Jaime Caloca, Jr., MD

I went to Dr Caloca for top surgery FTM. I am from Texas and decided to go to Mexico for the surgery because everything was faster and more affordable. I talked to a couple of doctors in the US, some in DC, Florida and Denver but besides the fact that they talked very transactional and if I wanted more information they would charge for a second consultation, I needed to wait for several months to schedule the surgery.
When I called Dr. Caloca's clinic HE picked up the phone. He was super kind and calm and I immediately knew I had found my doctor.
I scheduled my surgery with him in two weeks after our first consultation.
I am now 2 weeks post surgery and couldnt be happier with my results and my decision.
He has a great clinic, the staff was the KINDEST and it was all easy peasy.

Thank you Dr Caloca. I highly recommend him for anyone in the US, just get the details from his assistant Giovanna when it comes to logistics, they'll take care of you.

My experience with Dr. Caloca was one of the best! I met with several doctors in both USA and TJ and after speaking with Dr. Caloca, I intuitively knew he was the right choice for me. His portfolio showed precision and care in his work and he's someone who values integrity and quality work compared to other surgeons who felt as if they were just rushing through the process. He knows how to deliver ACTUAL natural results (surprisingly hard to find these days) and is a true artist. I never felt pressured and he respected my requests and wanted to meet me where I wanted to be for myself. I had other drs feel entitled to tell me what they thought I needed or talk over me. I cannot empathize enough how great his team was too; they make you feel cared for in a way that is so important when you're vulnerable after surgery. His team helped us find the way back to the border by literally driving and having my support follow her. It was beyond sweet. The facility is comfortable and you feel safe.
I had breast fat transfer with him and another minor procedure. He did such an incredible job. I am in the healing process now but the stitches are so so small and I could tell he took his time and wanted to make sure I was happy with the results. He doesn't take the easy way out and will take whatever route is necessary to ensure great results. Breast fat transfers is always a gamble in terms of what I will retain regardless of the doctor but he made sure to provide the most optimal amount to transfer. Overall, I feel lucky to have found such a great team. I will always suggest him to anyone and go back to him if I ever wanted to do more work. I would choose him over any US dr regardless of price! I literally cannot say more great things.

I had a top surgery (double incision mastectomy with nipple grafts) in mid-2019 with Dr. Jaime Caloca. I’m very satisfied with the results, and my only real regret is not writing a review sooner. I took a leap of faith, and I’m so glad I did.

I had heard near legend-like whispers of Dr Caloca, and his dad, Jaime Caloca Sr., on old FTM websites and such. However, for some reason, there was a huge lack of any sort of reviews. The reason I wanted to go with Dr. Caloca, aside from the very few reviews I saw (thank you Jay!!), is because I had no insurance, and surgery in Mexico is significantly cheaper.

I reached out to Dr. Caloca via email, and he replied himself and was incredibly helpful, informative, and kind. He answered all the questions I had. He was even nicer in person, with an impeccable bedside manner. I cannot recommend him enough!

About me:

• I’m nonbinary and have wanted top surgery from the moment it was applicable.
• I have (had) a medium/large chest size.
• I traveled to Tijuana alone and did not have any problems doing so, though it’s always a good idea to have a caregiver along.
• My body tends to deal with injury and pain very well, and though I still have scars and probably always will, they’ve faded a lot.
• I have a relatively light skin tone, and some of the permanent stitches show through as a faint blue/black color (see below).


Price:

In 2018, I paid $5900 total for the surgery, which included a compression vest. I paid $60 for tests, $100 for a psychological evaluation (which is required), and about $45 for medication.

The total cost of the trip, including surgery, meals, Uber, and a plane ticket, was just over $7000. I paid almost nothing for the plane ticket since I was able to use free miles.

The price of surgery went up shortly after I had it, so you will almost certainly be paying more than this.

I was required to send a deposit beforehand, which I did through a bank transfer. Unless something’s changed since 2018, this was the only option to send money to the doctor’s bank account in Mexico.


Travel:

• I never felt unsafe while in Tijuana, though like any big city you should always be cautious, especially at night. I didn’t go out at night, but I heard families with kids walking around past the hostel, and it just felt like a nice place to be. The beaches are awesome.

• Speaking Spanish isn't entirely necessary, however, I was told basically everyone in Tijuana speaks English, and that absolutely wasn't true. From Dr. Caloca's personal driver, to the nurse, to the individual who took a blood sample, many people whom I had to communicate with didn't speak English. I wish I would have brushed up on my Spanish before going, and felt bad not being able to communicate with them more, but I knew just enough to be able to get by. Keep in mind that you may want to practice some basic or medical related phrases before going.


• Dr. Caloca was kind enough to have his personal driver, Carl, drive me to and from the clinic for all the appointments. He also recommended various places to stay over email. I stayed at a motel he recommended, before the surgery. The motel was low quality, but cheap, which is what I was looking for, and only about a 10min drive from the clinic. Ubering from here would also be very cheap, or you could probably even walk. Be prepared for much lower quality that you might be used to in the US when it comes to motels. If you’re looking to save money, that’s just something you’ll have to deal with. However, the hotel I stayed at later was top notch and affordable, so skip the motel and go straight to a hotel if you can afford it.

• Get a nice hotel to rest in after surgery, don't stay at a hostel or low quality motel. This might be obvious, but staying at a hostel after surgery isn't a great idea. I like hostels, and was also trying to save money, so I stayed at a nice one by the beach. I almost had a panic attack the day after surgery due to being in a place that was meant for backpackers, not patients. I switched to a hotel closer to the center of the city, and lounged around for the rest of my recovery time, which is just what I needed. I stayed in a hostel in San Diego before flying back home, and had no problems at that point, since I’d had some time to recover.

• Take Uber, not taxis. Though I’m not a fan of Uber as a company, I was told by locals that some taxi drivers are less that scrupulous (I took this to mean they overcharge), and that Uber is a safer bet. This was in 2018, so things may have changed since then, but Uber was really cheap even with a maximum tip. I had no interest in driving myself, not only because I couldn’t drive after surgery, but driving is Tijuana seems...not fun, at all.

• I utilized UberEats as well, which was a big help. There was a small grocery store near my hotel, but I only went here once or twice. It’s a great to get a motel that has a free breakfast (and Mexico has plenty of good vegan options).

• Dr. Caloca got me in touch with a driver, Miguel, who would pick me up from San Diego and drive me across the border, and back to San Diego when I headed back. Not only was he a wonderful, nice person, but since he does this for a living and had a medical pass for me, we drove right across with no delays. He charged about $60 USD in 2018 to travel one way. This was an incredibly valuable service that saved me so much stress, and worth every penny and peso.

• Make sure that you don’t make the mistake of wearing a compression vest when going through TSA. I was told to wear mine 24/7, so it didn’t occur to me to take it off for a few minutes. It showed up weird on their scanners and they gave me a pat-down. They also were confused about my gender and didn’t know how to use they/them pronouns. I suppose being violated by TSA is practically a trans right of passage. Not fun.

Before the Surgery:


• I think I was probably the first nonbinary person (who goes by they/them) to get top surgery with Dr. Caloca. Everyone tended to refer to me with masculine pronouns (which is hard NOT to do in Spanish). I didn’t mind, but if not being called ‘he’ is important to you, be sure to make that clear in emails before you show up.

• I met up with Dr. Caloca at the clinic, after getting a call from him in the morning. After the consultation, I paid him in cash. Make sure you have a secure way to carry a lot of cash – I had one of those flat fanny packs for travel that hides under your clothes.

• I was sent to have a psychological evaluation the day before surgery. For me, this just meant going to a counselor within the city, and talking to him for an hour. Essentially, he’s just there to make sure having surgery is something that you really want and are committed to.

• I also had blood and urine tests done at a lab in the same building as the clinic. The technician did not speak English, but we go through it somehow. They took three vials of blood.

• There’s a pharmacy a short walking distance from the clinic, where I picked up the antibiotics and pain medications I was prescribed to take after surgery. Note that I was given a prescription for metamizole for pain. Metamizole is illegal in the US, due to a potentially fatal bacterial infection you can get from it. I actually ended up throwing almost all of it out due to my nervousness about that and my suspicion that it was heightening my anxiety as a side effect. However, I tend to tolerate pain very well and didn’t need it.

• Dr. Caloca put the surgery marks on my chest right before surgery. In case it wasn’t obvious, you will have to be bare-chested pre-surgery in order for the surgeon to mark where to cut. This is not done after you’re under anesthetic. I was fine with this, but wasn’t thrilled to learn I’d have to wear a hospital gown (and ONLY a hospital gown) and have a catheter inserted after I was under anesthesia, but it’s understandable. I only write this so anyone thinking of getting surgery is aware of everything it entails. Otherwise, I actually like getting surgery (weird, I know) and experienced nothing adverse, aside from a slightly sore throat due to the breathing tube.


Results and aftercare:

• Carl, the driver, wheeled me out of the clinic as soon as I was ready to leave (I had surgery around noon, and left the clinic after dark), and drove me back to the motel.

• Recovery was basically just me lying in bed for a week watching TV. I did not have much pain or discomfort, and was able to take care of myself without much issue.

• After a week, I went back to the clinic to have the bandages removed. I was also given a compression vest/shirt, which I had to wear for a couple weeks so my chest would heal properly.

• Dr. Caloca does not use drains, which I’m glad I didn’t have to deal with. Fluid built up in my chest, and I was told that it will go away, but I did end up draining a bit with a sterile syringe. The fluid didn’t hurt, it was just weird and a bit uncomfortable to have a squishy area in my chest.

• I ended up removing the main stitches on my own, with some help from a family member. If you plan on doing this, be extremely careful, as if the stitches break, some can be left under your skin and will leave really bad scars. This happened to me, and I had to make a small incision to get one out (not pleasant, but it worked out). Going to a clinic to get this done is preferable. If you live in Mexico or plan on staying longer, Dr. Caloca will do this for you for free.

• I used Scar Away strips for a few months after surgery. I believe these helped, but am unsure due to the fact that I tend to heal relatively well anyways. They were recommended however, and helped keep the scars from drying out, which definitely did help.

• I lost most sensation in my nipples, but this is totally normal and expected. They also had some ‘phantom sensation’ on occasion. It’s like my brain was trying to figure out where they were, as they were moved to a different location on my chest. Even 5 years later, they still randomly itch sometimes.

• There was slightly less fat removed from the left side of my chest, leaving a little bit of ‘padding’, as opposed to a flatter area for the right side. This is mostly not noticeable, but does tend to give me a bit of ‘cleavage’ when my arms are forward. Quirks like this are pretty much inevitable in surgery, and it’s something I may or may not get revised in future, as it’s mostly a minor cosmetic thing.

• Dr. Caloca cuts the nipples a little bigger than what is considered ‘average’. Honestly, I didn’t even think about asking about nipple size beforehand, but it worked out for me. Mine are about 28mm across, as opposed to the 21mm that is considered more ‘average’. If this is a concern for you, talk to Dr. Caloca beforehand and I’m sure he’ll try to accommodate your request.

• The incisions are cut very far - they reach all the way under the arms, almost to the back. This is actually a big bonus when it comes to not leaving ‘dog tags’ (extra skin where the incision is ‘folded’), and I didn’t end up with any. However, if you scar very noticeably, the large incision is something to keep in mind. If you require a double incision mastectomy, large incisions are going to be a given anyways.

• The incisions also tend to be very ‘round’. Again, if you scare noticeably, this could be an issue (unless you like looking like you’re wearing One Punch Man’s ‘oppai’ shirt). Otherwise, it’s another bonus, as Dr. Caloca follows the natural curve that already exists on the chest, which probably prevents dog tags and skin folding (please excuse my very non-medical terminology).

• I was confused and a bit alarmed to see, after a few months, faint blue/black lines under the incision marks. I was worried I’d missed some stitches. I reached out to Dr. Caloca, and was told that these are actually permanent stitches that rose closer to the surface of the skin over time. They’re harmless, but he offered to remove them for free. Since I live over 1000 miles away, I didn’t take him up on this offer, but I appreciated it nonetheless. The marks aren’t noticeable and don’t bother me, but I may get the stitches removed in future.

• Try as a might to heed the advice to not reach my arms too far, I did end up getting some stretch marks anyways. I think they add to the look, personally, but make sure you keep those arms below your head if you don’t want marks.


Conclusion:

I can’t imagine my life without top surgery, and I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Caloca, his staff, and the people who helped me while in Mexico and outside of it. I think that going to Mexico to have surgery isn’t just a more economical option for those who don’t have or can’t use insurance, it’s a smooth and easy process. Not just the results, but the whole experience was something I’ll always treasure. If you feel like Dr. Jaime Caloca is a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to get surgery with him!

My doctor is amazing he did a great job with my surgery I’m so happy whit the results. I recommend this doctor for any of your operations and you will fill amazing whit your results. If you have any questions he will respond.

Dr. Caloca is a very warm and personable doctor with amazing artistic skills. I immediately felt safe in his hands upon meeting him and he answered all my questions prior to my surgery in a timely fashion. I probably sent him several emails and he would always respond on the same day. Also, after my surgery he has checked in with me constantly.

I have always had an issue with stubborn fat in my calves and arms. I did a lot of research and could not find a doctor in my area who would do lipo 360 of my calves and arms including forearms so my search ended with Dr. Caloca in Tijuana.

I had a driver pick me up from the San Diego airport and drove through the Tijuana border within a few minutes. For the drive back I got a medical pass from Dr. Caloca to go through the medical lane which took about 30-40 minutes.

On the day of surgery Dr. Caloca calmed my nerves and took his time speaking to me. He is a perfectionist and has an true artistic eye. He drew up the areas he would be working on and explained the process and technique.

When I woke up from surgery I could immediately see the reduction in my calves and arms. I also had outer thigh liposuction. It has been 4 weeks since my surgery which I had on February 3rd and I am soo happy with my results. I didn't have any issues and my confidence has sky rocketed.

I am soo thankful I found Dr. Jaime Caloca and I won't be going to any other doctor from now on. I found a hidden gem and highly recommend him to everyone . I am going back to him for lipo 360 of my thighs.

Thank you Dr. Caloca for really changing my life!! He is truly amazing!

Also, his assistant Giovanna was soo sweet and truly amazing . Thank you Giovanna !

This was the smoothest surgery and experience ever Dr and his staff made me feel so safe and at ease it bring my first surgery ever and first time being in TJ.
But all I can do is truly rave about my amazing experience how smooth it went.

My recovery was amazing, Dr is truly amazing at what he does and takes his time to ensure the best results in top of responding to any questions I had before And even after!
Hands down will only & always return to Dr. Jamie C JR for all future surgeries forever

Dr. Caloca Jr. was amazing during my surgery journey. Him and his staff were very welcoming and professional. Whenever I had concerns either pre op or post op, he was there to offer advice or support. He speaks both English and Spanish. His clinic is very sanitary, beautiful and comfortable. I will definitely be coming back for more work later as Dr. Caloca is a true artist!

Dr. Caloca is wonderful. He is very attentive and professional. I got a mommy makeover (tt and bbl) I love my results. He answered very question I had and I love the fact that he personally answers his emails and calls.

I recently got my supernumerary nipples removed by Dr. Caloca and I had the best experience. Very professional, attentive, and very nice. Surgery was quick and did not hurt whatsoever. My results are amazing and honestly, better than what I expected. Overall, very pleased with his work; highly recommend him, amazing doctor !

I had top surgery with Dr. Caloca and the experience was amazing from the procedure itself to his staff. Dr. Caloca is very experienced in top surgery and thoroughly explained the process to me before the surgery. He even had his assistant book my hotel room and helped arrange a driver to transport me to and from Tijuana. He is a very passionate doctor who deeply cares about his patients. He is very responsive and responds to emails within 24 hours. I highly recommend his services.