Frequently Asked Questions – Weight loss surgery in Tijuana Mexico
General
DO I QUALIFY FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY?
- At Long Term WLS we use the Body Mass Index as an indicator to know of patients qualify for weight loss surgery.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 and higher, or more than 100 pounds of overweight.
- Obesity-related diseases, such as type II diabetes (T2D), hypertension, sleep apnea, and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease.
- Difficulty or inability to achieve a healthy weight loss sustained for a period of time with prior weight loss efforts.
- In case you are taking prescribed medication, please include the name and dosage of the medication in your application. Dr. Maytorena and Dr. Figueroa will provide instructions regarding the intake or suspension of them in the approval email.
WHAT IS THE SIZE OF MY NEW STOMACH OR POUCH?
- After gastric sleeve surgery, your new stomach, often referred to as a pouch, will be about 15-20% of its original size. This typically means it can hold around 3 to 4 ounces (approximately 90 to 120 milliliters) of food or liquid at a time. This reduced size helps you feel full more quickly and eat less, aiding in significant weight loss.
CAN I TRUST THE HOSPITAL QUALITY STANDARDS?
- Definitely! Our facilities in Tijuana Mexico are certified and fully equipped with the latest technology in the industry to perform any bariatric procedure in a safe, clean and comfortable environment.
WILL THE PRICE AFFECT THE QUALITY OF MEDICATION AND SERVICE?
- No, in Long Term WLS / VSG Tijuana Mexico, we always offer the highest quality in our medical services, medical equipment, and medical supplies. The health of our bariatric surgery patients is maintained with appropriate and premium medications from the best and most recommended pharmaceutical brands.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS AFTER FAILED WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY?
- In cases when the patients do not succeed in their weight loss surgery we can offer you a “revision surgery”, we are specialized in this procedure which is highly recommended and designed to repair another bariatric surgery performed in the past. Some weight-loss surgeries can fail for the lack of technique of other Doctors or not following the post-operating food guidelines.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT WILL I LOSE AFTER SURGERY?
Expected weight loss the first month after surgery is from 20 to 30 pounds. After the first month, you can expect 8 to 12 pounds per month.
WHEN CAN I RETURN TO WORK?
Typically 1 to 4 weeks for most desk jobs, and 6-8 weeks for manual labor jobs. Keep in mind heavy lifting is not allowed the first 3 months post-surgery.
HOW SOON CAN I START DRIVING AFTER SURGERY?
You will be able to drive for no longer than 1 hour after surgery, stop every hour and walk foro 10 min then resume your driving. Make sure you are in good shape and sharp to drive if not please pull over and have some rest .
HOW SOON CAN I START WALKING, SWIMMING, LIFTING WEIGHTS…?
Always check with your clinician before beginning any exercise program:
- 1: You can start walking IMMEDIATELY!
- 2: You will be able to swim once your incisions are fully healed.
- 3: Lifting weights varies with each individual. But it’s recommended to start 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.
- 4: You can start aerobics approximately 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Start slowly. Listen to your body.
- 5: Abdominal crunches; approximately 6-8 weeks.
- NO heavy lifting, if yo must lift objects heavier than 20 lbs please wear an abdominal belt. This is to prevent hernias.
WILL I NEED PLASTIC SURGERY FOR THE SURPLUS SKIN WHEN I HAVE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT?
That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered for at least a year after the operation. Sometimes the skin will mold itself around the new body tissue. You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you decide to have more surgery.
Nutrition
DO I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT PRIOR TO SURGERY?
It’s not that you have to lose weight, the pre-op diet that we provide is focused to reduce your liver size and prevent any risk during surgery, also it helps you to have a better and faster recovery.
HOW SOON CAN I RESUME A NORMAL DIET AFTER SURGERY?
Once you have completed your post-op diet (6 – 8 weeks) and your stomach is healed. You shouldn’t be eating any food that cause you discomfort or pain.
DO I NEED TO CONTINUE WITH MY POST-OP DIET AFTER THE HEALING PROCESS?
No, after the post-surgery diet we suggest you have a healthy and balanced diet for better weight loss results. Your diet should be low carb and high protein to help your body re-built muscle, also Dr. Maytorena recommends walking 30 minutes per day its recommended to activate and speed up your metabolism which is going to improve health and surgery results.
WILL I BE ABLE TO TAKE MY PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS AFTER SURGERY?
You may need to crush big pills the first 10-15 days post-surgery.
Many obesity-related health problems can improve after weight loss surgery, but that doesn’t mean you should stop taking your medications. Talk to your main physician after stopping any medication(s). Also, don’t start medications without your surgeon’s approval, especially in the first weeks following your weight loss surgery.
DO I NEED TO TAKE VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS?
Yes, Dr. Jorge Maytorena recommends a daily multivitamin is recommended. It’s possible you may not get enough vitamins from the 6 small meals a day. We recommend blood work done every 6 months, your specialist will evaluate whether you are getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid, biotin, and iron..
WHY ARE FLUIDS IMPORTANT?
It is important to maintain a fluid intake of about 64 ounces or more per day. This will help maintain the appropriate body levels of fluids and replace the losses from weight loss. You need to take small slow sips of fluids throughout the day. Fluids should have minimum calories, no caffeine, and no carbonation. To help meet both nutrition and fluid goals you need to keep fluids separate from meals by at least 30 minutes.
AM I GOING TO EXPERIENCE HAIR LOSS?
Statistics have shown that only 20 to 30 percent of the patients who had gastric sleeve experience this situation. Hair loss after weight loss surgery (especially gastric sleeve) is a temporary phase if the patient addresses this matter to his/her surgeon, primary care physician or nutritionist, and follow all the indications provided.
Hair loss commonly arises on patients who had a malabsorptive procedure such as the gastric bypass, or mini-gastric bypass. On these types of procedures, the nutrients (fat, protein, vitamins, etc) pass through a shortened intestine where they have less opportunity to be absorbed. Fewer nutrients absorbed = additional weight is lost.
To ensure the body gets enough vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, patients should be taking supplements and multivitamins prescribed by their doctor.
WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE GAS AND BLOATING OR DIARRHEA?
Some patients may experience these symptoms due to sugar found in milk products called lactose. If you are intolerant to lactose, it may cause cramping, gas bloating, and/or diarrhea. Switch to lactic products or soy products. Also, Dr. Maytorena recommends making sure you are not eating too much or too fast. Slow down your eating, take small bites and chew well. If you get severe dehydration you may need an IV, got to the ER to have it applied by a nurse or a doctor.
WHAT IF MY WEIGHT LOSS SLOWS DOWN?
Your weight loss may seem like a staircase. You are also going to experience “plateaus” and this is normal. Everyone will lose weight at a different rate, so please do not compare yourself to other people. If you hit a plateau (not losing weight for longer than 2 weeks), continue to keep food records and track your exercise. Dr. Maytorena suggests that you may need to adjust your diet or exercise to help with your weight loss. If a plateau lasts longer than 4 weeks call your dietitian.
WHAT IS THE HONEYMOON PERIOD?
Often you may experience a lack of appetite after surgery. In turn, this often causes patients to skip meals, depriving themselves of their nutritional needs. You will need to plan to have 4-6 small meals per day to meet your nutrition goals and have a successful weight loss journey.
WHAT TYPE OF FOOD I SHOULD AVOID AFTER SURGERY?
No solid food within the first month after surgery, start with a liquid diet (we provide all of the information via Email). Once you pass the 4th phase, we recommend staying away from sugar and high fiber consumption so you can have a better nutrient absorption. Try not to eat large portions of food and stop eating once you feel full..
WHAT ABOUT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AFTER SURGERY?
Alcohol after weight loss surgery is not well recommended, alcohol has a high number of calories, it also breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverages are not considered harmful. However, be wary of the consumption because it may have a stronger effect than before.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUFFER FROM CONSTIPATION?
If you are experiencing constipation after weight loss surgery you may need to increase your fiber and fluid intake. Food records will help you quantify how much you are actually drinking. Adding a fiber supplement may help. If increasing fiber doesn’t help, you may try milk of magnesia, prune juice or stool softener. Increasing your physical activity also helps to reduce constipation.
WHY I SHOULDN’T DRINK LIQUIDS AND EAT AT THE SAME TIME?
If you are experiencing constipation after weight loss surgery you may need to increase your fiber and fluid intake. Food records will help you quantify how much you are actually drinking. Adding a fiber supplement may help. If increasing fiber doesn’t help, you may try milk of magnesia, prune juice or stool softener. Increasing your physical activity also helps to reduce constipation.
What do I do if I am feeling nauseous?
First look at your eating behavior. You may be eating too much and/or too fast. It is also very important to keep food records to see if this is related to certain foods. Also contact us or our nutritionist if issue continues.
What if I am vomiting?
Vomiting is not an uncommon occurrence, however it can be controlled. If you are vomiting, there are some things you should be looking out for.
- Are you eating your food too quickly?
- Note the texture of the food. Is it too dry? Most often you will find meats difficult to tolerate. Make sure your meat is moist. If you are still not tolerating them, you can make substitutions for these foods. Leave them out of your diet for a few weeks and try them again at a later date.
- Are you chewing your food well? Enjoy, feel, and taste every bite.
- Remember to drink fluids separately.
- Do not eat and drink at the same time. Wait approximately 30 minutes before and after a meal to drink liquids. Most often liquids fill you up and may cause distress, making you feel like you need to vomit.
- Alcohol and coffee create an acid environment in your stomach and can produce vomit.
- Dinner after 7 pm also is important to be aware of.
DRINKS YOU SHOULD AVOID AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
- Carbonated drinks
- Drinks with caffeine; coffee, energy drinks, tea, etc. (You can replace these with decaffeinated presentations)
- Sugar sweetened beverages
Note: Thick consistency drinks may be hard to digest the first 15 days post surgery
WHY IS PROTEIN SO IMPORTANT?
Meeting your protein goals is essential. It will help to keep your body function properly, help the healing process, and preserve your lean body mass (muscles), as well as make you feel fuller faster.
WHAT IS DUMPING?
Almost flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, sweating, bloating, diarrhea, etc.) that usually occur after high-fat or high sugary foods… The symptoms typically last about ½ hour. However, not everyone experiences dumping. To avoid these symptoms, you should consume foods that have 14 grams of sugar or less per serving and 3-5 grams of fat or less per serving.
Traveling for weight loss surgery
DO I NEED A PASSPORT TO TRAVEL TO TIJUANA MEXICO?
A passport is hands down the best form of identification and proof of citizenship, in case you don’t have a passport; bring with you an original birth certificate (A copy of a birth certificate is not recommended, you might have to go through secondary inspection) and an official identification like Drivers Licenses or State ID.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE I BUY MY FLIGHT?
The Arrival is to San Diego, CA. One day prior to the surgery. You should be at the airport before 7:00 PM and the Departure flight after 3:00 pm. Once you purchase your flight tickets, please let us know your full flight itinerary and send it to longtermvsg@gmail.com including::
- Airline
- Flight number
- Arrival / Departure time
- If you have connected flights
*This will allow us to make your arrival and departure arrangements.
IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO TIJUANA MEXICO?
Tijuana Mexico is one of the most important borders in the world, every day thousands of people go across the border for medical, business, traveling, tourism and many other proposes. During the last 10 years, the Mexican government has made a considerable effort to improve security and low down the levels of violence and crime organizations in Tijuana Mexico, protecting U.S. citizens and other visitors.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I BRING A COMPANION WITH ME?
We understand this is a big decision and you may need some support from your friends or family. But it’s important to know, that this package does not include handling reservations or transportation for your companion.
The companion can stay in your room with you through the whole process ($20 USD per night/day). This includes the guest condo and the hospital.
Companion can stay in your room with you thru the whole process ($20 USD per night/day). Companion can also stay in a hotel, average cost for a hotel room in Tijuana Mexico is around 45 – 90 dlls per night.
WHAT DO I NEED BRING WITH ME?
Dr. Maytorena strongly recommends you bring a carry-on bag for your weight loss surgery, you will only need one change of comfortable clothing and your personal hygiene items. Other personal items are not required.
Am I going to be on surgery the first day?
Yes, once you arrive to the airport you’ll be driven to the Hospital in Tijuana Mexico, there you’ll pass through the pre op exams (blood and urine samples) and EKG, and once your results come in you will be ready for surgery, this is usually at around 1 to 3 pm.
AM I GOING TO BE ON SURGERY THE FIRST DAY?
No, Once you arrive at the San Diego Airport a day prior to your procedure, you will be picked up at 7:00 pm and brought to our Guest Condo that is next to the Hospital so you may spend the night there. The following morning you will be picked up between 7:00 am and 8:00 am and driven to the Hospital. Upon arrival, you will check-in and shown to your room. Once settled and in your hospital gown, our Internal Medicine Doctor will perform and EKG as well as take some blood samples to be sent to the lab as part of your pre-op testing. Right after your results come in you will be prepared for surgery, this is usually at around 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
HOW MANY DAYS AM I GOING TO STAY IN TIJUANA MEXICO?
The arrival of all surgeries is one day prior to the procedure.
For the Gastric Sleeve Surgery and Revision Surgery from Lap Band to Gastric Sleeve or a Re-Sleeve, you will stay a total of 4 days and 3 nights (For example, if you’re arriving on Monday morning, you will be driven back to the airport on Thursday). For The Mini Gastric Bypass, Gastric Bypass and other Revision Surgeries, you will sta a total of 5 days and 4 nights. At the Oasis of Hope Hospital, You will stay 2 or 3 days depending on the procedure. You’ll be taken care of by our nursing and medical staff, the fourth or fifth day you’ll be driven back to San Diego airport to board your flight.
HOW OFTEN WILL I COME BACK FOR CHECKUPS?
Unless you live close by, Dr. Maytorena suggests doing a general blood test every six months just to check that your levels are normal. We also recommend patients stay as connected to the program as possible by attending support groups regularly. So stay in touch on our Facebook group!