A guide for international patients
If you're considering bariatric surgery in Mexico, you probably have questions — about safety, about quality of care, about what the experience is really like. This is a place to get honest answers, not a sales pitch.
We are not a medical broker. We are a vertically integrated program.
The concerns we hear most
It's the most important question. And the honest answer depends on where you go and what standards that facility meets. Here's what you should look for — and what we can tell you about ourselves.
Concern #1
JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation is the gold standard for hospital quality outside the US — the same organization that accredits American hospitals. A JCI-accredited facility must meet the same protocols for patient safety, surgical standards, infection control, and emergency response as any US hospital.
Our program operates from a JCI-accredited hospital in Mexico City. You can verify this directly on the JCI directory ↗.
Concern #2
This is the most valid concern, and the one that separates responsible programs from irresponsible ones. Our protocol includes telemedicine check-ins with your surgical team at months 1, 3, 6, and 12. If you have a complication, you call us first — we coordinate with your local ER if needed and provide full medical records in English.
Every patient also leaves with a $1M GMM international insurance policy that covers medical emergencies for 12 months post-surgery.
Concern #3
Mexican bariatric surgeons can be board-certified by CMCOEM (Colegio Mexicano de Cirugía para la Obesidad) and members of IFSO (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity), the same body that certifies top US surgeons. Fellowship training at US or European institutions is common.
We are transparent about our surgeons' credentials, volume, and training. You will have a video consultation with your surgeon before any decision is made — ask everything.
Concern #4
Every step of the process — pre-op, surgery day, recovery, discharge — is managed by an English-speaking patient coordinator who is reachable by phone, text, or WhatsApp. You will never navigate anything in a second language.
Mexico City is a major international hub with direct flights from New York (5h), Los Angeles (4h), and Dallas (2.5h). The city has Uber, world-class hotels, and infrastructure comparable to any US city.
Education first
Bariatric surgery is not a single thing. Different procedures work differently in the body, and the right one depends on your BMI, health conditions, and goals. Here's a plain-language overview.
About 75–80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow sleeve-shaped tube. The surgery reduces hunger significantly by removing the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin (the hunger hormone). No intestinal rerouting. Recovery is 2–3 weeks.
Good for: BMI 35–50, first-time surgery, patients without severe diabetes. Average excess weight loss: 60–70% in 12–18 months.
Full procedure guideA small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing most of the stomach and upper intestine. This changes how your body absorbs food and dramatically affects gut hormones related to blood sugar — which is why it's so effective for Type 2 diabetes.
Good for: BMI 35–55, severe diabetes, GERD, or failed sleeve revision. T2D remission rate: 80–85%. Recovery: 3–4 weeks.
Full procedure guideA newer, highly effective procedure combining a sleeve with a single intestinal bypass loop. Often recommended for BMI 50+ or as a revision after a failed sleeve. It produces the most significant metabolic improvements of any bariatric procedure.
Good for: BMI 50+, failed previous surgery, maximum metabolic impact needed. Long-term excess weight loss: 75–85%. Recovery: 4–5 weeks.
Full procedure guide*All-inclusive means: surgeon and anesthesiologist fees, hospital stay, pre-op labs, airport transfers, and 12-month telehealth follow-up. Final pricing is confirmed at your virtual consultation.
The difference isn't in the quality of surgery — it's in the cost structure of healthcare. In Mexico, there are no insurance intermediaries, no hospital administrative overhead from billing departments, and no malpractice insurance premiums at US levels. The surgical team's training and the technology used are equivalent.
A sleeve gastrectomy in the US averages $22,000–$28,000 (when not covered by insurance, which happens in 65% of cases). The same surgery here is $6,500 — not because corners are cut, but because the system is structured differently.
No insurance approval needed. If you qualify medically, the only barrier is your decision.
Step by step
One of the biggest anxieties is the unknown. Here's exactly what happens, from first contact to 12 months post-surgery.
You fill out a short form or call us. A patient coordinator reaches out within 24 hours — by phone, email, or WhatsApp, whichever you prefer. This is a conversation, not a sales call. You can ask anything. There is no obligation.
A 30-minute video call with the bariatric surgeon. They review your health history, answer your questions, and give a procedure recommendation. You decide if and when you want to proceed. No deposit required to have this call.
If you decide to proceed, you do bloodwork at your nearest Quest or LabCorp — we send you the lab order. Results go directly to your surgeon, who reviews them within 48 hours and confirms you're a safe surgical candidate. Only after this is surgery scheduled.
Your coordinator arranges a private airport pickup and checks you in at the Camino Real hotel (1 km from the hospital). That evening, you meet your surgeon in person for a final pre-op visit. The entire day is guided — you're never finding your way alone.
The procedure takes 45–90 minutes depending on type. You'll be in the hospital 2–4 nights. Pain management is handled by the anesthesiology team. An English-speaking nurse is available on every shift. Your coordinator checks in morning and evening.
After discharge, 2–3 nights at Camino Real before flying home. Most patients fly home on day 5 or 6. You'll have clear dietary and activity guidelines, and your first telehealth check-in is scheduled for 4 weeks post-op. Your life with less weight starts now.
This is where most medical tourism programs fall short. We don't. Our follow-up is structured and proactive:
The people behind the program
Board-certified, fellowship-trained, and experienced in treating international patients. You will meet your surgeon before surgery — no surprises.
Chief of Bariatric Surgery
Fellowship-trained at Cleveland Clinic. 1,400+ bariatric procedures. Specialist in robotic-assisted sleeve and bypass.
Metabolic & Revision Surgery
Subspecialty in metabolic surgery and complex revisions. 800+ bypass and SADI-S procedures. Research published in SOARD journal.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Pioneer in single-incision laparoscopic sleeve. 950+ procedures. Preferred for high-BMI and high-risk patients.
From patients who've been there
"I spent 2 years fighting my US insurance and got nowhere. From first call with Meridian to walking out of surgery was 19 days. I wish I'd done this sooner. I'm down 87 lbs in 9 months."
"I was nervous about going to Mexico. My coordinator did a virtual tour of the hospital before I booked anything. The hospital was modern, clean, and the staff was attentive. Completely different from what I expected."
"Revision after a failed sleeve years ago. No US surgeon wanted to take the case. Dr. Hernández did SADI-S and I'm finally seeing results. Down 64 lbs. My T2D is in remission. The 12-month follow-up made all the difference."
Common questions
If you don't find what you're looking for, ask us directly.
General candidacy guidelines: BMI ≥ 35 with at least one obesity-related condition (diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea), or BMI ≥ 40. Some programs accept BMI 30–35 with severe metabolic disease. Your surgeon will confirm based on your full medical history in the virtual consultation. No need to self-diagnose — that's what the consultation is for.
Most US insurance plans do not cover surgery performed abroad. However, many patients use their HSA/FSA accounts to pay, and payment via wire transfer, Zelle, or credit card is accepted. The out-of-pocket cost here ($6,500–$11,200) is often less than the deductible + co-pay patients face when insurance does cover the procedure in the US.
For most patients, flying home on day 5 or 6 post-op is safe for short-to-medium haul flights (under 6 hours). Your surgeon will clear you individually. For longer flights, we recommend compression socks and frequent walking in the aisle. Sleeve patients generally recover faster and can fly sooner than bypass patients.
Tell them everything. We provide you with complete operative reports, discharge summaries, and pathology results in English — formatted for US providers. Most US primary care physicians and specialists are familiar with patients who've had bariatric surgery abroad. Continuing care is straightforward with the documentation we provide.
Yes, and we strongly encourage it. A travel companion can stay at the hotel and visit during hospital hours. Mexico City has excellent restaurants, museums, and things to do — many companions turn the recovery stay into a meaningful trip. We can help coordinate their travel and accommodation logistics.
Call us first. We have a 24/7 on-call line for post-op emergencies. For anything requiring immediate care, go to your nearest ER — your GMM international insurance ($1M coverage, included in your package) will be the paying policy. We send your surgical records directly to the receiving hospital. Major complications are rare (<1%) but we are set up for them.
No pressure. No commitment.
If after reading all this you still have questions — or if you're ready to take the next step — reach out. A patient coordinator will respond within 24 hours, by phone, email, or WhatsApp.
The first conversation is free, takes about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation of any kind.
A coordinator will be in touch within 24 hours.