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. 1992-1998.

    Baylor College of Medicine Clerkship rotations 1998.

    Coronary Care Unit, Pediatric Surgery, Dermatologic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Pulmonary-Critical Care.



    Where did you perform your residency(ies)?

    Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

    Hospital San José - Tecnológico de Monterrey

    General Surgery Residency 2000-2005



    Are you fellowship trained, and if so please provide details:

    Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Preceptorship

    Texas Endosurgery Institute, 2001.



    Any other specialty training and/or techniques you wish to highlight:

    Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery

    Minimally Invasive Procedures for: Colon and Rectum, Abdominal wall Hernias, Biliary an Foregut.



    What is/are your professional License number(s):

    Medicine 4506317, General Surgery 4584941, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery



    List the boards and/or organizations that you're a member of or affiliated with:

    ASMBS, SAGES, ACS, IFSO.

    CMCOEM.



    Total number of procedures performed to date:

    >3,500



    List all the types of procedures you perform and for each the total number you've performed, as well as the package price you charge for it:

    Adjustable Gastric Band >1,000

    Sleeve Gastrectomy >2,000

    Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass >150

    Intragastric Balloon >300

    Reoperation/Conversions



    List any other professional experiences or information you wish to highlight:

    Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

    General Surgery and Bariatric Surgery Board Certified

    "Karl Storz Top Video Award" at 2013 ASMBS Spring meeting: http://connect.asmbs.org/july-2013-news-and-notes.html

    Keynote Speaker and member of the Scientific Commitee at CMCOEM annual meetings (Mexican College for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery).






    Dr. Felipe Cantu Testimonials:


    Ballon doesn’t work ,don’t waist your money (10/17/2022)

    Hi, on 9/21/22 I went to Mexico with Dr.Cantu to get the gastric ballon. The ballon only work the first month. After the second month I start eating more and more. I start gain weight the opposite because the food stay longer on my stomach and it start getting bigger and bigger. By the end of the ... * read more.

    Outstanding (10/19/2021)

    Dr.Cantu help me be happy again had surgery April 20 2021 and in 5 months 85 pounds gone Such amazing team ... * read more.

    Happy (06/03/2021)

    Hi everyone I had the surgery April 20 2021 starting weight was 237 today June 1 I'm down 50! It is a life changer, you learn to eat the right stuff and how to take care of your self! I was a nervous reck doing this but it is the best decision I have made for myself. The nurses were so nice and help ... * read more.

    My life has changed for the better. (12/09/2020)

    I am very happy I decided to get this procedure done. Dr Cantu and his staff are excellent. They picked me up and drove me back without any problems. The hospital was modern and well staffed and I was well taken care of. I have since lost over 100 pounds and I feel excellent. It's still a process bu ... * read more.

    BEST DECISION EVER! (05/10/2020)

    From the moment I spoke to an agent, I was put at ease. I had been researching and spoke to several weight loss centers in the US in and around Washington, DC, but when the agent called me back and answered all of my tough questions, I felt like it was meant to be.

    Several surgeons in my area offe ... * read more.

    Do it! (02/21/2020)

    I was so nervous trying to decide if this is even the right thing for me to do and even more so in another country but I'm glad I followed through with my decision to have the procedure done. The entire process was smooth from the time I got there up until I left. Everyone was so nice. If your conte ... * read more.

    Amazing Results (11/30/2018)

    I'm very pleased with my results! I wasn't sure how things would turn out for me... however, with the balloon I loss 28lbs in the first 6months, which is totally amazing. Dr. Cantu is an awesome doctor!,(bedside manner was excellent) and he & his whole team were incredibly kind and helpful in ensuri ... * read more.

    Amazing! (03/20/2018)

    My experience was great.I drove to McAllen Texas and stayed at the Hawthorne suites that Dr.Cantu office booked for me.The hotel was a 5 star. The day of my surgery Dr.Cantu personally picked me and my family up and drive us to the hospital in Raynosa Mexico couple miles from McAllen Texas. That mad ... * read more.

    Great experience (01/17/2018)

    Office took great care of me. got me a hotel roommate a very nice clean place in mcallen. the doctors speak perfect English which helps to make you comfortable.

    You go through a nutritional evaluation, a psychological evaluation, blood testing, egg to check your heart health and much more before th ... * read more.

    AMAZING (11/01/2017)

    My journey was a little rocky getting started. The doctor I was already to use, declined to do the surgery and I was not give a reason. Later found out it was because of my age not my health. I had to push for the information to settle my mind. Last minute is ok for going to the movie but when you ... * read more.



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The time to regain your health is now! Shed those extra pounds and don't be camera-shy any longer. No more people simply saying "you have such a nice face". It has worked for thousands of patients of ours. Sounds good? Give us a chance to earn your trust and help you regain your health. We're excited about the opportunity to be part of your journey to health, and we're looking forward to speaking with you and helping you soon. Please note that results may vary and surgery involves risks.

    * The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented on our website are only applicable to the individuals depicted, and may not be representative of the experience of others. For more information, please read our Testimonial Disclaimer and Risks of Surgery.