Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

I had VSG on November 23, 2012. I was very nervous about going to Mexico for surgery. I am a single mother of four children and all I could think about was what would happen to them if something went wrong. However, I knew it was time for me to take serious action about my health, otherwise I wouldn't be able to be the mother I wanted to be anyway! Dr. Alvarez is an incredibly personable surgeon. His staff is fantastic. Everyone is helpful and reassuring. Dr. Alvarez has a complete aftercare program, which brought much peace of mind when I was back home. He and his staff are very responsive -- they answer emails very quickly and thoroughly. Based on my experience with Dr. Alvarez, several members of my immediate family are making plans to have VSG themselves!

Dr. Alvarez,
I want to thank you and your highly professional and wonderful staff for your kindness and good care pre-op and post-op. I never had a doubt that I would not receive the best care possible. The time spent in Mexico was 5 star!!! My husband and I enjoyed the cleanliness, peacefulness and rest your facility provided.
Your are not only blessed with a gift to help others regain their confidence and life goals; you are simple put, very good at what you do as a physician and "care" provider. I HIGHLY recommend Dr. A to anyone considering weight loss surgery. Keep up the good work because you are "THE BEST".
Dr. A- Thanks for giving me hope again. May God bless and keep you.
JJ

I have so many wonderful things to say about my experience with the Endobariatric team. I felt that I knew them before we ever met because of the many YouTube videos available from satisfied clients. But working with the staff was better in person. They were so friendly and I felt very comfortable right away. Also, the fact that my journey was organized from start to finish gave me a sense of peace. From Susan, who got me started... to Rosie, who drove us where we needed to go... to sweet Jessica, who is Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Gabe's capable assistant... and the nurses that were efficient and kind. They all made us feel like family.
While coming out of surgery, I experienced a medical emergency and was aided by many of the hospital staff, including the anaesthesiologist and the pulmonologist. Everyone worked overtime to make sure that I was OK and they kept my husband company while he waited for me to recover.
I will always be grateful to the special people that I met in Piedras Negras.

Dr. Alvarez is one of the most personable, caring people I have ever met. When the surgery is over and you are leaving, you feel as though you have a new found friend for life!! Everything about the experience, was very smoothe and well handled. All the new things you must learn after surgery are very well explained and in writing, one can also call or e-mail Dr. Alvarez at any time for any reason and he will personally answer you!! The whole experience was exceptional and I would do it again in a minute.

Everything about my surgery with Dr. Alvarez was wonderful! I have NO regrets about having my surgery in Mexico. I loved the care that I received and I know I have never been more informed and well taken care of as I was in Mexico with Dr. A. The city is clean and beautiful. The hospital was clean and the staff was great. I have nothing negative to say.

I could not say enough great things about Dr. Alvarez, his staff and the hospital where my surgery was performed. While I have the resources to have this surgery done by any surgeon in the country I took my time and did extensive due diligence in finding the absolutely best doctor available today to do my gastric sleeve surgery. I did this because I had a very bad experience with a doctor out of Ocala Florida with my lap band back in 2004. While this doctor was considered to be one of the best out there along with influence from others to go to him I ended up suffering the consequences because I just ended up doing what others said. As a result I had a lap band put inside of me that was defective because the surgeon putting it in sliced it by accident. As a result I had been going around with a failed lap band that constantly leaked in my body.

This time I was going to research everyone out there in the top 5% of doctors available and after time I found him. Dr. Alvarez ended up taking out my lap band and made me wait until I healed properly from the damage caused by the lap band before he could do my surgery. While this was frustrating I knew that he was doing what was best for me. As a matter of fact my wife being in medicine herself was so impressed by the his bedside manners, accessibility, follow up care, and state of the art equipment that Dr. Alvarez uses that she too ended up having the Gastric Surgery the same day that I did.

It has been one month since we both have had our surgery. My wife and I keep discussing with each other on how we have not had any after surgery pain or complications at all. We have followed his after surgery instructions and are amazed that looking back it now seems like it never happened because it has been so painless. Yet we are both losing around 2-3 pounds a week and we are never hungry, we sleep through the night without waking up, and we both could not say enough good things about our experience.

Trust me, just because you will be able to find some doctor in your area that has all kind of awards and accolades, please call them and notice how long it takes the coordinators to get back to you, and how long it takes to have your surgery done. It is not worth it when you will get immediate response by Dr. Alvarez’ coordinator, Susan who is great and very responsive! Trust your instinct and check the references of people that have gone through the doctor’s surgery. Don’t trust the marketing side of a hospital touting made up awards. I believe you will not find any surgeon out there with more positive reviews than Dr. Alvarez.

Please feel free to email with any questions that you might have as I have been there and succeeded. Doug at [email protected]

I flew from Canada to have this surgery in Mexico by myself. Everything was arranged by the staff and I was taken care and given detailed instructions on what to expect and what to do from the minute I arrived in San Antonio Texas.

All I can say is that the surgery and the before and after care was excellent. The Staff took care of everything all questions were answered very quickly.

I was impressed with the whole experience and feel it was one of my best decisions I have made to change my life.

I did a lot of research in planning my weight loss surgery. I researched primarily lap band and gastric sleeve. I decided to go with the gastric sleeve due to the possible complications with the lap band. Once I decided on my surgery - I researched surgeons. I looked all over and decided upon Dr. Alvarez. From my first contact with him and his staff I knew I had made the right decision. I watched all the available you tube videos and not only felt prepared for the surgery but also like I knew the staff already. Everything was better than expected.

My first impression of Dr. Alvarez was that he was a genuine person and truly wanted to help me. He was caring and patient with all of our questions and I never felt rushed.

After surgery, the nursing staff and Dr. Alvarez all checked on me frequently. The care I recieved was actually better than care I have recieved in the US. The staff was attentive. The hospital environment was clean and safe.

Alot of my friends were hesitant when I told them I was going to Mexico for surgery but their fears were unfounded. The care I recieved was second to none.

I would recommend Dr. Alvarez to anyone who is looking for a caring and competent surgeon. Dr. Alvarez's care did not stop after I was discharged from the hospital. He and his staff have been available for all of my questions and they provide detailed instructions as well as access to you tube videos which explain all discharge meds and instructions again.

My friend, who just returned from Mexico after having the Gastric Sleeve suggested that I check out Dr. Alvarez's website on the internet. She was telling me what a wonderful experience she had with Dr. Alvarez and her Gastric Sleeve. I did just that and I e-mailed with many questions. My questions were answered immediately. I was so impressed with all the knowlege that Dr. Alvarez's and his staff had about the Gastric Sleeve. After discussing this information with my family I decided that I was going to have the Gastric Sleeve for ME! I contacted Susan and she got the ball rolling. All I did was get on a plane and head to Texas. Everything was so organized I could not believe it. Rosy picked us up and we headed to Eagle Pass, Texas. We had a nice hotel that she checked us in and then the next morning she picked us up and took us to Dr. Alvarez's office. OMG I was amazed by his kindness, knowledge, and information he gave to us. I have never been to a Dr that actually took you into his office and talked to you about the whole procedure in detail! His staff took us to the hospital which ajoins his office and got us checked into the room. BTW we had a suite in a private hospital! Not only did I have a bed, but my husband had a bed, couch, fridge, computer area and a large tile shower and access to a phone that all I had to do was pick up and dial the number I was calling and my family could call me anytime also. I could stay on the phone 5 minutes or an hour it did not matter. The nursing staff at the hospital helped take care of me but Dr. Alvarez has his own personal staff that stays with you the entire time. After my procedure. Dr. Alvarez, his assistance Dr. Gabe, and his staff was checking on me constant. Where I live if your are in the hospital you are lucky to get the nurse to visit with you much less see the Dr. more than once a day. Dr. Alvarez & Dr. Gab was checking on me every couple of hours besides the nurse being there. I have never had this kind of medical care in my entire life. I was up within 2 hours of my surgery and never sit back down. This has been the easiest thing I have ever done. Dr. Alvarez makes sure you are not in any pain. The next day same treatment you are up walking the halls and feeling great. Dr. Alvarez and his staff are right there to assist you in ANYTHING you may need. I was feeling so well that my husband wanted to go to eat and browse around in Mexico and Jessica,my nurse took him out and they got wonderful food and showed him some of the stores and walked all around the streets of Mexico.While they were out checking out scenery and food Dr. Alvarez came in to check on me. When I left the hospital we all took pictures and Dr.Alvarez came out to the parking lot to say good-bye and take pictures. Yes I said Dr. Alvarez! Amazing huh. How many Dr's you know can call you by your first name without looking at the chart? And I have Dr. Alvarez coming to the parking lot to say good-bye. Then Rosy takes us back to Texas and checks us into another nice hotel for the night waiting on our flight home. Crossing the border back and forth heck I didn't even know we were crossing it was so smooth. All we did was give Rosy our passports and she handled everything. The hospital was amazing and I can not begin to say enough about Dr. Alvarez and his staff. I am offically 4 weeks after surgery now and I have lost 36 lbs. Have stopped taking my Blood Pressure medication and honestly feel like a million bucks. This is the BEST thing I could have ever done for myself. Only regret I have is not having the Gastric Sleeve done by Dr. Alvarez years ago! He has changed my life. It is amazing. And yes Dr. Alvarez has e-mailed me weekly to check on me and it's not a standard letter that he sends out. He actually takes the time out of his busy schedule to send personal e-mails to his patients. He is a genuine person and a WONDERFUL Dr.

Being a RN in the states, I received a lot of "advise" from people regarding going to Dr. Alvarez in Mexico, but let me tell you....I would do it all over without hesitation. From the time I stepped off the plane in Texas, I was totally taken care of. When I met Dr. Alvarez, I had felt like I knew him forever. He is warm and compassionate and not rushed. He takes the time to find out what your concerns and questions are. I went on this jouney by myself and never once did I feel alone. He was so kind to call my husband back home and let him know the surgery went well and I was fine. Not once was I sorry about my decision. After surgery, Dr. Alvarez and his partner Dr. Rosales were in my room checking on me throughout the day. They answered all questions I had. His discharge teaching was fabulous. Even after getting home, I can speak or email Dr. Alverez anytime with concerns and he gets right back to me. I receive weekly emails from him and I keep him up to date with my progress. I thank Dr. Alvarez for giving the life I always wanted but was unable to do myself. If you are even thinking about surgery in Mexico, Dr. Alvarez is the doctor to go to. Believe me I researched this for 8 months and know I had the best of the best surgeons!