Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

Where do I begin...First, I want everyone to know that I did several months of extensive research before I decided on Dr. Alvarez as my VSG surgeon. I researched long hours, trying to find anything negative..of course, I could not find one negative issue regarding Dr. Alvarez or his staff. I already felt confident by the time I arrived in Piedras Negras for my surgery on March 23, 2009. I met with both Dr. A and Dr. R prior to having my pre-op labs completed. Everything was positive and I was absolutely ready for surgery. Christina (Dr. A's nurse) took me over to the hospital for chest x-ray and lab work. I was amazed at how soon afterwards I was ready and on my way to the OR..which I remember nothing past getting my happy juice! The next thing I knew, I was awake and in my suite. I felt great..no pain, no nausea. I rested a few hours and then started walking the hallways with my sleeve sister, who had her surgery immediately following mine. We both felt fine and were amazed we were walking the hallways so soon! The next day was my leak test and all went well! I was shocked to see my tiny, tummy! Afterwards, back to the suite for more resting and walking. The doctors and nurses cater to your every need and the pain is managed so well, that it's hard to believe you have had major surgery. From the time I arrived to even now, the care has not ceased by Dr. Alvarez or his staff. They have continued to check on me and I have emailed him with any and all concerns that have come up since surgery. It is with 100% confidence that I would recommend Dr. Alvarez and his staff to anyone looking to have the lap band or VSG surgeries. Your expectations will be met, if not exceeded. Everything is done completely professional, including the aftercare instructions and packet you are given to take home. Thanks Dr. A and your staff for an uneventful surgery and recovery!rnDW

I have researched long and hard to find the right one. I have never heard anything bad about Dr. A. My Gyn Dr. had even heard of him with nothing negative to say. only good. rnrnSusan has been very easy to reach. Always very pleasant talk to. she has been such a wonderful resource. The process has been very easy as well. I've been very pleased so far.rnrnFirst impression of Dr. A?.....smells great :) rnrnHow did my impression change?..... He was very meticulous, caring, giving, down to earth, conscienscous, and very excited about his profession and helping people.rnrnHis office and staff are very nice, staff very helpful.rnrnThere was nothing not to like.rnrnNot to be concerned about having the surgery with him in Mexico. It was all so well worth it. Not even the money being the issue, but the care recieved by Dr. A and his associate physician. rnrnHe did emphasize the importance of aftercare and sticking to the guidelines he had given me. His confidence in my wellbeing at discaharge was very reassurring to me.rnrnI would rate him at 10++++ overall. I would say that his competence as a surgeon educated in this procedure was the most important part to me but he also has one of the best bed side manners I have seen.rnrnSusan called me after I had been discharged to check on me, she has always been great and continues to be.rnrnRosie, well what can you say. She is just as wonderful as can be. Very comforting and makes you feel well taken care of. She has an important part of setting up the hotels, and making sure everyone is picked up at the appropriate times. She coordinates everything very well. rnrnGod bless each and everyone of these people. rnrnUpdate: My one year surgiversary is just around the corner! It has been 11.5 months since my surgery and I couldn't be happier. I have been at goal since around the last of October. I have never felt better. I no longer have any of the problems I previously lived with everyday. My diabetes is completely resolved. I have not had one dose of Insulin since the night of my surgery. My blood pressure is normal with no medication. I weigh 136lbs. I wear a size 6 with some 4's. When I met Dr. A he siad, You are going to be tiny. I never ever thought that would describe me. Now my 15 y/o son calls me tiny. My relationship with my children is better (I am a more active mom), my husband and I are as tightly bound together as ever. rnrnDr. A has always been very easy to talk with. I hear back from him after an email within a couple hours. Speaking as a nurse, this is far different than any physician I have dealt with here in the U.S. I am so thankful and blessed. I would deffinitely do it again if I had to. I never has any complications. Thank you Dr. A!!!!! I am blessed.

At first I was nervous...I'll admit it. I had to do lots of research on OH to be comfortable with my decision to go to Mexico and use Dr. Alvarez. It was with testimonies like your reading now that allowed me to tell my family of my decision with confidence. rnIt was a great decision. I was accompanied by my husband. He put all his faith in me that I had thought this through. We arrived in San Antonio, and like clockwork, our journey effortlessly began. We met Dr. Alvarez and his nurse Christine the next morning. Dr. A. was very calm, didn't appear rushed. He reviewed my medical history, reviewed the risks/benefits and did a great job putting me at ease. Just before walking over to the hospital, I told him, should something not go right, or just feel wrong, just close me up. I needed to be here for my three babies more than I needed to be thin. He assured me he would look out for me as if I were his little sister. That was so sweet of him.rnAfter the surgery, I was in very little pain. You can tell he is very gentle with you in the OR. While recovering my husbands gout acted up and he could barely hobble to the bathroom. Dr. A. so generously wrote him a prescription and directed him to the pharmacy. He was better by the next morning. What other doctor would do that for a visitor?? Either his associate Dr. Rosales or Dr. A himself visited very often. I felt that I was well cared for. I can't emphasize how much I like Dr. A. and his practice. I also like that his nurse, Susan, is only an e-mail away. She usually responds within 30 minutes. rnIf you are considering this surgeon know that you will be in good hands.rn

My first impression of Dr. A and Dr. R. was \"Lordy, they look like they should be in College!\" However, both were very sincere and sweet in answering any and all questions or concerns I had. rnThe more time I spent with each Doc, the more I realized that this is not just for \"show\" they really do care for their patients.rnThe nursing staff could not have been more helpful. Well, one more English speaking nurse to work the night shift would have been nice. But all worked out very well. We had sheet that translated some important info.rnI would recommend Dr. A. and his team to anyone considering the sleeve.rn

My first impression of Dr. Alvarez was that he genuinely cares about his patients' needs. I sent him a long list of questions prior to my surgery (via email) and he responded back a day later, answering each and every one. He also gave me his phone number to call him if I had any further quesitons or concerns!rnrnMy impression of him over time changed to include \"professional\" as well. When you meet him the first time, he is dressed impeccably in a suit and tie, he offers to carry your luggage for you into the clinic, his office is lovely and comfortable, and he instantly makes you feel safe and at ease. The staff are equally professional and friendly - always trying to ensure your comfort - they seem to genuinely care about you as their patient.rnrnWhat I liked best about Dr. Alvarez was that he was regularly coming in to my room after surgery to check on me and see how I was doing - both nights my husband and I were in hospital, he came in to check on us well after \"closing time\" (i.e. 7pm or later). He would check on us first, ask about our comfort level, if we were having any concerns, and sit on the end of our beds like a friend and chat with us for a bit. You never really felt like he had anywhere else to be at that particular moment because he was never rushing through his visits and trying to get away quickly so that he could tend to other patients - we felt like his ONLY patients when he was with us.rnrnI think future patients should know that Dr. Alvarez has an amazing bed-side manner, he's professional, open and honest, and he makes you feel like you've gained not only a wonderful surgeon, but also a good friend. Dr. Alvarez ensures that you know everything there is to know about your aftercare - making sure you understand and that you understand the importance of \"sticking\" to the aftercare program.rnrnDr. Alvarez was very forthcoming when I asked him about the various risks involved with the surgery, by giving me his \"track record\" and statistics for the VSG procedures he has performed.rnrnOverall, I would rate Dr. Alvarez a 10 (times 10)!!! His surgical competence and bedside manner are above par and second-to-none, and I would recommend him to not only my dear friends and family, but to anyone who is considering embarking on this wonderful journey of weight loss with a VSG!rnrnTHANK YOU SO MUCH DR. ALVAREZ!rnrnMy husband and I are forever in your debt - you've given us the chance to have a healthier future - and we're LOVING it!!!rnrnMichelle and KylernBritish Columbia, Canada

First of all I would like to say that its been 5 days since my VSG and I feel great, Dr. Alvarez and his team are highly qualified and understand the patients needs perfectly. I would highly recommend Dr. Alvarez and his staff for anyone thinking about having weight loss surgury in Mexico, he is located in Piedras Negras which is a small border city just two hours away from San Antonio Texas and the trip is worth it. The hospital is in excelent conditions and is prepared for visitors from the US.

Dr. Alvarez is a good looking man who was very personable and easy to talk to. I have come to realize how much he cares about his patients and their well being. His immediate staff is very friendly, and helpful. It was a little difficult to communicate with some of the nurses since they don't speak english, but with the help of a few spanish words and of course hand gestures, etc you can get what you need. I can't say there is anything that I don't like about Dr. Alvarez or his team, the only bad things I can think of is the fact that when getting an IV in the hand in the states, they use a much smaller needle, and there are not many english channels, so I would recommend bringing a laptop or dvd player, and using your time waiting the morning of the surgery to write down the english channels. The one thing about him that I was very pleased with was how quickly he would get back to you when emailing him questions. I emailed him very late on evening thinking I would get an answer the next day sometime, and received a response within 5 minutes. The aftercare is the most important part and I do believe that you know this when you leave because he definitely stresses to not waver from what you are supposed to do to ensure that everything goes well with recovery. I think most of us know the risks of these surgeries after all the research we do, but if you have concerns just ask him, he will answer any questions you have, and I honestly beleive that when you talk with him and see how confident he is in what he is doing that your mind will be put at ease. Overall Dr. Alvarez is a great guy and surgeon. I have total faith in his surgical abilities and the way he treats his patients past and present is phenomenal, I would recommend that anyone who is looking for a great doctor really take the time to think about using Dr. Alvarez, I can't wait to go to one of the reunions and see him again.

I don't write blogs/posts very often but just wanted to give a shout out to Dr. Alvarez he is great. I had my WLS surgery on November 3rd 2008 and have lost 85lbs so far I'm still loosing about 2-3 lbs a week. My diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol are all gone the only pills I take now are vitamins. Living in San Antonio I have been to Mexico before and I have been to Eagle Pass many times to play slots at the casino so I was not that scared to go have my surgery done in Mexico. Some people think that Mexico is a scary place and would never consider going to have surgery in Mexico but you really have nothing to worry about. The hospital was on the older side but was ok. I felt safe the entire time I was in Mexico. Dr. Alvarez was great a very nice person and you can really tell that he loves what he does. His staff was great to they all seemed very concerned with my comfort. They nurses all wear the old school nurse uniforms like they wore in the U.S. in the 60’s and 70’s it was cute. I totally recommend Dr. Alvarez if you are considering WLS in Mexico. I’m not the greatest writer so feel free to contact me if you want to chat about Dr. Alvarez or any part of the process.. Thanks Dr. Alvarez you truly changed my life..

My first impression was he is a warm caring person. It was a lasting impression that only improved over time. His office staff (Susan) is wonderful and super helpful and supportive. The thing I like least about Dr. Alvarez is that he is so far from my home and that I cant take him with me. He is the BEST. Future patients should know that he is extremely caring and talented. You are in the best hands when you are with him and his team. VSG really doesnt require aftercare, aside from home care, which you are given all you will need for at home, as well as direct access to him if you have any questions or problems. The only after care you really need, besides following the home medication instructions is to follow the diet, and that is strongly emphasized how important it is for your success and safety to follow it. The risk are addressed before you even get to MX and you always have your questions answered. I can not possible give him an over all rating high enough because to me he IS that great. His surgical competence and bedside manner are fantastic and more doctors should be like him. Its nice to be treated like a person instead of just another body to treat and paycheck to cash. I honestly do not have anything negative to say. I got to meet Dr. Alvarez twice. My first attempt at surgery was a bust. I had undiagnosed sleep apnea, there were complications during intubation. To play it safe they stopped with the procedure. Some might say they could have forced my through it. One of my dr.s in the states even said that. In my opinion, I am glad he chose the safe route and valued my safety over getting the job done. These were my experiences and impressions and I only wish the best experience for anyone else going through the VSG procedure with Dr. Alvarez. rnrn

I have to start off by saying that I hate doctors! Before going to Dr. Alvarez for my VSG I had not been to a doctor in 9 years. I was not overjoyed with the idea of going to Mexico either. Boy was I WRONG!!! I had the most amazing time in Mexico and would actually love living there. The hospital is located in the most quaint and charming little city. Dr. Alvarez is not like any other Doctor I have ever met. I was surprised to find that he has almost no accent at all, even though he is a Mexican surgeon. The man is wonderful! He is kind, honest and very educated without being arrogant. I will; and have referred many people to him for these types of surgeries. I doubt they could find a more brilliant surgeon in the US.