Medical Tourism Corporation team visited Hospital Angeles in Tijuana, Mexico. This hospital is part of the largest private hospital chain in Mexico. Procedures offered to medical tourists at this Mexican hospital are Gall bladder Removal, Inguinal Hernial, Umbilical Hernia, Incisional Hernia, Lap Band Inamed, Lap Band J&J, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Arthoscophy, Arthoscophy (Outpatient), Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement and Hip Resurfacing.

Video of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

Pictures of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

It took us less than 25 minutes to drive from the San Diego airport to the hospital. Hospital Angeles, Tijuana, is a world-class hospital designed especially to provide state-of-the-art medical care to international patients. The hospital boasts one of the best doctors in its field, supported by an able staff and latest medical technology equipment.

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The 118-bed hospital has 97 private rooms and is located in an upscale area. It is the first fully integrated hospital in Baja California, meaning it offers complete medical services in-house (outpatient clinic, emergency room, pharmacy, intensive care unit, intermediate ICU, neonatal ICU, intermediate neonatal ICU, X-ray, tomography, MRI, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy, angiography, fully-equipped laboratory, helicopter landing zone, and medical offices where 135 board-certified doctors practice). More than 50% of the current patients there are from United States.

The hospital is self-contained with its own cafeteria, a pharmacy, ATM, chapel and more, thus providing you everything that you may need during your stay. This is also a major reason why it’s such a popular medical tourism destination in Mexico.

And if you crave for good old American fast food, McDonald’s & Peter Piper Pizza are walking distance from the hospital. And then there is a Cine Mark across the Hospital, too. Not sure if it shows any English movies, though! For people missing a discount club shopping, Sam’s club is around the corner!

Hotel Marriott and a few luxury Mexican Hotels are closeby. These are used rarely by the hospital patients, as the patient and one accompanying guest are accommodated in the hospital.

The hallways, waiting rooms, corridor and patient rooms and suites are kept sparking clean and give an impression of a five-star hotel and not a hospital. The walls are decorated with brightly colored abstract art by Tijuana painters. A lot of work, thought and attention to detail have gone in the interior design to make the aura uplifting and the hospital patient-friendly.

The signs are in English and Spanish; many of the staff speak English. For US patients, a dedicated English-speaking staff member is assigned.

The hospital takes special care of its doctors to ensure they are relaxed and are at their best when serving the patients. There is an exclusive hospital club area for doctors that includes a relaxing lounge, exercise gym, jacuzzi, swimming pool, sauna and more.

Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates medical trips to some of the world’s leading hospitals including Hospital Angeles, Tijuana.

Hospital Angeles in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico is part of Grupo Angeles, a business group that owns the largest private hospital chain in Mexico. The hospital is a very popular destination for US patients wanting lap band surgery (adjustable laparoscopic gastric banding). This is a popular type of bariatric (obesity/weight loss) surgery. An investment of more than 84 Million US dollars went into setting up this hospital.

There are no border charges to enter Ciudad Juarez from the USA. Travel by car, taxi, bus, and even simply walking across on foot is quite common across this international border. It took us less than 15 to minutes drive form the El Paso airport baggage claim area to the hospital in Juarez.

Hospital Angeles, Juarez, is a world class medical care facility designed especially to provide state-of-the-art high quality medical care to international patients. The hospital boasts of some of the best doctors in their field, supported by an able staff and latest medical technology equipment. Top bariatric surgeons (lap band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass ) surgeons practice at this facility.

Video of Hospital Angeles, Juarez Mexico

Pictures of Hospital Angeles, Juarez Mexico

We were told that more than 70% of the current patients here for lap band are from United States. This was confirmed when we observed many Americans in the hosptial lobby. With the cost of high quality medical care here at a fraction of the USA cost, it is not surprising. Lap band surgery cost in Mexico is about US $8000 vs. the USA cost for the same surgery around US $25,000.

The hospital is a fully integrated hospital, meaning it offers complete medical services in-house (outpatient clinic, emergency room, pharmacy, intensive care unit, intermediate ICU, neonatal ICU, intermediate neonatal ICU, X-ray, tomography, MRI, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy (it’s a X-Ray type machine used for lap band adjustments), angiography, fully equipped laboratory, blood bank, helicopter landing zone, doctor offices and more).

The hospital is self-contained with its own chapel, cafeteria, pharmacy, gift shop, ATM, and more. Unless, you want to take a look around, there will be no need for you to step outside the hospital premises.

For people wanting a taste of good old American fast foods, fast foods chains like Haagen-Dazs, Wendy, Subway, and Carl’s are walking distance from the hospital. But these might not be of interest to bariatric surgery patients.

About three miles from the hospital is a Hampton Inn Hotel, part of the Hilton Family, and a 4-star Mexican Hotel: City Express. These are used rarely by hospital patients as the patient and an accompanying guest are accommodated in the hospital.

Medical Tourism Corporation team hopes this report helps you in your journey to find the right medical destination.

For lap band surgery (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding) or other international medical surgery, fill out the estimate request form on our site for a free quote and more information.

Most insurance companies in the USA pay for bariatric surgeries (weight loss or obesity surgery). But the process to obtain approval is a lengthy one & not all qualify due to it. The patient needs to establish a medical necessity. Following are the points they consider:

• BMI of 40 or higher and morbidly obesity. BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height and is used as an indicator of body fatness to categorize obesity.

• Prove obesity as an issue for more than five years

• Have exhausted all serious efforts to reduce weight by non-surgical methods (pills, exercise, dieting, creams & location, special clothing etc).

• You have co-morbidities (Medical illnesses/diseases that are either caused by or contributed to by morbid obesity. For example, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and arthritis)

Along, with this the patient also needs to provide the insurance company data about their:

• Medical condition related to liver, kidney, or any gastrointestinal disease

• Thyroid Test Results

• Any history of alcohol or substance abuse

It makes business sense for health insurance companies to pay for weight loss surgery. There is a number of health risk associated with obesity that would cost the insurance companies more money if the bariatric surgery is not performed upfront. Health risks associated with obesity are heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gout, lower back pain, pregnancy complications, bladder control problems and cancer to name a few. Additions to this are psychological disorders like low self esteem, depression & eating disorders.

According to United States, government research report published in New York Times in 2004, obesity is near to overtaking smoking as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States(tobacco related deaths are still number 1 with 18.1 percent). According to a November 2007 report by National Center for Health Statistics obesity rate in the United States was 34 percent (U.S. adults aged 20 and over). Obesity by them is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.

The stringent requirements that a patient has to meet for bariatric health insurance benefits, discourages many from being able to avail the weight loss surgery benefits of their health insurance plan(even if their insurance policy covers it).

A viable alternative that is being explored by many is for affordable overseas bariatric surgeries. These include common bariatric surgery like lap band, gastric bypass & gastric sleeve surgery. Popular destinations for US patients seeking cost effective bariatric surgery is Mexico & Costa Rica. Many surgeons at these overseas location have more experince than their US counterparts. Many times the total cost of surgery and travel expenses combined, is still less than the cost the patient would pay if the insurance paid its part of the medical insurance coverage.

For patients that do not have their insurance covering bariatric surgery in the USA, Medical Tourism Corporation helps with high quality bariatric surgery hospital & centers overseas. A page that has links to articles on weight loss (bariatric) surgery can also accessed for more information and knowledge.

A number of people from the United States visit Mexico for cost savings on lap band surgery. This type of bariatric surgery is safer & less invasive than other obesity control surgeries. It is also known as Adjustable gastric banding surgery. Although the number one surgery for weight loss in the USA is Gastric Bypass, lap band may sson have that spot. Lap band surgery started in USA in year 2001 after FDA approval, but gastric bypass has been going on for many years. This article addresses the important things to keep in mind when shopping for a lap band facility in Mexico.

First, yes the prices are lower, about 50~70% than the USA. But that should not be the only criteria when selecting a clinic or a hospital. The range could be from 6000 to 12000 US Dollars. A too less price should be avoided, as it indicates the facility does not have much business & does not do a quality job. There are very good chances that a 6000 US dollar clinic will have an incompetent or inexperienced surgeon as well.

Another, things to choose is between a hospital and a clinic (surgery center). A fully integrated hospital is a better choice. In rare cases if there is some unexpected medical emergency or surgical complication a hospital will be a better place than a stand alone clinic. Choose a hospital that has ICU, MRI, Blood Bank, X-Ray, Pharmacy, Cafeteria and doctor offices at the same location. On top of this, if the hospital in Mexico has boarding arrangements for an patient accompanying guest, its even better. The reputation & past record of the hospital is also important. The hospital staff should know English. It’s important to confirm this in advance, since Mexico is a Spanish speaking country.

Third and equally important is the experience & credentials of the surgeon. Look for how many successful surgeries they have performed. A surgeon who has performed about 100 surgeries is good, but one with 1000 surgeries experince will be an excellent choice. Are they medical board certified? Do they know English? If possible have your local doctor talk to them. Best is to look for INAMED certified surgeons or better INAMED proctors. INAMED is a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing obesity intervention products. FDA approved Lap Bands are made by them.

Other thing to consider is the geographic location. Tijuana in Mexico is very well suited for California & other western United States patients. Ciudad Juarez location is very well suitable for patients in Texas and the other southwest United States patients. Both cities have good hospitals & are drivable from many parts of the USA. Many hospitals doing lap band in Mexico have more patients from the USA than the local clientèle. You can view a video of Hospital Angeles, Juarez part of Grupo Angeles, the biggest hospital chain in Mexico, where about 70% of the lap band patients are from the USA.

Medical Tourism Corporation website has a section on Mexico lap band surgery & costs . This section has a lot of information that will help make a decision on choosing the right Lap band hospital in Mexico.