STEPS TO GET CLEARED AND SCHEDULED FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY:

1. Complete our surgery approval form https://longtermvsg.com/apply-for-surgery We will respond with surgery clearance and indications within 24 hours. Check your spam folder if you don’t see our emails.
2. Once approved, email, call, or text your desired surgery date to longtermvsg@gmail.com or +1 619 559 3795.
3. Once your surgery date is confirmed, a deposit will need to be placed to secure your spot. It can be done via Zelle or credit card online (2.9% fee for online option). The deposit is $350 for the gastric sleeve and $450 for the gastric bypass, mini bypass, and revision surgery.
4. The balance is paid upon arrival at the hospital. We accept cash and credit cards (8% fee); you can combine both for a lower fee.
5. All emails with details information about what to do before and after surgery.

Who Qualifies for Weight Loss Surgery?

To qualify for weight loss surgery, you need to have a BMI between 30 and 70. For patients with a BMI higher than 50, an additional cost of $250 to $500 USD will apply.

Location and Facilities

We are located in Tijuana, Mexico, and offer surgery at Almanza Clinic and New Me Hospital. Our facilities are 20 minutes away from the San Diego, CA airport. Our package includes the following:

– Gastric Sleeve $3299 USD

– Gastric Bypass and Mini Bypass, Revision Surgery $4599 USD

3 Nights, 4 Days Stay Package Includes:

• Hospital stay the night before surgery
• Two-night hospital stay (Note: Companion stay is not included)
• All tests and exams: blood tests, EKG, 2 leak tests
• All surgical costs: surgeon’s fees, anesthesia, equipment, nursing care
• Meals for patients only
• Online Nutritionist Support for 6 months

Additional Costs:

• Ground transportation to/from San Diego International Airport: $60 USD
• Medical pass for faster border crossing: $30 USD (optional)
• Medication to take home: $140 USD (optional)
• Companion stay: $20 USD per night (3 nights)
• HIV patients: an additional $600 USD for the disposal of medical instruments
• Hiatal hernia repair: an additional $300 USD

Booking Your Flights:

For first-time Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Mini Gastric Bypass, and Lap Band to Sleeve Revision patients, the recommended stay is 2 nights with a 3-day duration. For instance, you may arrive on a Monday and be released by the doctor on Wednesday. In the best-case scenario, you can arrive the day prior to your surgery. Revision surgery 4 nigh stay.

First Time Weight Loss Surgery Example:

• Arrival on Sunday
• Surgery on Monday
• Doctor’s release on Wednesday

For Revision to Gastric Bypass and Mini-Gastric Bypass patients, the recommended stay is 4 nights with a 5-day duration. For instance, you may have your surgery on a Monday and be released by the doctor on Thursday. In the best-case scenario, you can arrive the day prior to your surgery.

Example:

• Arrival on Sunday
• Surgery on Monday
• Doctor’s release on Thursday

Recommended Flight Details:

Arrival at San Diego, CA airport (Lindbergh Field):

• Day prior to surgery: Before 7 pm (Our driver will pick everyone up at 7 pm at Terminal 1 Zone F)
• Same day as surgery: Arrival before 9 am (Our driver will pick everyone up at 7 pm at Terminal 1 Zone F)

Departure from San Diego, CA airport (Lindbergh Field):

• After 2:00 pm (no exceptions)

Attention:

If you decide to change your return flight and depart before 2:00 pm after the surgery, a special fee of $100 USD may apply. No exceptions.

For Those Considering an Early Return:

Option 1: Staying an Extra Night in Tijuana

After being discharged from the hospital, our driver can take you to a hotel in Tijuana. The following day, our driver will pick you up very early in the morning and drive you to the airport for an additional $100 USD (paid directly to the driver). An additional night at the hospital costs $150 USD.

Option 2: Staying an Extra Night in San Diego, CA

After being discharged from the hospital, our driver can take you to the San Diego airport so you can take the shuttle to your hotel. The following morning, you can return to the airport at your convenience using the shuttle provided by the hotel (if available).

Please send your flight information as soon as possible to longtermvsg@gmail.com.

What to Do Upon Arrival:

• Call your assigned driver. They will pick you up at Terminal 1, Zone F. Call or text the driver.
• Ensure you have your passport.
• Please contact us at least 3 days before your surgery to confirm the details and ensure everything is proceeding as planned. Thank you!
• If you don’t have a passport, make sure to bring a birth certificate and a valid ID (both). Failure to provide both documents may result in secondary inspection, potentially causing flight delays or issues.

Pre-Surgery Instructions:

1. Arrive fasting! Stop eating at midnight. You can have small sips of water to keep your mouth moist; don’t drink the whole glass/bottle.
2. Read and follow your surgeon’s instructions, especially regarding medication. (Provided in your approval email)
3. Pack light: Bring comfortable and loose clothing, slippers, and your personal hygiene products. Don’t travel with fancy jewelry or expensive items.
4. Prepare for the operating room: No nail polish or piercings (remove as much as you can).
5. Pack your travel documents and make sure you travel with your passport. In case you don’t have a passport, bring a birth certificate and a valid ID (both). If you don’t bring both documents, you might be taken to a secondary inspection area and might miss your flight.
6. Make sure you have our driver’s phone number and all our contact information. Edgar (Driver): +52 664 408 6684 WhatsApp.
7. If you have your latest blood work, please send it via email as soon as possible.

Pre-Surgery Contact:

Please contact us 3 days prior to your surgery so we can ensure that both parties are aligned and everything is according to plan.

Step-by-Step Airport Arrival:

Driver Pickup (Day Before Surgery)

Our driver may contact you a day before your arrival. He will be waiting for you at San Diego Airport in Terminal 1, Zone F. Once you are in the car, you will be taken to your hotel in Tijuana to spend the night. Note: If our driver has not arrived, please be patient. Keep in mind that city traffic and border crossing can cause a small delay. You can also send a text message or contact our driver at the following number:

Driver Pickup (Same Day of Surgery)

Our driver may contact you a day before your arrival. He will be waiting for you at San Diego Airport in Terminal 1, Zone F, no later than 10 am on surgery day. Once you are in the car, you will be taken to our facilities in Tijuana. Note: If our driver has not arrived, please be patient. Keep in mind that city traffic and border crossing can cause a small delay. You can also send a text message or contact our driver at the following number:

Edgar (Driver): +52 664 408 6684 WhatsApp

Other resources: You can also send a text message to logistics (Monica) +1 52 664 256 2438.

Arrival Day Prior (Optional):

Arrive the day prior to your procedure at San Diego Airport before 7:00 pm. Our driver will be there to pick up all patients at Terminal 1, Zone F. Patients will spend the night at the hospital.

Surgery on Arrival Day (First Night at the Hospital):

Edgar, our driver, will pick you up from the airport and take you to the hospital. Dr. Axel, our assistant doctor, will meet you at the hospital, which is a 20-minute drive from the airport. Once at the hospital, all paperwork and surgery payments will be processed, as well as all pre-op testing (blood work, EKG) and an evaluation with the internal medicine doctor. When all results are back and everything is good, you will be ready for surgery.

Surgical time for Gastric Sleeve is from 35 to 45 minutes. After the procedure, you will be taken to your room to rest and recover from surgery. Our nursing staff and doctors will be monitoring and assisting you 24/7.

Recovery Day (Second Night at the Hospital):

The day after surgery, you will be resting in your room. Our doctors and nurses will perform a leak test and all necessary labs to ensure you are recovering successfully. You must continue walking in the halls for gas relief.

Last Day, Release and Return:

You will be able to get ready in the morning and prepare to leave after the doctor’s release (generally around 8:00 – 9:00 am). You will be provided with your medical report, medical prescription, and results from the tests performed. Our driver will pick you up at the facility and take you to San Diego Airport to board your flight. Please keep in mind that crossing the border can take a few hours; our driver will pick you up at the best time considered.