Q?
Doctor Hector Perez, can you please describe yourself?
A.
I did my training, medical and surgical training, in Miami at the Jackson Memorial Hospital. I've been doing bariatrics for over seven years now, and I've moved to Cancun, Mexico four years ago.
Q?
Which bariatric procedures are you doing today?
A.
Right now, we are doing most of the bariatric procedures. Gastric balloon, lap-bands, gastric sleeve, gastric plication, gastric bypass and full gastric bypass.
Q?
Why undergo surgery in Cancun, Mexico?
A.
Cancun is one of the most important tourist destination in the World. Because of this, we have state-of-the-art hospitals, facilities, operating rooms, medical equipment. Most of our hospitals are board certified, and some are certified by the Joint Commission.
Q?
What are the advantages of Cancun, Mexico?
A.
Cancun is a nice place, a paradise with nice tourist attractions. On the medical side, you'll experience a more personal and human touch. To us you're more than just a patient, you'll get a my personal cell phone number, e-mail address and we'll keep in touch not just before and during surgery, but long after.
Q?
Is Cancun, Mexico Safe to Visit?
A.
Most of the negative press on Mexico safety doesn't apply to Cancun, because it's typically found on the border. In Cancun, you can walk the streets at night and be safe, you can go to a club or have dinner outside.
Q?
Why undergo surgery in Cancun, Mexico?
A.
Cancun is one of the most important tourist destination in the World. Because of this, we have state-of-the-art hospitals, facilities, operating rooms, medical equipment. Most of our hospitals are board certified, and some are certified by the Joint Commission.
Q?
Where is the bariatric industry today?
A.
Today, the complete name of specialty is called bariatric and metabolic surgery. Metabolic surgery is specifically designed to treat type 2 diabetes. Now we practice metabolic surgery with BMIs of 25 to 35.
Q?
Which bariatric surgeries show the most improvement in type 2 diabetes?
A.
Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass and Full Gastric Bypass.
Q?
How does one choose the right bariatric surgery for them?
A.
What I recommend is that patients look at the whole picture, when you're a patient with type 2 diabetes you may look to go for a surgery that specifically addresses type 2 diabetes. If you're just overweight or obese, then the gastric sleeve would be a good option, because there is no devices or additional surgeries, and you'll get to your ideal weight.
Q?
What is Revision Surgery?
A.
Bariatric surgery has been around now for almost 30 years, technology has improved amazingly. It's probably one of the only industries that continual improves. Now we're getting a lot of patients coming to us not getting a first surgery, but for a revision surgery. This is because the first surgery failed, or after 10 or 15 years after they regained the weight.
Q?
Revision Surgery for Lap-Band
A.
When a Lap-Band surgery fails, we can remove the band and convert the surgery to a gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve. In order for this to happen we have to do an endoscopy first to see if the band has eroded. In case the band is eroded, we can't do the surgery at the same time we remove the band. We even advice to remove the band endoscopy verse laparoscopically, meaning through the mouth and not through the abdomen.
Q?
What is Rescue Surgery?
A.
A common revision surgery is gastric bypass with a dilated pouch. Those patients did great, they achieved their ideal weight, but they started to gain weight. So we are calling these surgeries rescue surgery instead of revision surgery. We are giving those patients more restrictions, how can we do that? We place on top of their pouch a bigger pouch for a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Or in some cases we can deflate the pouch to make it smaller.