The Obesity Control Center is a world leader in lap band surgery in Tijuana, Mexico. Our international team of surgeons have performed more procedures of this type than anyone else in the world. Our surgeons are among the most qualified in the world and serve as educators, having trained many of the leading American surgeons in this field. Obesity Control Center holds the world's highest safety standards from the Joint Commission (for two 3-year periods) and is a Certified International Center for Excellence. These designations put OCC in the highest class of health and safety, exceeding many American hospitals. 16-18
Some of Our Patient Before & After Images
What can lap-band surgery treat?
Lap-band surgery treats obesity, metabolic disease, sleep apnea, and can resolve diabetes. As you lose the excess weight, you may discover you no longer have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and have a lower risk of heart disease and heart failure. 16-18
Is OCC a safe weight-loss surgery clinic?
OCC has the highest rating, with safety standards that exceed most American hospitals. Certified by the Joint Commission, and a certified International Center for Excellence. Very few international hospitals achieve this status, and many American hospitals do not. 30-32
How is Lap-Band surgery performed?
A special band (LAP-BAND®/Realize® Band) is placed around the upper part of your stomach. 16-18
Is the surgery painful?
Minimal. There may be some bloating. 16-18
What are the side effects?
Bloating, heartburn, difficulty holding down food or drink. 16-18
How do I prepare for Lap-Band surgery?
Pre-surgery diet and supplements. 16-18
What is the recovery time?
One night in the hospital followed by a three-month program of integrating back to normal, solid foods. 16-18
Your follow-up program at OCC – 5 years of personalized support.
Five years of counseling and follow-up.
What is Lap-Band surgery?
Over a quarter of a century of weight loss surgery experience and more than 26,000 patients is what sets us apart at OCC. We are the busiest standalone Center of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
This gives us a unique advantage, especially when it comes to the Lap-Band. Lap-Band (also known as a gastric band) surgery is a procedure that helps limit your food intake by reducing your stomach capacity and making you feel fuller with fewer amounts of food. Lap-Band surgery is an effective medical procedure that has helped countless people get over the enormous hurdle of losing weight. 16-18
Am I a candidate for lap band surgery?
Obesity can be treated with the most advanced surgeries with improved outcomes and a shorter recovery time – you deserve to achieve your weight loss goals, and we can help. Candidates for lap band surgery in Tijuana, Mexico at OCC:
- You have tried weight loss programs, but your body weight always returns, or gets higher.
- You don’t have the energy, willpower, or resources to participate in a full-time fitness routine with professional trainers and nutritionists.
- Your inability to lose excess weight is affecting other areas of your life, such as your relationships or your career.
- You’re worried that your weight gain will, or already has, contributed to other medical problems.
Procedure steps
- A special band (LAP-BAND®/Realize® Band) is placed around the upper part of your stomach.
- The band effectively divides your stomach into a small pouch and a larger lower stomach.
- By creating a small pouch, your stomach is now only able to hold a limited amount of food.
- The tightness of the band affects how much food you can eat before feeling full.
Call us or email us to discuss undergoing a lap-band treatment at our exclusive bariatric surgery center. Call one of our United States-based coordinators and learn how you can live a happier, healthier life with the help of Obesity Control Center. 16-18
Patient Success Stories
Cameron
-185 lbs
I can never express enough how grateful I am for what OCC has done for me.
I was considered overweight and obese my entire life. At 35, after years of failed diets, therapy, and research, I realized that the only way for me to permanently loose weight was to have bariatric surgery. My doctors in the US wrote letters to my insurance, emphasizing the medical necessity of this surgery. But after a year of back and forth, my insurance turned me down. I thought all hope was lost until I heard about OCC from a friend. I’d never even heard of traveling to Mexico for surgery, but, after researching and talking to the OCC, I was all in. And I’m so glad I made this choice. The amount of guidance and care I received from OCC from the moment I called for information has been better than anything I’ve experienced in the US. The procedure was smooth—I felt safe and in good hands the entire time.
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Tricia
-100 lbs
It’s highly reputable reputation and accreditation’s.
I was sick of being sick. I suffered from type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. I have two small children and was sick of being tired all the time and sitting on the sidelines. I decided I didn’t want to live this life anymore. That’s when I reached out to OCC and it was the best decision I ever made. I am now actually living and making each day count.
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Celeste
-203 lbs
I needed a drastic change.
I had tried losing weight and failed on my own so many times before that I just knew I could no longer do it on my own. My health insurance benefits excluded weight loss surgery and I felt so defeated! I didn’t want the insurance companies to decide what I knew I needed. It wasn’t until I started searching for cash-pay costs that I ran across the OCC website (and several others). I looked at their testimonials and tried to find some of those people – I reached out to them on social media to get their thoughts. I started doing research on Dr. Ortiz. I researched the accreditations and certifications that the OCC held and was liking what I was learning. I looked into other facilities and Dr.’s, but none of them seemed to have as high of standards as OCC. After doing research and talking with others about their experiences both at OCC and at other facilities, I decided that it was time to get more information directly from OCC.
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Charlie
-155 lbs
OCC, you gave me not only my life back, you gave me my smile back…
I have struggled with my weight my entire life. In the long run it became not only emotionally, but also medically necessary to make a drastic change in my life. I was recommended by a family friend who is also a Nurse Practitioner and she recommended me to OCC, specifically Dr. Ortiz. Of course I was apprehensive of the thought of having surgery in Mexico but she reassured me that she took care of several of OCC’s patients right here in my hometown and that if anyone knew exactly what they were doing it was OCC. I researched OCC as well as others, both domestic and foreign, and came to the conclusion that OCC was without a doubt one of the best, if not the best. From the first call to the coordinator to the moment I left Tijuana headed back home, I was treated with support, kindness, compassion, and empathy.
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Jamie
-73 lbs
I did quite a bit of reading and felt OCC was the best choice and it was!
I have struggled with my weight for all of my adult years, my highest weight was 245 at one time. I maintained my weight loss around 165 lbs until about 2 years ago when my band started not holding any fluid and realized it had a leak. I started regaining weight and put on about 50 lbs. My experience with OCC and Dr. Ortiz was wonderful! I decided to revise to the gastric sleeve and everything was great, we stayed at a very nice hotel , and the staff there was just as good. I had excellent medical care from the start. I would absolutely recommend OCC to anyone who is struggling with their weight. I am now down about 80 lbs and have never felt better. I work out with a personal trainer and run 5ks!
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Elyse
-65 lbs
Safety, professionalism, knowledge, accreditation.
I was tired of being fat, and for most 215 isn’t that bad. But for me I felt disgusting. I’m use to bring the pretty sexy one. Not the chubby funny girl. I didn’t know that out of country surgery was even a possibility. I had a friend have it done in Mexico and I was like I want that. I booked with another company and after research I found that they had a death and complications. They also used drain tubes which did not sound like fun! Then I found OCC and saw all the great reviews, no deaths and no drain tubes. I was so nervous yet excited. My experience was nothing but positive. I even came home early I was doing so well. I have tried every diet, I exercised regularly and I just kept gaining. This tool has helped me so much. I still continue to eat healthy and exercise regularly but now I actually see results or my hard work. This isn’t the easy way out you still have to put the work in.
View all Before & After Patient StoriesWhy choose OCC?
OCC has achieved international recognition. We have the rare distinction of being fully accredited by Joint Commission International for two 3-year periods. JCI partners with hospitals, clinics, academic medical centers, health systems and agencies, government ministries, academia, and international advocates in over 100 countries to promote the strictest and highest standards of care. We are one of only eight hospitals in all of Mexico with this honor.
We have also been named as a Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. Our clinic has the highest patient health and safety record, holds U.S. certifications, and an impressive track record of successful obesity treatments. Located only one mile from the US/Mexico border, a majority of our patients come from the USA. Obesity can be treated with the most advanced surgeries with improved outcomes and a shorter recovery time.
A Look at Our State of the Art Facility | Obesity Control Center
Lap band surgery FAQS
What’s the cost of lap-band surgery at OCC?
Included in the cost of your lap-band surgery:
How do I prepare for gastric surgery?
Is getting lap-band surgery in Mexico safe?
Are there any complications from lap-band surgery?
What about nutrition after lap-band?
What’s the cost of lap-band surgery at OCC?
Depending on the type of gastric band surgery requested, prices can vary from around $6,500 to $9,000. We invite you to speak with our weight-loss patients. The savings you can expect by coming to OCC for surgery in Tijuana, Mexico at our private clinic, just one mile from the US border, is around 50% of the cost in the United States. You can expect significant savings, while ensuring your surgery is performed with the highest standards of patient health and safety, by a leader in the field of lap-band surgery.
Included in the cost of your lap-band surgery:
- 1 night stay at our world-renowned hospital
- 1 night stay at a local 5-star hotel
- Luxury ground transportation to and from the San Diego International Airport
- Team of three board-certified surgeons, including two anesthesiologists
- All hospital fees such as operating room costs and surgical materials
- All pre-op evaluations and post-up care.
How do I prepare for gastric surgery?
Like in life, mental, physical, and nutritional preparation is essential for a successful weight loss surgery. Additional lifestyle changes may be suggested depending on your specific case. Our customized preoperative weight loss helps to detox your liver to achieve a quicker, safer weight loss procedure. Just 5% of total body weight can dramatically improve your experience and reduce surgical stress. 35-37
Is getting lap-band surgery in Mexico safe?
At OCC, we have over 26,000 bariatric surgery patients that have traveled to our center with no major security incidents to report. We are at the heart of the commercial district, less than half a mile away from the international border to the United States and 20 miles away from San Diego, CA. Tijuana, Mexico is now the second busiest medical tourism destination for the traveling patient. At OCC, we are glad to be an essential part of this great reputation, as we have four full United States-based accreditations for health and safety in lap band surgery. 35-37
Are there any complications from lap-band surgery?
A common occurrence for banded patients is the regurgitation of non-acidic swallowed food from the upper stomach pouch, commonly known as PB’ing (productive burping). This is not considered normal. The patient should consider eating less, eating more slowly, or chewing their food more thoroughly. Occasionally, the narrow passage into the larger/lower portion of the stomach may become blocked by a large portion of unchewed or unsuitable food. 42, 43
What about nutrition after lap-band?
Post-surgery, our goal is for you to eat about a third of what you used to. Always try to choose good quality foods. The Lap-Band decides the quantity, you decide the quality. We want you to enjoy food and live life to the fullest by reaching your weight loss goal and staying there. 42, 43
Schedule Lap-Band surgery today
Call us or email us here to start your weight loss journey. Call one of our US-based coordinators and learn how you can get the life you’ve always wanted with the help of the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico.
To read more about the Lap Band, read Dr. Ariel Ortiz’s book “Lap Band for Life“.
References
Click here to see how OCC compares to other facilities in terms of surgical rates, infection rates, mortality rates, and more.
