I went to see Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Elias Ortiz & Company (EOC). The staff was amazing, and the hotel and surgery costs were all bundled together—less than $5K in total. I’m almost 5 months post-op and have had zero complications. They even provide a shuttle to and from the San Diego airport to the hotel. Dr. Ortiz and his team were great, and I highly recommend them. They also no longer require a passport for U.S. patients, though I had one when I went.

I went to OCC in November with Dr. Ariel Ortiz and had the best experience ever! No complaints at all. The staff treated me wonderfully, and Dr. Ortiz’s surgical skills are excellent. The cost covers everything, including transportation to and from the San Diego airport. The only extra expenses were airfare and tips for the excellent drivers, who even helped me through the border. I had a lovely overall experience—honestly, it’s a good memory of mine. As a mom, I even enjoyed the “me time” for four days. I had zero complications, very little pain, and just some tenderness at the surgery sites along with mild queasiness and fatigue. Two years out, I have zero regrets. It’s truly life-changing and the best thing I ever did for myself.

I picked OCC and Dr. Ortiz for 3 reasons: 1. Highest level of international Joint Commission accreditation, 2. Dr. Ortiz created a unique sleeve procedure that vastly decreases the risks of leakage and reflux after surgery, 3. their interprofessional team approach with a 5-year follow-up. I searched on Google and began reading people’s stories on Facebook support groups for bariatric surgery. It came down to Dr. Ortiz or one other surgeon in Tijuana. I went with Dr. Ortiz because of number 1 and 2 above. I read too many posts by people who clearly did not have a team to support them after their surgery. They were lost about how to transition through the food stages and what signs and symptoms were problematic or not. Not if they went with OCC! I was able to have a phone call with one of their coordinators and then a phone call with Dr. Ortiz before making my decision. This was a long trip for me, and I wanted to be certain that I felt comfortable before deciding. I got all of my questions answered and tons of information by email as well as on their YouTube channel and website. The nutritionist immediately started emailing me on how to prepare and sent me a list of good quality protein powders and vitamins available in Canada. Once at OCC, all of the staff were kind, professional, and took great care with me! There was only one other person who had surgery that day. (Apparently July is not a popular time for it.) There was a doctor and a nurse on the unit all night and they helped me to get up and walk and start drinking and gave me tons of attention. The facilities are pristine and I felt like I was receiving healthcare in the future compared to what I would have experienced at home! The follow up physician has called me regularly to make sure my healing and recovery are going well. Doctors are available 24 hours by email. I sent photos of any concerns I had and was quickly reassured that what I was experiencing was normal and how to deal with it (eg, bruising on my abdomen). OCC is a great team and Dr. Ortiz is a very skilled surgeon!