Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

My first impression of Dr. Alvarez was that he looked very well put together. First impressions are a big deal and he definitely you made his on my husband and I. Naturally, when people think Mexico and surgery...most of us have a nervous feeling about it and feel like something could go wrong. However, I can assure you...EVERYTHING went perfect. I am not exaggerating on that either. I am not paid to write or say anything. I am saying this from the bottom of my heart. Everything was great. I felt welcome since my first interaction with Susan George and all the way to meeting Dr. A and his staff. Not to mention, there are several videos (YouTube) on, about, and from Dr. Alvarez. The vision for his patients far out does any doctor I have ever met or heard of. He wants to help you in your journey from before you really realize that this will be your journey. He has taken the time to out up several videos and guides in order to assist you from far away, even after your surgery has been completed. He is very maticulous in performing his surgeries. My husband and I both couldn't be happier with the results. We are almost 6 weeks out and we are both doing great. No infections, and hear me when I say that's AWESOME! I have had surgery before (gallbladder removal surgery) and had several infections after it and it was done at my local hospital here in Texas. I am also prone to getting the worst of everything. So if something can go wrong, it usually does on me. However, NOT one single infection and my incisions are barely even there. I am only about 6 weeks out and already they are almost all gone. I haven't used any special creams or anything. I couldn't be happier or more pleased with the job he did. I just can't say that enough. My husband is the one who did all the research on doctors and came to the final conclusion of Dr. Alvarez. You can read his review as well. His name is "1moparman". We did this being a little hesitate and came out on top of the world. We feel that not only did we choose an awesome doctor, but also a doctor with the right amount of passion, compassion, and tools that we needed to get through this journey. Everytime I call or email having questions, I am always responded to within a matter of a few hours or less. The team he has assembled is above par and makes sure you know you are important. I have never had the attention to detail or the attention from a nurse or staff they way I have with Dr. Alvarez's staff. I felt safe and cared for during my entire stay. Susan also helped me get my time off work approved. My doctors here in Texas usually charge for that or it takes them several days to complete this task, whereas Susan would have end done by end of business day on the day you requested it or the next morning if she had to request clinicals or labs. It truly is worth investing your time in Dr. Alvarez and staff in helping you achieve your weight loss goals.

I am a lapband revision patient. I had my lapband placed on 11/10/2005 by Dr. Heneghan of Bassett Healthcare. I was not a success story. The band caused lots of regurgitation and caused GERD. I had difficulty eating and often vomited. With time the lapband "slipped and flipped". It was removed on 8/23/13 by Dr. Cooper of Syracuse Physician Associates. As it turned out, my health insurance carrier denied me the second stage of my revision surgery (the gastric sleeve). After having dealt with 2 NY bariatric practices and having complied with all of the program demands, I opted to go to Dr. Guillermo Alvarez of Endobariatric for my surgery (as a self pay patient). The truth be told, Dr. Alvarez is a much more skilled and experienced surgeon than ANY of my NY options. He authored the very first book on the gastric sleeve in 2010, which I read cover to cover before making my final decision. He has performed over 5.000 surgeries. He specializes in the gastric sleeve. I researched for months and could not find ONE negative feedback on him. The most remarkable thing about this is that his patients are all self pay. I joined his Facebook group (Endobariatric) and kept reading nothing but good things about Dr. A. His patients all were pleased with their sleeves and their new lives. My one concern was traveling from Texas back home to upstate NY post surgery. However, I contacted several New Yorkers and world travelers that had needed to travel long distances. They all assured me the traveling was not a problem. I sent in my deposit, secured my date and prepared myself for my surgery. My surgery was on 1/13/14. It was stress free, pain free, with no nausea and no acid. Other than a little soreness (less than when you first start working out), I felt GREAT! The travel back home went smoothly (I did use the wheelchair service when I got to Dulles Airport as my gates were at opposite ends of the airport and required a shuttle). I returned to work after a week. My suture sites are barely visible. My scar from the lapband removal on 8/23/13 is VERY visible and twice the size of my VSG scar. Overall, I rate Dr. Guillermo Alvarez A+++. In my opinion, he is the absolute best!! His team is wonderful! Dr. Salinas, the anesthesiologist, was magnificent. I have always felt like a mack truck hit me after surgery but not this time. I felt refreshed and alert post op. Dr. Gabe, Dr. Alvarez's assistant was very kind and attentive. Dr. Garza, a resident learning from Dr. A was just as great. The nursing staff at the hospital were attentive, caring, and always available. Although I was not in one of the Endobariatric rooms at the hospital (as my original flight was cancelled due to a wind storm and my surgery was re-scheduled making me an add on to his 1/13 itinerary), the room I was in was clean and comfortable. I loved having a private room. I also loved not being constantly interrupted whie resting. I actually rested! In addition to the hospital nurses, Dr. A has 2 nurses exclusively for his patients. One per shift, Anali and Jessica. They were both absolute sweethearts!! They answered questions, walked laps with me up and down the halls, and helped make the hospital experiece a very pelasant one. I have never received such great care in a hospital EVER. Our health care system could definitely learn something from Dr. Alvarez's practice. And as if all this great care was not enough, his follow up is great. He e-mailed me to remind me of each dietary phase and simply to check up and see how I was doing. His coordinator, Susan, was wonderful when I needed to re-schedule because of my cancelled flight. They made it easy for me and my surgery was delayed a few day (orig date was 1/9 and surgery date ended up 1/13/14). I feel so blessed to have had my insurance deny my VSG. I ended up with a world class, highly skilled surgeon considered to be one of the leading experts in the gastric sleeve and the best medical expereince of my life. I highly recommend Dr. Guillermo Alvarez. P.S.- Most of the staff speaks fluent English.

After much research and review I chose Dr. Alavarez. Prior to meeting Dr. Alvarez I got the impression that he was very passionate about his work. After meeting him and his staff I can clearly say without a doubt that I made the best possible choice of surgeons. Dr. Alvarez and his staff were very attentive, interested in your well-being, and professional. Dr. Alvarez was very nice and didn't just treat you like a number. He and his staff made sure you received the best possible care while under their care. Dr. Alvarez, his team, and the facility was the best experience I have had for surgical purposes. All risks associated with the surgery were covered and I felt quite secure under Dr. Alvarez's care. It was a very nice facility and would recommend Dr. Alvarez above all others. He is truly a class act.

I just scanned many of the reviews of patients of Dr. Alvarez that went before me and find it amazing how everyone's experience is so consistent with each others. I can agree and relate to everything that's been said. I was worried at first to go to Mexico for surgery. I was hesitant to tell friends and family and I actually waited until I got back to tell most of them. After months of researching Dr. Alvarez through his website Endobariatric.com by watching all the utube links, following his patients on utube, searching his credentials, etc., I finally made that call to Susan, his patient coordinator, also a patient of Dr. A and a nurse. From then on after I set the date, anytime I would get nervous about the trip and the decision, I would log onto face book and read his patients posts, I emailed Dr. Alvarez himself with questions, I would call Susan or email her, watch more utube testimonials, watch the patient reunion parties on utube, to help me put my fear to rest. And also listen to his live radio show that airs every Monday night. I became so comfortable with Dr. A that I just put my trust in him knowing I was going to be another success story like the rest of his wonderful patients and I am! I must add that Dr. Rosales who assisted Dr. Alvarez added much to the comfort and trust I felt throughout my stay at the hospital. At first arriving at the hospital I do remember saying to my boyfriend that it feels a little odd being out of the country. It was different at first. But let me tell you before you know it your right at home. I even learned a little Spanish (very little). I have never been left with such a warm connection with one of my doctors like I have with Dr. Alvarez. I could go on and on......hahahaha!

I am sure that everyone who is thinking of having surgery in Mexico thinks the same thing, is this safe? I know I was. After reading some of the reviews on this site, I decided that Dr Alvarez would not only take great care of me, but that he would also be better than most surgeons in the US. I have been a nurse for 5 years in critical care environments, and the doctors for those patients only round once per day if the patients are lucky. Dr Alvarez and his staff round multiple times per day, and make sure that everything is going well. In my opinion, the true way to tell if your laparoscopic surgeon is good or not is the amount of pain after surgery. Let me tell you, I had very little pain after surgery. I would recommend this surgeon to anyone, even if they had insurance that would cover the surgery in the US. By far one of the best hospital experiences I have ever had.

I can't say enough about Dr. Alvarez and my experience in Piedras Negras (I was sleeved Dec. 10, 2013). The entire trip from start to finish was better than I even hoped for, and that's saying a lot since I did a ton of research and felt very confident in my choice.

My sister had WLS a year and a half before I did. She chose a low-cost option in Tijuana, and while she hasn't had any complications (unlike several women who had the surgery when she did), she had a very different experience than mine. I think it sums it up to say that I chose to go somewhere else, and our experiences are like night and day. Think of a Yugo vs. a Cadillac.

I think a lot of reviews focus only on the surgeon or surgery, so let me take a few moments to speak to other elements that to me were very important as well. Dr. Alvarez' coordinator, Susan, was very helpful as I made my decision, and once I had made my decision, she made the "pre-op" process (everything from completing paperwork to payment to pre-op diet instructions etc.) smooth and worry-free. It said a lot to me that she is a former patient of Dr. Alvarez as well. Another important distinction from many people I know who were sleeved elsewhere is the fact that I received a comprehensive set of documents informing me of critical aspects of the process -- everything from very specific instructions for the pre-op diet to information on wound care and post-op diet phases. I felt I was well informed regarding what to expect not only for surgery and during my stay at the hospital, but once I returned home as well. There was no concern about having surgery in Mexico and feeling "alone" when I returned. I have heard feedback from many people who were sleeved elsewhere in Mexico -- and even in the United States -- who were left confused and with dozens of questions about what to do once the actual surgery was complete. If you haven't already, take a look at Endobariatric's YouTube Channel. To date there are 260+ videos, including dozens of Dr. Alvarez explaining various aspects of the surgery, diet, followup, aftercare, etc. and testimonials from previous patients (including me!).

So, onto Dr. Alvarez and the surgical experience. Dr. Alvarez is not only knowledgeable and obviously a skilled surgeon, but his bedside manner is caring and genuine. He took the time to answer all of my questions before surgery, visited several times after surgery during my hospital stay, and has followed up proactively and responded to my inquiries since I've been home. His team is amazing as well; Anna and Jessica will take wonderful care of you, and the nurses in the hospital were top notch -- better than care I've received in U.S. hospitals. I never had to push the call button; the nursing staff was on time with every medication delivery, etc.

The hospital was very clean and I enjoyed the "vintage" feel. There's nothing vintage about the medical care or equipment - it was all top-notch and I have no reservations recommending Dr. Alvarez as a "can't-go-wrong" choice for your gastric sleeve surgery. As always, however, YOU must feel comfortable with your choice, so do your own research. However, I won't be surprised when you come to the same conclusion as I did. :) Congratulations on taking a step toward your new obesity-free life!

Just like a great deal of people, I was a little nervous about the trip to Mexico for surgery, especially being an RN and knowing how important it is to make the right choice. Prior to the day of my surgery I had not ever even been to Mexico so the entire process was a leap of faith. I based my decision on all the reviews that I have read online.....I have read hundreds if not thousands of posts and articles about Dr. Alvarez, in addition to hundreds of posts about other physicians as well. I realize that there are other doctors who are qualified, other facilities that are adequate, but the ONLY doctor that I found 100% positive feedback on was Dr. A. That was the first step in my decision.... The next was the great answers and line of communication I established with Susan, his coordinator who is also a nurse and she has also had the VGS several years ago so she knows firsthand what you are going through. She made it all very clear to me, answered all my questions and still answers my questions even 2 months post-op. In addition to these things, I also was quite impressed with all of the time he spends providing education and information online both through his websites and on youtube. I mean, videos show it all! Not to mention the fact that he has done this procedure on his niece and his mother!! ( not his mother-in-law, HIS MOTHER! Lol ) That within itself was very compelling in my opinion. After I decided to move forward I scheduled my date and as time was dragging by I decided I was ready to go sooner and contacted Susan and she was able to reschedule me a week earlier! The entire process from start to finish went perfectly -- and I made the trip by myself so it was very important to me that everything flow without any problems or concerns.
Meeting Dr Alvarez was very much like I had anticipated since I had watched him on so many youtube videos so I felt like I already knew him. I have worked with and been around many doctors throughout the years and rarely do you meet someone who genuinely takes the time and effort to make sure all of your questions are answered, that you feel 100% comfortable and just is overall sincere. Not to mention that he follows up after the surgery to check in and see how you are doing. HE WILL CHECK ON YOU, NOT HIS NURSE!! Susan is wonderful and always there for any questions you may have, but I rarely know of doctors who take the time personally to check in with patients to see how they are doing. Dr. Alvarez continues a family legacy as his dad is a gastroenterologist and his grandfather was a doctor as well -- The hospital facilities are nice and clean and they have a nurse there specifically for you that speaks english so there are not ever any language barriers. I did not ever feel uncomfortable at all and I believe with a doubt that I received better medical care and attention there than I would have ever received in the states. The surgery itself went without any problems ( he also had to do a hernia repair once he got in there and as a result my heartburn that I have suffered with for years has almost disappeared!!! ) I have had no problems at all with my sleeve, I have followed my dietary guidelines and progressed as instructed and at this point I am getting most if not all of my protein from my dietary intake with very few protein shakes! Very happy with my choice and now at 8 weeks out I have lost about 35 pounds since my surgery day weight. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me. I know before I went I wanted to talk to as many people as possible!
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My experience with Dr. Alvarez was very informative and pleasant. My procedure details and trip details were printed out very clearly. If I didn't understand something fully, they were an email away and my questions or concerns were always addressed within a days time. The trip to Mexico was also very pleasant.(even the bumpy ride) The staff was willing to answer questions and assist with anything you needed for your guest as well as yourself.The concern level was as if I was family, and not just another person. I was very impressed at how well everything followed the chain of events that was explained to me about my procedure. Following the pre-operative and post-operative instructions was a huge contributor to my success in my opinion. This was a personal choice for me, and my only regret was not doing it sooner! Thanks to Dr. Alvarez, and his team for helping me change my life!

I had my VSG surgery with Dr. A on October 29, 2013. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about my experience with him and his staff. From the minute we arrived at the hospital to the time we left, I felt like I was among friends who really cared about myself and my well being. His nurses Jessica and Analis were amazing and so caring. I'm a nurse myself so what attracted me to Dr. A was his experience and openness in regards to his practice. He himself answered any emails pre-op or now post-op that I have had and gets back to me in less than 24 hrs, usually within the hour :) I know a lot of places pull people in by the look of their facility and surrounding area. For me, I was looking for a five star surgeon, not a five star facility with all the bells and whistles of a vacation, as I was NOT on vacation, I was there for one purpose and that was my surgery. I wanted top notch care and expertise and that is what I got. The hospital is older, but it is clean, and that is all that matters. People need to research their surgeon a lot more than researching the bells and whistles of a facility. I felt much more confident going into a hospital that was well equipped to handle any situation over going into a surgical center that would have to transfer me elsewhere if other issues were to arise. I look forward to the next year and plan on attending Dr. A's patient reunion in San Antonio in the fall of 2014. Dr. A doesn't disappoint, he is very friendly and you can talk to him just like an old friend or family member. I would highly recommend him to anyone :) I also wanted to mention the "going to Mexico" for surgery issue. I live in Canada, and I had never been to Texas or Mexico. Texas was great, very friendly people. Mexico was the same, no issues crossing the border going into or coming out of Piedras Negras. I've also had zero complications post-op, and have absolutely not regrets in regard to my surgery or going with Dr. A as my surgeon!

I had surgery March 4 2013, I've lost 120 pounds 9 months past my surgery. I haven't had any problems post surgery. I had Diabetes a1c 6.9, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and now I don't take any medication for any of these and there all gone. Dr Alvarez and his staff where great. I had almost no pain after surgery and I was back to work in 2 weeks.