Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

Dr.Alvarez was the coolest doctor even though he was in Mexico. I was kind of afraid but things worked out great. Allrnhis staff was great too. Too bad I could not have him for my regular doctor. The only thing I dont like about it was there is no after program but he gives you all the instruction on how to eat and drink . He does not let you eat too early unlike the other doctors. They are only a phone call away if you have problems or questions. The experience was very good and if I had to do it over again I would have done it sooner rather then later.I would recommend any one doing this it is cash basis only and you dont have to jump hoops to get insurance or anything else to do this, the money will help save your life.rnrnrnrn

My first impression of Dr. Alvarez was that he was very handsome and also a huge sweetheart, very professional and he knew what he was talking about. He never made you feel like the fat person. My impression never changed. There was not one thing I did not like.For future patients Dr. Alvarez is a wonderful doctor very caring he comes to see you several times after surgery and up till the day you are discharged. He explains everything that will happen to you in his office besides the paper work you receive before hand,and the risk that are involved. The day of discharge he will sit down with you and give you all the discharge info you will need and your medication. I would rate Dr. Alvarez a overall 200%. The whole staff I also rate them a 200%, they were also very respectful and pleasent to be around my favorite was Christina the RN.I love what Dr.Alvarez has done for me and I am greatful to him and his staff, THANK YOU!

Well I am almost 3 months post op and a little late doing this!! My experienc with Dr A was wonderful! His whole staff was wonderful, very caring and looked after your well being!! My surgery went great! I had a little nausea after surgery which was easily remedied with some medication! They were checking on me every couple hours to make sure I was comfortable. I had barely any pain and not much swelling! Once I started on my liquids I never looked back! Dr A or his associate checked on me 3-4 times a day, which you would never find here in the US. I would recommend any of my family or friends to use him!! The hospital was older but very clean and very quiet! I am glad I was able to make this journey!!

I was very pleased with the treatment I received from Dr. Alvarez. He, his staff, and the nursing staff of the hospital were friendly, courteous, and good at their jobs. They clearly do a lot of VSG surgeries and they have their procedures down to a science, very well organized.rnrnThe facility was nice and clean - a little different in appearance from what we are used to in the States but still very nice. The individual rooms were particularly nice with good TVs, nice bathrooms, and Internet access.rnrnMost importantly the surgery went very well. I emerged from surgery with exactly the sort of surgical recovery discomfort that he and other patients described. But it passed quickly. I was feeling quite good within days. The tiny laparoscopic scars are healing very nicely. You'll barely be able to see them soon.rnrnMy weight loss has been better than I hoped. I had a BMI of 31.6 so I feared that I would lose weight slowly. Instead I have lost 32 pounds in three weeks and I am still losing steadily if more slowly. I've already had to buy new clothes. Dr. Alvarez's detailed instructions on post-op diet have been easy to follow and have worked very well.rnrnI think some people might be concerned about the security situation along the border these days. There was certainly a lot in the news around the time I went to Piedras Negras. But everything I had seen indicated that the violence was restricted to the drug gangs fighting each other and the authorities. Little to no violence I had read about affected the general public, US or Mexican. So I didn't think twice about going to Piedras Negras and I'm glad I wasn't scared off.rnrnI would whole heartedly recommend having a VSG done by Dr. Alvarez. He takes good care of you, the results are fantastic, and the prices just can't be beat compared to the US.rnrnJon

Dr. Alvarez and his staff were awesome! The service provided to me began the moment I left the airport. His driver Rosy was so friendly and able to answer all of my questions. The hotel accommadations provided were top notch and all the hotel staff treated me and my husband with the utmost respect. Dr. Alvarez is so incredibly personable, down to earth yet very professional. Within 5 minutes of meeting him I felt I was in safe hands. In our preop meeting he did not rush me, but rather answered all my questions thoroughly. He spent the time to get to know me as a person not just another surgery patient for the day. The private hospital where the surgery took place was somewhat old yet very clean and again the nursing staff were excellent. Dr. Alvarez had one of his nurses stay with me until I was put under. She was so kind and caring. Dr. Alvarez has specific rooms in one area of the hospital for his patients only. My room accommadated myself and my husband, had a flat screen tv, computer with internet , availability of a phone to make long distance calls to home at no charge and a full bathroom with a walk in marble tile shower. My day of surgery, Dr. Alvarez checked in on me 3 times, his nurse at least 5 times and the hospital nurses every hour. I have never received health care at this level in any facility in Canada.rnBefore I left to go home Dr. Alvarez thoroughly reviews aftercare, provided me with all the medication needed (not just the prescriptions for me to fill) and provided me with his personal email address and cell phone number to call at any time with questions. Dr. Alvarez also has a nurse / administrative assistant who has answered many, many of my emails and phonecalls with friendly helpful advice. Prior to my surgery I was given a complete aftercare and diet guidelines booklet. Since my surgery, whenever I have had questions, Susan (nurse and admin assistant) has been able to address them immediately. She has been so positive and supportive.rnrnWithout hesitation I would recommend Dr. Alvarez for Vertical Sleeve surgery. I have had no complication to date. I would be happy to speak with any one who is considering the surgery with Dr. Alvarez.

It's hard to put into words how I feel about Dr. Alvarez and his team. Instead of repeating my posts on how great I think this man is or the numerous gushing reviews, let me give you the:rnrn\"Top 10 Reasons Why I Would Recommend Dr. Alvarez\"rnrn1. His experience and very low complication rate - This is the number one thing I think should be considered when picking a physician. While a pleasant beside manner is nice, I could care less as long as the doc knows exactly what he is doing. As of this writing (4/09), he has done close to 900 VSG's. Surgery, no matter what kind is an art and you do not want to chance your well-being on someone who is still on the learning curve. When I read posts about people with complications, I always look at who did their surgery and how much experience the doc had. It is usually a relative newbie to the surgery. You want a doc who has seen and done it all. Dr. A is definitely one who has. Another physician was having surgery with Dr. A the same day as me. Knowing a doc could afford anyone, I asked her why she would come to Dr. A. She looked at me and said Dr. A is world-renowned. rnrn2. Cost - As a self-pay, you need to find a balance between the quality of physician and cost. With Dr. A, you get best of both worlds.rnrn3. Safety - I put this in the list not so much because it was a concern of mine, but because I've seen several posts about the safety in Mexico right now. These are isolated incidences that the media has negligently blown into too big a story. That said, Piedras Negras has never had a kidnapping. I went to dinner the night before the surgery in town and never felt unsafe. My sleeve-sister's husband walked around, went to restaurants, etc. while we were in the hospital and felt completely safe. The hospital is about 2-3 blocks from the border. Even if someone wanted to kidnap you, there is really no chance to do it. NPR recently did a story about the kidnappings and interviewed the mayors of Eagle Pass (the US bordertown where you will spend the night) and Piedras Negras. Check it out at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102390087. Also, the hospital is about a 40 bed hospital (which is very small) and private. Because of this, there is not a lot of people in there or people coming and going. Once you're in the hospital, you are secluded. Please don't let safety be a concern.rnrn4. His Staff - Everyone from Rosie, the driver, all the way to the anesthesiologist are wonderful. They are kind, knowledgeable and caring. I couldn't have asked for more. One person who I don't think gets enough credit is his assistant surgeon Dr. Rosales. He is every bit as great as Dr. A. He works with one anesthesiologist. So it is the same team doing each surgery and you definitely get the A-team.rnrn5. Access to physician and responsiveness - Lots of posts on how many times a day he rounds, so I won't repeat that. What I've really enjoyed and been impressed by is how quickly he responds to my emails - sometimes within minutes and no more than an hour. Because of my odd journey, I've kept in touch with him for months. I had a tummy tuck in the US a few years ago and let me tell you, there was no way I was going to get that doc's email! I find it comforting to know I can get in touch with Dr. A anytime I need to and he will respond.rnrn6. Cleanliness - The hospital is old, but clean. From what I was told, Dr. A paid for the equipment in the OR so that he has the best. The rooms are private. Some have another bed for family members. It reminds me of a military or VA hospital. I've got pics of a room in my profile, if you'd like to see them.rnrn7. Internet connectivity - Okay, this one might not be important to you, but it was to me. There is wireless in the hospital. While Dr. A's rooms have a PC in them, I highly recommend bringing your laptop so that you can surf from your bed.rnrn8. Character - Dr. A is a good man. He made the right decision to abort my first attempt at VSG and refunded half the $. He has prayed with me and for me (as has Dr. Rosales). I believe he truly wants to make a difference in people's lives.rnrn9. Trust - I completely trust him. I've had surgery with him twice. My husband also had a VSG with him. We are both extremely happy. If my niece is willing, I'd like to send her to him sometime too. That is how much value and trust Dr. A and his team.rnrn10. Personable - This one wasn't as important to me, but it is to some. Dr. A is an extrovert. He is very friendly and down to earth. I work in healthcare and have met many physicians. I would rank him in the top 5 nicest docs I've met.rnrnHonestly, the only negative thing I could say about my experience is that the anesthesiologist hit something in my throat when tubing me for the first surgery and made it hurt for a few days and then it was fine. I subsequently learned I had a large thyroid nodule, so he could have hit that. Not sure. I had my thyroid removed before the second surgery and had no problems with that surgery. My husband didn't have any problems with his surgery either.rnrnIf you have any questions/concerns, feel free to email me! Blessings, Patty

Dr. Alvarez is a very kind, and very down to earth and very careing person( and very handsome)My impression of him only got better over the couple days I was there.The staff was great very helpful and caring people! There isn't anything bad or negitive I can say about him I only wish I could have him as my doctor for all my medical needs!He is a awsome doctor and expert in his field ! He explains everything in detail and leaves nothing out !On a scale from 1-10 he blows it out the water he is a 20+ I love him and his staff. I look forward to going back just to visit!!!His competence and bedside manner are great and I couldn't have asked for a better Dr.!!!!!rnrnMy husband Richard Broxton just had his vsg on 04/02/09 and he too says that Dr alvarez is the best! He was very impressed with him and his bed side manner and just everything about him and his staff. They are all great The hospital was super clean and he was very well taken care of.Dr.A is the best doctor !

Dr. A was literally the BEST doctor I have ever had! He is so personable and inspires great confidence. My surgery was flawless- I healed quickly, my scars are almost non-existent, and I never even had ANY abdominal pain after the surgery. How crazy is that? I've heard that people couldn't sleep on their side for weeks. Well, I was on my stomach, side, back, and running around doing anything within a couple of days. I think this is all because of Dr. A's amazing skills. I would recommend him to anyone.

I chose Dr. Alvarez because I after much research and combing the web I felt he was the most skilled surgeon to perform my vsg. Also, I couldn't find one negative thing on the entire web, so my first impression of him was formed before I even met him, and I was not disappointed. My expectations were surpassed in every way. He is warm, kind, gracious and of course very skilled. Although the facility is older,his office and equipment is state of the art and his staff is very competent and professional. There is not one thing I do not like about Dr. Alvarez. I LOVE Dr. Alvarez! Everything, and I mean everything is taken care of for you. I didn't even have to fill my prescriptions, he did that for me before I was discharged. You are also given a package that contains your surgical report and other pertinent information so you will have everything you need for your records. I've never experienced anything like that in the states. Also, he is very responsive even after surgery. I sent him and email and he responded on his blackberry within 3 minutes!!! I can't describe how much he has already helped change my life in this short period of time. How do I rate him on a scale? PRICELESS! If you are still deciding on a surgeon, you can't go wrong with Dr. Alvarez. I've never known a doctor with so much information about himself and his patients easily accessible. (Check him out on youtube if you haven't already!)

My first impressions of Dr. Alvarez was how kind and down to earth he is. rnrnMy positive impressions grew seeing how knowledgeable and experienced he is in other areas of surgery not just in the gastric bi pass procedures. He will answer any and all questions that you may have. I never felt rushed or pushed. rnrnHis staff speaks both English and Spanish and does their very best to be sure everything is completely understood and they also answer any and all questions that you may have. rnrnFuture patients should know Dr. Alvarez is easy going, caring, with a great bedside manner, and a great sense of humor. rnrnI would highly recommend Dr. Alvarez to anyone who is considering this procedure. He has tons of experience and knows what he talks about, and thankfully lacks the God complex you find in many other doctors.