Guillermo Alvarez Bariatric Surgeon MD

Prior to my vertical sleeve gastrecomy, I was able to attend a free seminar in Houston, Texas given by Dr. Alvarez. He was very personable, answered all of my questions, and helped alleviate all of my concerns. Many of his former patients also attended the seminar, so I was able to network with many of them and ask more speficic patient questions. Susan is the surgery coordinator whom I had spoken to and emailed several times during my decision phase and I was able to meet her as well. She is a wealth of knowledge and compassion as well as a former sleeve patient herself. Prior to surgery, patients sign a post operative diet compliance aggreement which helps the patient to know that they are accountable for a successful post op course. 4 educational videos by Dr. Alavarez are also provided prior to surgery which consist of explaining paperwork, discharge medications, wound care and exercise, and diet phases. These are extrememly helpful and can be easily accessed. Ongoing education is very important to Dr.Alvarez. He has multiple educational videos on You Tube that address patient questions and he does a live weekly radio chat that does the same. The day prior to surgery, I flew into San Antonio by myself and I was picked up by the shuttle driver Rosy who was fabulous. The following morning, I was picked up by Rosy and driven across the border into Mexico without any problems. I never felt unsafe and the hospital was about two miles from the border check point. I met Dr. Alvarez in his office for the weigh in, pre-op photo and final questions. Dr. Alvarez also addressed the risks of the surgery. His office staff helped gather all of the necessary consents and paperwork and they were all bilingual which was very comforting. My surgery was completed without any complications and I woke up without any pain, nausea or bloating which was unbelievable and wonderful. Dr. Alvarez and his staff rounded multiple times a day to make sure that my post-operative course remained uneventful. Dr. Alvarez provides specific/detailed discharge and follow up instructions and is always available through phone, email, Facebook and Twitter. He is truly passionate about weight loss surgery as a tool to help patients on their journey to a healthier life. I am 4 1/2 weeks out of surgery and have not had one regret. I would do it again and I have told my story endlessly. I would recommend Dr. Alvarez to anyone who wants an experienced and compassionate surgeon with a desire to save lives one sleeve at a time. His staff, surgical competence and bedside manner are all impeccable. Thank you Dr. Alvarez and staff. I am sure I will be taking several more trips down South with family and friends who are interested in changing their lives forever, one pound at a time.

After several years searching on how or when I was going to take care of my weight problem.I talked to my son Omar about what we were going to do about it since he had the same problem.I remember telling him it was time to make a serious decision and to check around for the best doctor in town that would do the gastric sleeve at whatever the cost. He search everywhere till one day he called me up and said : Dad I found a very well known doctor in Mexico, Dr Alvarez he has done more sleeve surgeries than any doctor around here. First thing that came to my mine….. Mexico!!!! But I say go for it and get the information. He contacted Susan the coordinator in charge and she sends us all the information that we needed she was very helpful and we started to look at the videos and reading everything about the surgery. At that time Susan told us that Dr. Alvarez was going to be in Houston to have a presentation about the gastric sleeve procedure. We finally met Dr. Alvarez and from that day we decided that he was going to be the one. We got home and could not stop thinking about it. The following day we got with Susan and set up a surgery day and all the preparation for it. She sent the package via e-mail with all the information very well prepared and easy to follow.
The big day arrived we drove to San Antonio , Tx were Rossi would pick us up and take us to Eagle Pass, Tx. were we spent the night at the hotel the day before surgery. The next morning Rossi picked us up and went over the border to Piedras Negras, Mexico directly to the hospital where Dr. Alvarez and staff were waiting for us to do the necessary tests prior the surgery. Everyone was very friendly and helpful we felt at home. Everything went well Dr. Alvarez and his team were constantly checking on us and making sure all our needs were met. The nursing staffs were there around the clock taking care of us.
I can only say if I had to do it again I would not hesitate to do it; everything went by the book no issues no complaints we were treated like family, we keep in touch with Dr. Alvarez on a weekly basis he always follows up making sure everything is going well responding to our E-mails and any questions that we have. I thank the Lord for allowing us to find the best team around and having Dr. Alvarez to make a change in our life and hopping for a bright future full of blessings.
I would highly recommend Dr. Alvarez and his team to my family and friends.
Anselmo Ruiz
Katy, Texas

I work in healthcare, investigating patient safety and patient satisfaction issues. Dr. Alvarez ensured that i had all the necessary information prior to my surgery, during my hospital stay and post surgery. The youtube videos, the facebook page and his webpage ensured that my questions were answered, my family was reassured and i could connect with other patients to ask questions. I felt very well prepared for surgery and for diet and followup post surgery. The hospital experience was amazing for me and my companion. The nursing staff was very attentive, the post surgical physician care was frequent - it was difficult to have questions. The answers were given before i could get the questions asked. Dr. Alvarez and his team were models for providing great patient care, both technically and personally. I was so reassured about his very specific instructions for post surgical diet (and the reminder emails about changes in diet phases). It was so great to actually be able to watch a video of the surgical procedure. Dr. Alvarez was very sincere and helpful. I have had a few other surgical experiences and the experience with Dr. Alvarez and his team was top notch.

I recently came from the United States to undergo a VSG with Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and I highly endorse his skills and his hospital. I received superior care at a fraction of the cost. Why should anyone jump through insurance hoops for a year, and pay triple for inferior care just because you mistakenly feel that care is better in a neighboring town? This hospital was very clean, the nurses were compassionate, and I felt complete trust in my surgeon.

It truly is impossible to think of anything "less than awesome" to say about Dr. Alvarez, his staff, or the surgery experience with him. From the moment you reach out for more information, you will connect with his warm and compassionate staff. There's no pressure to make a decision (I didn't have the surgery until 18 months after my first contact with them). The fee is so reasonable compared to all the others--especially if you read the reviews and ratings of the clinics and hospitals all the other doctors are associated with--be smart about the facility providing your surgery, not just the doctor!

Dr. Alvarez offers an incredible library of information via his book, YouTube videos, and his website, to support your research and decision-making. He genuinely approaches all of that from a teaching perspective, not a sales perspective.

Truthfully, the hardest part is that he's in Mexico if you're in the States. It's hard, not because you need to see him--I healed quickly and easily--it's hard because you WANT to see him (and his staff). You quickly become attached to all of them and wish it was easier to keep in touch.

For those of you on ObesityHelp.com, you know that making connections and building a support network is a powerful tool. Dr. Alvarez and his coordinator, Susan, pair you with a buddy--someone having surgery on the same day as you. Not once will you ever feel alone in the process.

If you start to wonder because you can't find a negative review (it's too good to be true, right?)--don't worry. You can trust what you read here.

Weight loss surgery isn't easy; it's definitely not "the easy way out" or a quick fix. There will be work to do; you'll have to deal with your relationship to food, you'll have to follow his guidelines to heal well and feel good, and you'll have to honor that surgery is just the first step in your journey.

But having the surgery with Dr. Alvarez will be one of the best decisions, and greatest blessings, of your life.

Admittedly, the thought of having surgery in another country was scary. I did a lot of research before I embarked on my journey of VSG surgery. I researched surgeons in the U.S. and surgeons in many other countries around the globe. Through all of my research, I always came back to Dr. Alvarez. His patient coordinator, Susan, is amazingly attentive to your needs pre-surgery. She responds to questions/concerns very quickly. Once you arrive in Mexico, you will meet with Dr. Alvarez immediately and his staff. They are welcoming, friendly and extremely reassuring. The hospital is clean. In fact, cleaner than hospitals in the U.S. The room was clean and had a comfortable place for my mother to sleep near me. The surgery was quick and successful. Dr. Alvarez and his team are constantly checking in on you and making sure all your needs are met. My IV pump never beeped because the nursing staff worked with impeccable precision. I never felt abandoned or neglected. I felt like a queen. If I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now, I would not feel reluctant or nervous. Dr. Alvarez follows up with you post-op to make sure you're progressing. He responded to my emails within hours and always addressed my concerns or questions. I'm so pleased with the service and quality of care I received. I recommend Dr. Alvarez a thousand times over.

Not only have I found the perfect Dr and staff but I found my saviour. I was a little nervous af first going to Mexico but even before I had met Dr. Alvarez I knew he would be the one to give me another chance at life. His staff was amazing not just to me but also to my husband everything went just as planned. Rosy was amazing the drive from hotel to Mexico was a breeze. All I can say to him is THANK YOU!!

I can't say enough good things about my surgeon and the overall experience of having the VSG performed in Mexico.

Like many people, my insurance will not pay for weight management. As I was going to be self pay, I started looking at my options. Visiting various WLS communities online and doing research about the cost here in the states, I noticed how many people from around the world were opting to go to Mexico for the surgery. Ask I continued reading and researching Dr. Alvarez' name kept coming up, along with another physician on the western coast of Mexico. I chatted with patients of both, talked with their offices, and started talking about it with my wife.

Like any other person, I ran into comments about going to Mexico. Let me tell you, I would not have done anything differently! I chose Dr. Alvarez because of his dedication to his patients, before during and after the surgery? His efforts to educate you, whether your his patient or not, surpasses any that I've ever received in the US. There are Q&A videos on YouTube.com, he does a weekly radio program, he actually responds to your emails, the list goes on. Once my wife started listening to the radio programs, she, too, became convinced this was the right choice for me.

There was never a time we were concerned about our safety during this trip! The staff at the hospital were all very professional and attentive. Dr. Alvarez' provides bi-lingual assistants to be there for you 24 hrs a day. They not only for you, the patient, but for whomever accompanies you, if you choose to bring someone.

As I started off by saying, I can't say enough good things. Dr. Alvarez is a wonderful surgeon and the team he's assembled is by far the best in their field. I'm 5 weeks post surgery, and 70 lbs lost! I thank God every night for leading me to Dr. Alvarez!

Thorne Barbour

I had a very great experiance. My surgery was May 30, 2013 as of today date July 21, 2013 I have lost 42 lbs. I was taken great care of by Dr. Alvarez and his team of doctors. I would not change a thing, the nurses where great. I recommend Dr. Alvarez to do your surgery if you are considering having it done.

Thanks
Renee_34

Very nice and knowledgeable. Better looking in person and he already was very handsome. His entire staff is very good, very attentive. It was a very good experience, I recommend it highly. He personally sends an Email or a card to follow up. Since I am older it has been harder in the amount of weight loss as opposed to someone younger. It is taking longer and going slower than I had hoped. Still very glad I had it done.