Commonly Asked Questions - Obesity Control Center

We understand that many of our patients have questions about traveling to Mexico for bariatric surgery. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico for surgery?

It is completely safe to travel to Mexico and have surgery with us, at OCC. Over 100 people from the USA come to Mexico every single month to have surgery with Dr. Ortiz without any negative experience! You are never alone trying to find your way around Tijuana unless you want to be. We take care in shuttling you between the hotel & hospital, as well as across the border. 

Is it safe to have surgery in Mexico? 

Any one can make a website and make it look real. The only way you can trust the claims made are through third party verification. This means there should be an organization that verifies the information and then certify it to be truthful, accurate and not misleading. Accreditations are the only way to be sure. This is why Obesity Control Center and our Surgeons have multiple accreditations by organizations based in the United States. We are fully accredited as a Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery and our Surgeons have been designated Surgeons of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery and have obtained the Golden Seal awarded by the Joint Commission International that signifies that we have met the highest standards in patient safety and quality available in healthcare. The  (ASMBS) American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has released a Position Statement on Global Bariatric Healthcare directed to patients seeking Bariatric Surgery outside the United States. This statement urges any patient traveling abroad to seek centers accredited by SRC (Center of Excellence Designation) and JCI (Joint Commission International Accredited). These are the same accreditations we mention above and that we display proudly all over our website. Only a handful of international hospitals have been awarded these distinctions. When shopping around for surgery, price should be the last thing you should look at. By traveling outside your country you are already saving a substantial amount.. Don't chance it for a couple of dollars more. Not sure what to say? See if the center you are looking into passes or flunks the Quality Test bellow!

Our team takes care of you from your arrival at the San Diego Airport through the entire weight loss surgery experience. Someone is always available to answer your questions, address your concerns and explain what to expect.

Mexico's standards are not up to par with U.S. standards. Is that true?

Our standards are wrold class, literally!. We have passed the most rigurous accreditations and now display a List of Awards and Designations of Quality bestowed upon the Hospital and the Surgeons. In order for Obesity Control Center to be awarded the various distinctions and designations by third party quality accreditation organizations, we had to go through rigorous, year-long reviews that examined every aspect of our practice, including the staff, surgeons and facilities. We are one of only a few international hospitals to be awarded these designations, that even  many U.S. hospitals do not have.

Is the technology used outdated?

We use the latest and the greatest. In fact, Dr Ortiz is well known for Research and Development collaborations with the top manufacturers in the industry which would explain why a Hospital like Obesity Control Center has the newest technologies in the market first!

Are the facilities clean and modern like those in the U.S.?

Our facilities are state-of-the-art. We maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and efficiency in our facilities. Most patients are actually surprised and mention that are facilities are much cleaner than those they visit in their hometown. Please visit our Center Of Excellence Page to view the virtual tour of our practice.

Will I have support after surgery?

We pride ourselves in our post-operative care program. We have aptly named it The OCC Tracking and Education Program which is software based and links realtime to our center. This tracking program not only track the patient's weight and general well being, it will report realtime 24/7 to our staff facilitating contact and communication at all times. You're only a phone call or email away. The education segment is video and slide based and is automatically delivered as you reach every milestone in your weight loss journey. As is well known with Dr Ortiz and his team of innovators we are working hard on the Smart Phone Application that will concentrate everything in the palm of your hand. We are proud to inform that this application will link up to your smart scale and wrist band and report realtime your progress including metrics of crucial importance like Body Fat Percentage, Total Body Water, Lean Mass and other valuable information which will be analyzed by our team and action immediately taken if needed. This is not your typical consult every month or so, this is realtime 24/7 proactive healthcare.Time is valuable and we strive to keep you on track on your journey to success!. 

If you have a question or concern about traveling to Mexico for bariatric surgery, please contact Obesity Control Center. A member of our team would be happy to speak to you personally about what you can expect during your weight loss surgery experience.