Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

Upon meeting Dr Alvarez I was put at ease, I didn't feel like the fat kid not welcome at the swimming pool. My impression of him didn't change any except I would say to the better, it was nice having someone come in as they said they would to check up on your progress. The office staff was very friendly.rnThe aftercare gave me a lot of insight as to what to expect but like most people I still have/had questions and I've written a few times now and simply asked something that has crossed my mind and get a reply assisting me shortly there after. Dr Alvarez went over the risk factors with me and I did feel at ease when this is brought up as .. well who wants a doctor that doesn't lay it on the line and tell it as it is. I'd rather know then be guessing/wondering/worrying about the what ifs.rnOverall, it was a great. I am looking forward to healing completely and moving on to the next phase in my life..the happier, healthier, thinner me. rnrnThank you again to you Dr Alvarez, Dr Rosales and all your staff.rnrn*hugs*rnGina

Choosing a doctor can be a very difficult decision. The decision is even more difficult when you are considering a doctor in another country. I had my procedure in April of this year and I selected Dr. Alvarez out of Mexico. I was very scared and skeptical about this decision. Most of my friends were ok with the idea of me having surgery, it was only when they heard Mexico that they freaked out. rnrnI searched for as much information as I could find on Dr. Alvarez, I was determined to find someone who had a negative experience. After many hours to no avail I gave up. Everything I read about how wonderful Dr. Alvarez is was all true. He took time to answer any questions my husband and I had. He always responds to emails right away. rnrn Dr. Alvarez has a wonderful support staff that helped me plan and prepare for my journey. I received extensive information on how to prepare, what to expect and what things to bring with me to Mexico. All the arrangements are clearly laid out and easy to follow. Dr. Alvarez’s office is like any office you would expect to find in the United States. The hospital is the only thing you should prepare yourself for. It has all the necessities but is not luxurious. If you are used to (as I am) fountains, art, new furniture and Starbucks located in your hospital this is not what you will find. This is simply a small no frills hospital. I for one was looking for quality healthcare at a reasonable cost. I got exactly that. I have since lost over 30 lbs and feel great.! I also know that at anytime I can contact Dr. Alvarez or Susan (Nurse who schedules surgeries) and they will get back to me right away. rnrnI was so delighted by my surgical experience; I would recommend Dr. Alvarez without hesitation to my friends and family knowing they will be well cared for. I wish you much happiness on your own journey. rnrnSincerely, rnDorothy K., RNrn

1. He is great. I liked him immediately. Takes all the time you desire. Never makes you feel like you're just a number. He really cares for his patients, and his staff all emulate him example.rn2. Only got better the longer I knew him. I would love to work with him.rn3. They are all great. Not one bad thing to say about anyone or anything.rn4. He sends you home with complete instructions and goes over them thoroughly with you with time taken to answer any questions. He is always an email away and answers promptly along with his coordinator Susan. You never feel like you are alone and can't get help if you need it.rn5. Risks are risks, and he does not try to hide them. However, when you look at his actual risks versus the averages of all other sleeve gastrectomy surgeries, he comes in lower across the board, and also has a 9% mortality rate!rn6. EXCELLENT! Would recommend him to all personal family members and anyone who needs this surgery.rn7. They are both GREAT!rnrnI honestly cannot say anything negative about the experience. If that sounds suspect, take a look at the hundreds or other reviews. I can't find anything negative that anyone had to say, and I tried to find any dirt I could prior to making this life-changing decision.

Very caring, and knowledgeablernTruly caring and commentedrnVery prompt and caringrnNothing he was excellentrnHe is great rnA lotrnYesrnExplained everything in detailrn100%rnBoth are greatrnrnAs a nurse for over 25 years I found Dr. Alvarez to be very knowledgeable, compassionate,follow though was great. Very attentive and patient with all questions and concerns. Would recommend him very highly.rnrnrn

I chose Dr. Alvarez on the basis of his fine reputation and he lived up to every word. He was warm, friendly, and funny. He took his time to review the process with me and answer all questions. His staff is knowledgable, informative, attentive and delightful.rnrnThe hospital building was OLD and smelled of bleach (a good sign). I know many of the rooms had been updated, unfortunately, mine was not one of them and I was happy to get out of there. On the other hand, the hotel rooms were comfortable and beautiful. Could not have asked for more.rn rnAside from all this, 'the proof is in the pudding', as they say. After surgery, I had one instance of nausea which was resolved immediately with meds. After that, felt no pain, no nausea, almost no bruising, and minimal gas. I was up and made one lap walking the hall the same day. The language barrier was not an issue.rnrnDr. Rosales went to great lengths to ensure the aftercare requirements were fully understood. Next day, I was touring the San Antonio Riverwalk.rnrnNow, one week after surgery, I could not be happier and already feel lighter in my step. I would do it again tomorrow in a heartbeat. Dr. Alvarez is definately a most skilled and competent surgeon and rates a 10 out of 10 in my book!rnrn

I had VSG surger with Dr. Alverez on April 16 of 2009 and it was a wonderful experience. Everything everyone has posted about what a great dr he is I found to be absolutely true. My husband was very skeptical about both the surgery and my going to Mexico but he knows that when I make up my mind he's not going to stop me. And he kept hearing all the news stories about how dangerous it was to cross the border and then at that time swine flu was just starting to be talked about in the news. But I told him I was going with or without him so he very reluctantly went along. Both he and I were very impressed and very well taken care of. Rosie picked us up at the hotel just as we were instructed and after that everything went like clockwork - but at the same time we were treated very personlly and not just like a number. We were put up in a new Holiday Inn Express the night before surgery and it had a great breakfast bar where my husband had a great meal before Rosie picked us up in the morning. She took us directly to Dr Alverez office where he was waiting to meet with us (no waiting for an hour in the dr's waiting room) and he was so nice and made us feel so comfortable about it all. My personal nurse then took me across to the hospital where I was checked into a suite with two beds (one for my husband) and also a couch and a new computer in the room. It also had a very nice newly remodeled restroom for us both to use. Within an hour of arriving I was on my way to surgery (after all the preliminary tests were done of course). The nurses didn't all speak English but they understood enough to help with anything we needed. And Dr A and Dr Gabe both came to see me 3-4 times a day. I spent the next day in the hospital and Rosie picked us up the day after that early in the morning to take us back to San Antonio. I can't speak highly enough of both the doctors and the whole experience. When we started back to San Antonio Rosie also stopped back at the Holiday Inn Express where we had stayed the first night so my husband could go in and have breakfast first (no expense to us, of course). That afternoon my husband and I took a bus from our hotel in San Antonio to the River Walk and spent several hours walking around there. I couldn't believe how good I felt only 48 hours out from surgery. rnFor anyone considering this surgery, let me say that Dr Alverez is top notch and you have nothing to worry about. Crossing the border was like passing thru a toll both on the interstate - no big deal. The hospital is older but extremely clean and very nice. The care was excellent. It is very safe also. My husband spent time walking around the town and going into a couple of the shops, nothing to worry about. I debated about this surgery for 8 months. It scared me to death at first but now I think \"what was the big deal?\" It has all been exactly like everyone has said. I feel perfectly normal except I can only eat very little at a time - exactly what I wanted. I have had no problems or complications and at 6 weeks out I eat anything I want but try to eat mostly protein and veggies so I lose faster. I am so glad I did this and so glad that I chose Dr Alverez!!!!

I went to Mexico for my VSG surgery the second week in April 2009. My surgery was a success. I was up and walking the next day. Dr. Guillermo Alvarez, and his assistant Dr. Rosales (www.endobariatric.com) are the best. They are very attentive to all your needs. I would recommend them to everyone. rnThis was my second trip to Mexico so I went alone for my surgery. I met Dr Alvarez and his assistant Dr Rosales a year before when my sister got her VSG so I knew that I was in good hands with him and his entire staff. rnrnMy trip to Mexico was during the time that the media were reporting problems at the Mexican border. This was just media hype. The town where the hospital is in is very quiet. The people there are the nicest that you will ever meet anywhere. I walk the streets alone in Mexico by myself and I felt very safe. rnrnI especially adore Dr Alvarez staff and the hospital staff they are the greatest and they go out of their way to make sure that your stay in Mexico and in the hospital is the best. The hospital is the cleanest and quietest you will ever find. The nurses are so attentive 24/7 and I find it very easy to communicate with them. Rosy, the driver is very friendly and also very helpful. She will make sure you have a safe and enjoyable trip. Susan, the team coordinator is just great and she delivers speedy response whenever you have a question.rnrnAfter seeing how much weight my sister loss and how it seems so effortless I knew that I had to have this surgery also. My only regret is not having this surgery sooner. I am absolutely loving the way my body is looking now. I tried every diet; bought every pill on the market so this was like a last resort to loving me and my body. Even though I am still new with my experience I would still recommend the VSG to anyone. rn

I never planned to go to Mexico for surgery. I had every intention of using a Houston-based bariatric surgeon until I went to a seminar and asked them how many gastric sleeves they had performed. Their answer? 30-100. That's when I started looking elsewhere and decided on Dr. Alvarez. His experience with the sleeve was the basis for my decision. The fact that I would save money was just a bonus. Susan the coordinator kept in touch with me throughout the planning process, and I've heard from her 3 times since I've been home- very impressive. On the day of surgery, Rosie the driver picked us up in Eagle Pass it only took about 15 minutes to get Dr. Alvarez. Dr. Alvarez's nurse speaks great English and is readily available post-surgery. Everybody was very attentive and not rushing when talking to me. I really have nothing negative to say at all!

WORKING FOR A GROUP OF ER PHYSICANS FOR OVER 15 YEARS, I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER CONSIDER GOING TO MEXICO FOR SURGERY, BUT I DID AND SO GLAD I DID. AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. THE STAFF WAS WONDERFUL, HIS CONTACT SUSAN WAS SO GREAT, BUT MOST OF ALL DR. ALVAREZ WAS TRULY AMAZING. I AM 5 DAYS POST OP AND FEELING SO GOOD. THE SURGERY WENT GREAT AND HIS BED SIDE MANNER IS THE BEST EVER. HE STAYS IN TOUCH WITH YOU THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH. NO FEARS AT ALL AFTER I MET HIM. SURGERY WENT GREAT. LOVED HIS ASSISTANT DR. R ALSO. I HAVE ALREADY LOST 22LBS AND FEELING GREAT. DR. ALVAREZ HAS BUSTED THE CEILING ON ANY RATING SCALE. I HAVE TO SAY IT WAS A PERFECT DECISION I MADE AND SO GLAD I DID. MK

After a year of research I decided to choose Dr Alvarez and his team in Piedras Negras to perform my VSG.Choosing the doctor it wasn't hard as many of the posts on OH clearly stated the great satisfaction people got by using him. So, I was very confident with my decision based on the other testimonials and on the smooth process from the moment I sent my first e-mail to Susan (the patient coordinator) to the moment Rosy (the driver) dropped me off at La Quinta Inn to wait for my departure back home. The doctor was not only skilled but also had warmness that you would want to find in a doctor. I have never felt severe pain, just discomfort, I was able to go back to work the same day I arrived back home (my plane arrived at 1:00 pm and I went back to work for 4.5 hours at 4:00 pm), I started working full time in my second week. I have no complains whatsoever. The hospital may not be what you expect after seeing the hospitals in the US, but who cares? It is clean, and the nurses are nice. The room in which I stayed had everything I need, from personal bathroom to computer, TV and a phone very close where you could be called and make long distance phone calls in the US for free.rnOverall, I would recommend Dr Alvarez to anyone else who consider the surgery. I rarely write reviews, but I felt Dr Alvarez really gained my appreciation.rn