The State Department’s current travel warnings for Mexico pretty much extend from Nogales all the way to Matamoros. I’ll have to pick some point along this line to cross the border in the next couple of months. But do consider that hundreds of thousands of people still live on the border, and most of them haven’t been killed yet. Yeah, there’s bad shit going down, but it’s not an automatic death sentence.
Mexico has both public and private medical systems. You’d not be going to any of the public systems because you’re not enrolled in IMSS (importa madre su salud), and besides they only offer very basic, low-end health care by our American standards.
When researching a plastic surgeon, make sure you check out every credential that you can. That doesn’t apply to just Mexico, by the way; you’d want to do the same thing in the States. Mexico does have excellent, world class doctors. You just have to find them.
I’m not in Matamoros, and all of my in-laws are dentists or general practitioners, so I can’t provide any recommendations other than don’t be scared off by ignorant statements that Mexican medical care will kill you.
There are some dental clinics in Mexico that pick you up on the US side, take you to the clinic for your procedure and then take you back to your hotel in the US.
They also are very English friendly, they cater to US residents looking for a better price, they have to be.
There are bound to be PS clinics/doctors doing the same.
There are all kinds of horror stories in the USA about Mexico on just about any subject. Consider the source. Mexico bashing seems to almost be your national past time.
My late brother in law was a renowned plastic surgeon in Guadalajara. His 2 sons are about half way through the 12 years it takes to become certified.
You are 100% correct. One a week, my family and friends get together for a big meal at my house and bash Mexico. It’s basically our national past time. Look at us, being all racist. USA USA USA USA
As someone familiar with the Mexican medical system, can you comment on how an American would sue for malpractice in Mexico IF something were to go wrong?
I think that’s the main issue that would make me very hesitant to recommend medical tourism - it would be pretty hard to navigate a foreign legal system to get any recourse if in fact it didn’t turn out well. In America, for better or worse, we are always mindful of the fact that we could be sued if something goes awry.
Another issue is that if you require any followup care for complications, most doctors don’t like to inherit other doctors’ mistakes and problems, so it might be difficult to get good followup.
You’d sue in court. That reminds of one case that I’m familiar with in Leon, having to do with a plastic surgeon (liposuction)! Patient died because of the anesthesia; patient’s family sued. Luckily I’m not all that familiar with the Mexican legal system (knock on wood). My wife (the dentist) was once sued, but that was over an employment issue.
I hope that I serve as a good ambassador on both sides of the border.
Your first post showed plenty of ignorance about Mexico and how you are willing to believe things about my country solely on anecdotal information. So the family gathering may be fiction but your comments on a message board are very real. Only you know the motivation behind them.
You are 100% correct: I hate Mexico with the passion of 1000 undying suns. You’ve caught me and outed me as the true anti-Mexican I am. That’s why I live in glorious California- a land never touched in our long and white history by the ever-stretched Mexican, imperialist hand! USA. USA. USA.
Medical care in a foreign country? OMG! Are you suicidal? You should never even think about licking a tongue depressor in a foreign medical clinic. You don’t know what might happen!
For fuck’s sake. You people make it sound like stepping across the Mexican border is a death warrant.
However, this is not the place to ask for recommendations of Mexican medical providers. I don’t know what is.
You warned in another post about receiving care in an “unregulated medical facility”. You have no clue about the Mexican health care system but apparently that didn’t stop you from criticizing it.
It leaves me to wonder about your motivation to post about something you really know nothing about. Was it simply a misguided but gallant attempt to save a countryman from a Mexican butcher or something else? You never answered the same question I posted earlier so I remain curious…
You caught me, that’s exactly it. I hate Mexico, Mexicans, and even Mexican food. That’s my real motivation, you see, my deep hatred of all things Mexican. That’s why I’m the only one in the thread to tell the OP it’s a bad idea, because I’m the big ol’ racist, spreading my hate against Mexico at every chance I get. In fact, no doubt that my posting history will show my long standing hatred against Mexico and will reveal the many anti-Mexico diatribes I’ve made.
I’m done discussing this with you. If you have a problem with me, Pit me.
Besides avoiding the Chupacabra herds that spread like wildfire, and the roving gangs of luchadores, it is common knowledge that rather than being properly disposed of any blood or tissue removed from you will be used in the darkest of Santeria rituals.
Hi–yes–I do live a couple of miles from the bridge. I am in the medical field, as is my husband. I also lived for many years on the border in El Paso, across from Cd. Juarez, I now live in the Rio Grande Valley. I have taken care of patients for a long, long time who had surgery over the border, and had to have corrective surgery on this side of the border. There is no way in hell I would ever advise anyone to have surgery in a Mexican border city. That does not mean that there are not good, competent physicians in Mexico. It just means that I would not advise anyone to go over and have elective surgery in a Mexican border city. You haven’t seen patients suffering with gangrene in their “budget” tummy tuck procedures–you haven’t seen people with fistulas created by sub-par face lifts. I have, on many, many occasions. You asked for an opinion, and I apologize if this is not what you want to hear. As far as the cartel/terrorist violence, that is another facet to consider. But, hey–it’s your choice. JMHO. (and ya’ll asked!:dubious:)
Can someone help me translate “importa madre su salud”? The best I can tell it means “your health matters to mother” (but I could be way off base). This is a joke, I assume.
Yeah, sorry, that’s a joke, and not a very polite one at that. “Importa madre” is basically “not giving a fck" or "not worth a fck” in this context. So: “Your health is worth a f*ck.” Another not-so-nice, similar phrase to “importa madre” would be “vale madre.”
A friend of my aunt’s died last year while getting plastic surgery in Mexico. Her kids are about ten years or so younger than me. I hung out with them at a BBQ the summer after she died.
Forget Mexico-come to Miami-the Mecca of plastic surgery. Only don’t have your operation doen by some store-front quack, who will very likely botch the job (one gal wound up with her navel 3" off center-not a good lokk in a bikini).
Pay the money and go to a reputable doctor-the life you save may be your own!
The issue as I understand it in my aunt’s friend’s case, isn’t necessarily one of quackery. From what the deceased’s kids told me, the surgeons were fully licensed and skilled individuals, on par with plastic surgeons you’d find in the U.S. or Canada. The problem in her case was one of clinic policy: they would accept patients that were really lousy candidates for any kind of surgery.
Are you old, obese and diabetic with a heart condition and allergies to common anti-biotics? You’re probably not a good candidate for an invasive procedure that requires you to be out cold under a general anesthetic, and an elective procedure would probably be discouraged by most doctors, right?
The clinic their mom went to was really risk tolerant and would accept patients that were not the greatest candidates, as long as they signed the mountain of waivers and other legal paperwork. It was informed consent on the part of the patient, but still irresponsible on the part of the clinic.
The facility itself was apparently perfectly fine, the staff was more than qualified, but their patient policy sucked. Too many people are willing to take the risk, even when you tell them their chances are lousy.
Thanks for replies, Hellpaso. You are a nurse in the valley? I’m wondering if prices there are lower b/c of proximity to Mexico? Can you recommend any good plastic surgeons in the valley? (feel free to answer by private message if you prefer).
Thanks again for your help.