- Name: George Wallenstein
- Age: 60
- Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
- Surgery date: December 9th, 2015
- Testimonial date: December 24th, 2015
- Surgeon: Dr. Mario Almanza
After going on line and checking out the facilities, doctors, and the staff and more about the procedure, I decided to go ahead with the gastric sleeve operation. When I arrived in San Diego, it was an easy trip across the border. We stopped at the hospital first. It was clean. It was different because of all the steps and ramps to get into the building, and I am mobility challenged. I need to use a walker. Our driver found a wheel chair but the next day, on the day of the surgery, I walked into the building using the ramp and my walker, and later walked into surgery that way. the surgery took about 45 minutes and for me an hour and a half in the recovery room. I walked back to my room and got into my hospital bed. The hospital bed is my biggest complaint about the whole procedure. I am 6'1", and it was made for shorter people. The beds in the motel were great. There is a delivery ward for babies down the hall and I heard children running up and down the hallway in front of my room yelling which made it impossible for me to rest. The surgery was smooth sailing. I had no complications.
They took an x-ray to make sure I had no leaks. I did have gas and nausea but that was considered normal. I would encourage anyone who has a need to lose significant weight to use their facilities. In the first few weeks I have lost 41 pounds. In Oregon the surgery would not be covered by my insurance company, and it would have cost me over $40,000 out of pocket. By going to Mexico and using Dr. Almanza, with airfare included and bringing my wife, it cost right at $5000.
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