Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

Hello, I had surgery with dr.a on sept.7,2015 and all I can say is I am very glad I choose him as my surgeon him and his team are outstanding they are very nice and professional they take very good care of you. As for him being in Mexico a lot of people are scared or nervous about having surgery in Mexico but all I can say is that it is very safe to go and Dr.A is one of the best surgeons

After having met with Dr. Alvarez in June of this year at the 1st Southeast VSG Conference in Atlanta, I knew this was the doctor I wanted to do my gastric sleeve surgery. Not only did he discuss the surgery with me, but he made me feel as if I was talking with a friend and not a doctor. After leaving the conference, I phoned Susan George the following week and was able to schedule my surgery for 8/6/15. The entire experience of getting to and from Mexico was a very pleasant and exciting one. The entire staff were very friendly, supportive, and acommodating. The hospital itself was very clean. The nurses were checking on you around the clock, making sure you were ok. I am so glad I did this with Dr. Alvarez, and would recommend him to all of my family and friends. My only regret is not having this surgery many years earlier.

Unlike some of the reviews, I was not nervous about having surgery in Mexico. I had several friends that Dr. Alvarez performed their weight loss surgery. Dr. A as most of us call him, is AMAZING. His complete staff were like family. I have never had an experience like that. Everything was easy and simple. The anxiety over having surgery in general was there, but my mind was put at ease as soon as I shook his hand. He is one of the most caring physicians I have ever come across and I'm a nurse, so I have know a lot of them! Besides caring for me with excellence, they also took care of my companion like they were family as well. There is no higher praise I can give Dr. A, besides he changed my life and I am forever thankful.

I had my surgery July 20th, 2015. I am a registered nurse. I was hesitant and worried about going to Mexico for weight loss surgery. I researched Dr. Alvarez and read reviews, blogs and his informative videos on YouTube. I could not find anything negative. I had the same worries that most people have about going to Mexico. Was I going to get kidnapped and murdered by the cartels, were they pretending to do weight loss surgery, but instead taking my kidney out; was it a scam- and once they picked me up in Texas-were they going to rob me of my money and leave me on the side of the road? But- this is not a scam, and I felt very safe in Eagle pass, Texas and Mexico. The hospital is clean, the staff were attentive and nice. Dr. Alvarez was so sweet, caring, calm, re-assuring and informative. I felt comfortable and at ease as soon as we met and he started talking. His fellow surgeons and Anesthesiologist were just as caring and informative as he was. I was also so worried about pain and complications from surgery, because I had never had surgery before and it was a 8 hour drive to Mexico. But surgery was non-eventful, and I wasn't in horrific pain after. Mostly uncomfortable from gas. After the first few days, I started having incisional pain at the delivery site. (where my stomach was taken out). But it was mild and is completely gone now. I recommend any one looking for a gastric sleeve surgeon to consider Dr. Alvarez. You won't go wrong. He didn't treat me like a number, I was a person. And I truly felt he cared about me and bettering my life.

Today is the one month anniversary of my gastric sleeve surgery by Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and team. My heaviest weight was in February of this year (2015) was 259 pounds. By the time I decided to have surgery, I had gotten down to 249 pounds prior to my pre-op diet. During the pre-op diet (all liquid for one week) I got down to my surgery date weight of 238. That was an amazing loss of nine or ten pounds in just a week. The week after surgery was all clear liquids and I was down another 10 pounds. So in just two weeks, I lost around 19 pounds. I’m exactly one month out of surgery and have a total loss of 38 pounds. The path is not straight. I’m learning about weight loss stalls, what causes them, and how to overcome them. I’m learning a lot about myself and feeling more worthwhile and confident already. At work this past week, I realized how much easier and comfortable it was to cross my legs. Little things like that happen more and more often. Simple little things that make me realize slowly I am taking back my life and beginning to live it again. I’m doing more than just existing.
This weight loss surgery journey started almost a year prior while I was on vacation in Colorado. My lifelong friend, Sherri, and I toured the cave dwellings of Mesa Verde. To exit one of the dwellings required me to fit through a very small stone tunnel. I almost didn’t fit. This was embarrassing, but even more, it was a huge eye opener. I had been overweight – gaining and losing and gaining again-for nearly twenty years. My weight had diminished my self-esteem and confidence. I lacked energy and vitality that I once enjoyed. Finding clothes in my size that were attractive was nearly impossible. Anyway, I had put up with the problems my weight issue had born, both emotional and physical. I had been treated for polycystic ovarian syndrome with metformin for years and finally in the past year, I had been diagnosed with type II diabetes and an added diabetic medication. Emotionally I struggled with depression a few times. I lost my happy.
Yes, I knew what it would take to lose and maintain the weight. I had been told over and over. Eat less, exercise more. Put down the fork. Intellectually I knew what needed to be done, but psychologically, I just didn’t possess the stick-with-it mentality to be successful. I always fell back into old habits of overeating, eating desserts, eating starchy carbs. I knew better, but I had given up and felt hopeless. It’s difficult to exercise when you carry an extra 120 pounds every day, all day long. My dear friend, the one that captured the image of me trying to squeeze through the Mesa Verde exit, has known me since grade school and we have been more like sisters than just friends. She knew better than I did that I had to lose weight and was very supportive. Her stepdaughter had the gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Alvarez a year earlier with amazing results of losing over 100 pounds in just a year. She had blossomed into a new young woman because of the surgery. After a few conversations with her, I began researching. Reading about vertical gastric sleeve surgery, Dr. Alvarez, and other doctor bariatric doctors fed my quest for information. I watched videos and read testimonials. I read about other options such as gastric bypass and lap band surgeries. In conclusion, vertical gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Alvarez seemed to be the best answer for me. I did not find anything negative, and believe me, I looked for the negatives. But what I found was positive results and absolutely happy patients taking back their lives.
So in the middle of June, I made my appointment. I cancelled my appointment, but thankfully I rescheduled it for July 21. Why the waffling? Having surgery is scary to me. The only surgeries I had before were necessary—broken elbow and two C-sections. Having sleeve surgery was not necessary. Or was it? Questions like that played on my mental soundtrack. Was I tempting fate by having two thirds of my perfectly healthy stomach removed? What problems would that cause as I aged? Anesthesia makes me wary. What about post-surgery infections? What if I had complications and had to stay in the hospital in Mexico. Financially, I was going into debt to have the surgery? Shouldn’t I just wait and save the money? If I wait I might never get it done. I needed to get this done now, so I could start enjoying life again. So there are all of these back and forth tug of wars in making this decision. Then there were the questions of having surgery in a different country--Mexico. Was I really going to have surgery by a doctor I’ve never met in person, in a place I’ve never seen before, and in a country where I am not fluent in the language? Yes, I was taking a leap of faith. Dr. Alvarez’s reputation, his communications, and professional background tipped the scales in favor of the surgery and having the surgery in Mexico.
Yes, I had reservations in the beginning, but they were all unfounded. The morning we left for Texas, I felt a reassured calmness knowing I was doing the right thing for me. Everything was exactly as he patient coordinator, had told me it would be. We called the hotel shuttle, met Rosie our driver, traveled to Eagle Pass, TX, met up and had dinner with my sleeve sisters (This is another genius way to help us in our journey.) and got a good night’s rest. Rosie picked us up at 7:30 a.m. on July 21 and drove us over the border to Endobariatrics, Dr. Alvarez’s office. After a group photo, we entered the office. Shortly after, Dr. Alvarez entered and greeted each of us warmly and genuinely. He met with each of us individually discussing our medical history and answered questions we may have had. I felt absolutely confident in minutes of meeting him that I was in the best hands I could be in and that I had made a very, very good decision in having weight loss surgery with Dr. Alvarez.
The surgery morning went exactly as explained. So did the afternoon—waking from surgery and walking the halls to begin the healing. The next day ice chips never tasted so good! More walking. We even walked a short distance to the pharmacy and store next to the hospital. We were all feeling pretty good for having a major surgery. Another night in the hospital with quiet, competent nurses tending to us through the night lead to a 6:30 a.m. grape juice box. If we could successfully drink half of the juice, we would be released to travel back to San Antonio for a good night’s rest before flying back to Kansas City.
I could not have hoped for a better experience. The Endobariatric staff was friendly, professional, and skilled. The hospital staff was also top notch. There was a professionalism in this facility that I have not seen in many American hospitals. The hospital was not fancy and big, but it was clean and efficient. It was the human element that made it grand. We were treated respectfully and without judgement.
Now that I’m one month post-surgery, I am still happy with my decision to have the surgery. Yes, I could barely stop smiling the moment I set foot in Piedras Negras in Mexico. I’m still smiling. I’ve followed Dr. Alvarez’s instructions and I’ve had success. I have had no problems, discomfort, or pain worth complaining about. I’m respecting my sleeve and following the rules. I have stalled out a time or two, but that all passed and I understand it will happen here and there. This tool will help me lose and maintain my weight, improve my health, and jump start my life. I honestly cannot say enough to convey how happy I am that I trusted Dr. Alvarez and his surgical team with my life and my weight loss journey. I found my happy again.

My husband was referred to Dr Alvarez by someone at his work. Like anyone would be I was nervous at the idea of traveling to Mexico for surgery. My husband and I did a ton of research. We even specifically searched for bad reviews. We found none. There was a reason for that!!! Dr Alvarez and his team are the best!!!! I've had no complications and I firmly believe it's because I have received the best possible care from the best surgeon and surgical team. I highly recommend Dr Alvarez.

After 4 years of struggling trying to lose on my own I finally set up my apt with Dr Alvarez. I researched all i could for 2 years before making my final decision to goto him. With something like this you just know through communication if you are at your comfort zone. And i was times a million. I never had a uneasy feeling during the whole process. People tried to scare me about going to Mexico. But it was nothing anyone told me that it was. When we areived to his clinic we were treated as if we were family and he has such an amazing bedside manor that you would think he has known you forever!! After having surgery the following day i even got up and went to the Market shopping. He had his driver and a employee take us! My brother in law went and the nurses made sure he was fed every meal! I have to say i was highly impressed. I am now 1 month out from surgery and have hit a weightloss of 50 pounds !!! So exciting. But i know the after care and support from DrA and Susan has been over the top. They stay in contact and answer every question no matter how big or small quickly. I recommend Dr Alvarez and his team to anyone!!!

I was very nervous about traveling to Mexico by myself for vertical sleeve surgery. From the time I arrived in San Antonio until the day I left it was the most pleasant, wonderful experience I have ever had. Everyone from Susan the coordinator, Rosie our driver, to the hospital staff, the people of Piedras Negras and ESPECIALLY Dr. Alvarez were better than any US facility or doctor I have ever had to deal with. The surgery was without any complications and I seriously had no pain at all and was up and walking the afternoon of my surgery. This entire process has changed my outlook on life, changed my life and given me the tool I need to be a healthy and happy person. I am so very thankful to Dr. Alvarez and his amazing staff for making this experience so incredible for me. I honestly do not believe I would have trusted anyone else with this surgery and I will sing his praises and recommend him and Endobariatric to any and every one that is looking for a tool to help them with their weight loss. I am 1 month out and have lost 40 pounds and have had no complications what-so-ever. Dr. Alvarez truly changed my life.

I am not the type of person to write reviews however, because I read so many reviews when doing my research on having surgery in Mexico I only thought it was fair that I help others if I can in their decision making. I live in Florida and I have health insurance but it does not cover weight loss surgeries my cost would have been like 20K. Therefore, one day started surfing the web on this topic and came across a few Dr's in Mexico doing this procedure. At first I was like heck no what am I out of my mind? However, the more I researched the more I was like ok maybe I can do this. I narrowed it down to two Dr's one which was Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and another reputable Dr. in Tijuana. However, I must say the minute I saw Dr. Alvarez in his you tube video's I was confident that I had found my Dr. I suddenly felt a peace of mind. His English is perfect. I friended him on Facebook and became part of his support group. I messaged him twice and had a response within minutes. Now tell me what Dr. here in the states does that? None that I know. Well he's more pricey than the other surgeon and the other surgeon was about 2K less so I booked surgery, gave deposit and bought airline tickets with the other dr because I knew he was also good and was less. The minute I booked I regretted it so much so that I cancelled and lost my deposit and went with Dr. Alvarez. Always follow your gut. Let me tell you best decision of my life! I had surgery May 12, 2015 have lost 32 lbs to date. No complications at all! Susan his coordinator is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had some questions here and there and she has always been there to answer them. BY the way, Dr. Alvarez only does 3 surgeries a day which most including the other Dr. I almost chose do like 10 or even more a day (not good). He came twice a day to visit me at the hospital and so did another physician. I loved the fact that I was in a hospital not a center. I was in the hospital for 2 days and medicine was included in price. I could be here all day praising Dr. A and Susan. Anyone thinking about doing this do your research but I can tell you I did mine I checked every single website and found nothing negative about Dr. A. I reached out to his patients through facebook and everyone said positive things. Real patients. I bought his book. Saw all his videos. I have friends here in the States who have had this surgery and have had complications and knew nothing about complications or what to expect. I guess because they were being operated here they didn't research. However, because I was being operated in Mexico I researched a lot so I knew what to expect and what I was supposed to do. Dr. Alvarez sends you emails in all phases right after surgery so you are never alone in this journey. I am so happy I did this. I really wish I would have known about him and Susan before because this is the best gift I have ever given myself. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 1month prior to surgery and had to take metformin however, since surgery I have not needed to take medicine not once. This is not a miracle cure. It's a tool and if you are serious about losing weight and have tried everything else then this is the best route to go. I hope I have helped someone who may be thinking about this but is scared. Don't be scared. In my research, I found out Dr. Alvarez has done more of these surgeries than the Dr. I was going to go with in Miami that insurance pays for. Less time under anesthesia than the Dr. I would have chosen here in Miami if my insurance covered or if I could have afforded out of pocket. Therefore, do your research and trust me if you do you will choose Dr. Alvarez.

Dr. Was very kind and nurturing.He is compassionate about what he does.Hes done over 7,000 sleeves.all his staff are very knowledgeable and caring