Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Suresh Koneswaran (MD, FACC), Dr. Carlos Cuenca (MD)
Bariatric Surgery in Mexicali, Mexico
Are you tired of trying to lose weight? Don’t lose hope as bariatric surgery in Mexicali can help you shed those extra pounds.
Dr. Marco Sariñana: Bariatric Surgeon in Mexicali
Cost of Weight Loss Surgery in Mexicali
If you are wondering, “What is the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexicali?”, you may be surprised to learn that bariatric surgery here ranges from only $3,200 - $4,100.
| Surgery | Mexicali | USA | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric Sleeve | $4,100 | $14,900 | $15,424 |
| Gatsric Bypass | $5,950 | $23,000 | $15,800 |
| Lap Band | $4,000 | $14,500 | $18,750 |
| Gatric Balloon | $3,200 | $8,150 | $11,500 |
This means you end up saving nearly 70% of the cost back in the USA or Canada.
Why is Bariatric Service in Mexicali Cheaper?
There are many reasons why weight loss surgery in Mexicali is cheaper than in the US and Canada.
- Stronger position of US Dollar in Mexico[1]
- Lower cost of living in Mexico than in the USA.[2]
- Unlike in the US, doctors aren’t subjugated to student loans. Therefore, the doctor’s fees are relatively low as they do not pass on their loan debt to the patients.
- The cost of weight loss surgery in the United States and Canada can be prohibitive, especially if you have limited insurance coverage. Therefore, many Americans and Canadians explore the option of having weight loss surgery in Mexico.
Why Choose MTC?
Medical Tourism Corporation (MTC) is an international medical travel facilitation company registered in the State of Texas. Over 14 years, we have facilitated 4500+ patients in achieving their health goals.
Our key features include:
- Screening doctors for credentials, experience, and past patient records
- Ensuring world-class treatment options at affordable rates
- Arranging shuttle and accommodation services
- Post-treatment follow-up
Is Mexicali Safe for Medical Tourism?
According to the USA travel advisory, Baja California comes under Level 2, where you need to follow extreme caution while traveling.
Although Mexicali is not listed in the “unsafe city” list, the highway connecting Mexicali and Tijuana is marked “risky” because of poor cellular coverage and poor road conditions.[3]
Weight Loss Surgery Options in Mexicali, Mexico
Obesity means having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.[4] An ideal candidate for weight loss surgery is if the BMI is ≥40 or those who are obese and have comorbidities like diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea[5]
The following weight loss surgery options are available in Mexicali:
Gastric Sleeve in Mexicali
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- The doctor removes 15-20% of the stomach
- Remaining portion of the stomach resembles a banana
- The patient feels full sooner with less food intake
- According to a study in 2017, nearly 73.0% of patients demonstrated sustained weight loss after five years[6]
- Advantages: Less appetite due to loss of ghrelin hormone
- Disadvantages: Irreversible leakage[7]
Gastric Bypass in Mexicali
Gastric Bypass Surgery
- During gastric bypass surgery in Mexicali, a small stomach pouch is created utilizing a stapling technique.
- The lower section of the small intestine is attached directly to the newly-created small pouch
- Fewer calories are absorbed as food bypasses the upper portion of the small intestine
- Advantages: Long term weight loss[8]
- Disadvantages: Dumping Syndrome, Malnutrition, Low blood sugar, Vomiting, Hernia
Intragastric Balloon in Mexicali
Gastric Balloon Placement
- A silicone balloon filled with saline is placed in the stomach
- This balloon occupies space, making the patient feel full faster
- Advantages: Reversible procedure, no need for surgery[9], non-invasive procedure.
- Disadvantages: Not all patients receive the same expected benefits.[10]
Duodenal Switch Surgery in Mexicali
Duodenal Switch Surgery
- Two-part surgery: Gastric Sleeve + Duodenal Switch
Gastric Sleeve
- First, the surgeon removes 80% of the stomach.
Duodenal Switch
- Next, the end of the small intestine is joined with the stomach.
- The food then bypasses most of the small intestine.
- Advantages: less food intake due to reduced stomach size and reduced absorption by the intestine, higher weight loss than gastric bypass[11]
- Disadvantages: Irreversible surgery, reflux, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, etc[12]
Bariatric surgery and discussion with your physician can be very helpful with weight loss goals.
Dr. Carlos Cuenca
Bariatric Surgery Hospital in Mexicali
Our partner weight loss surgery hospital in Mexicali is Hospital de la Familia. It was founded in 2003 and is located just 200 yards from the California East border gate. Nearly 60% of its patients are from the USA.
Around 60% of its patients are from the US or are American nationals.
Many of the hospital's physicians are US-trained specialists recognized as top surgeons in northern Mexico, with over 30 years of surgical expertise.
With board-certified surgeons, advanced
- 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
- GHC CERTIFIED
- ISO CERTIFIED
The weight loss surgery hospital is equipped with state of the art facilities. The hospital offers:
- Twenty-three private patient rooms
- Five surgery, pre-operative and recovery rooms
- 24-hour intensive care and emergency unit
- Cutting edge technology in radiology, hemodynamic and ultrasound, tomography, and gynecology-obstetrics.
Bariatric Surgeon in Mexicali, Mexico
Dr. Marco Sariñana is the leading weight loss surgeon in Mexicali.
Dr. Marco Sarinana
15+ years
MD
Expertise
Gastric bypass, gastric lap band, gastric sleeve, duodenal switch
Education
UABC Faculty of Medicine , Mexicali
- Advanced training of cosmetic surgery in Veracruz, Mexico
- Fellowship in Gastric Banding and Gastric Balloon in Tijuana
- Trained in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery and Bariatric Surgery in Tijuana
Patient Review
Peggy King from New Zealand came to Mexicali for her gastric sleeve surgery. She is delighted with the treatment provided at the Hospital de la Familia.
Other facilities like clean rooms, wifi, Netflix, polite staff also impressed her a lot.
Peggy King, New Zealand- Gastric Sleeve in Mexicali
Medical Tourism in Mexicali, Mexico
Mexicali is an industrial town situated on the border of California, USA. It is the capital city of Baja California in Mexico.
How to Reach Mexicali, Mexico
- As Mexicali is a border city, one can quickly drive across via Calexico, California.
- Traveling by road takes approximately 2 hours from San Diego. You can also park your car at the airport if you choose to drive down.
- Check out the airport parking fee description here.
Road Map for USA-Mexicali, Mexico
You can also cross the US-Mexico border as a pedestrian. Check out the border cross-time on US Customer and Border Protection official page here.
One can also fly down to Mexicali via the General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (IATA- MXL), which is located 12 miles from the border. However, air travel is not very popular as there are no direct international flights.
- Country code: 52
- Emergency: 911
- International access code: 00
- National tourist assistance (including emergencies): 088
In case of emergency in Mexicali, contact on the below numbers:
- From Mexico: (800) 681-9374
- From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
Mexicali does not have a US embassy or consulate. The Baja California state comes under the jurisdiction of US Consulate in Tijuana[13]
Therefore, the US Consulate in Tijuana provides consular services to residents of the states Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur.
Currency: Mexican Peso
Language: Spanish
Weather:
- Summer lasts from April to October. The temperature during summer is very high and can go up to 42°C.
- Winter lasts from November to March, and the average temperature is 27°C.
- It is useful to pack clothing based on the season you are traveling in.
Food:
- Mexicali is famous for craft beers and wines.
- Apart from the local Mexican cuisine, Mexicali is home to many Chinese restaurants that provide excellent Chinese cuisine options.
Some Common Spanish Words
- Hola: Hello
- Adiós: Goodbye
- Por favor: Please
- Gracias: Thank you
- Lo Siento: Sorry
- Buenos Dias: Good Morning
- Sí: Yes
- No: No
References
1. Pacific Standard: Medical Tourism is Booming in Mexico
2. Expatistan: Cost of living in the United States compared to Mexico
3. Travel.State.Gov: Mexico Travel Advisory
4. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Definition & Facts for Bariatric Surgery
5. Mayo Clinic: Bariatric Surgery
6. World Journal of Gastroenterology: Five-year outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a primary procedure for morbid obesity: A prospective study
7. Journal of Heliyon: The advantages and disadvantages of sleeve gastrectomy; clinical laboratory to bedside review
8. Journal of F1000Prime Reports: Quick fix or long-term cure? Pros and cons of bariatric surgery
9. Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology: Intragastric Balloons for Obesity Management
10. Annals of Surgery: Duodenal Switch Provides Superior Weight Loss in the Super-Obese (BMI ≥50kg/m2) Compared With Gastric Bypass
11. US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico: Find Your Consular Location
12. Journal of Obesity Surgery: Duodenal Switch Is Superior to Gastric Bypass in Patients with Super Obesity when Evaluated with the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS)