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POSTED UNDER Arm Lift REVIEWS

Almost Died in Mexico, They Did Not Care

ORIGINAL POST

Almost Died in Mexico, They Did Not Care

smaxey
$13,500
I had surgery in TJ by Dr Lazos 8/17/19. I had a body lift, arm lift and BBL. I felt very dizzy the next day and told the hospital staff i didnt think i should be released. Back in the hotel, i felt so dizzy and sick that i lost consciousness. When i woke i teied numerous times to call nurses but no one answered. I had friends there and i called them and they found the nurse. The nurse said i was fine but if i insisted on returning to hospital, it would be $800 cash (i did not have that much with me). The nurse left and i tried to eat and drink to get my strength up. I tried to stand and lost conscipusmess again. An ambulance came only because my friends insisted! The EOC nurses tries to talk me out of getting in the ambulance. When i got to a TJ emergency room, they would not let me in without $1500 cash just to evaluate me. My friends begged them to see me, they would not. I asked to be returned to the hospital where i had surgery, EOC nurse said i could not return without $800 cash. They would not take my debit card. My head was spinning and i could not stay conscious. My friends asked the ambulance to take me to california. They said they would drop me at the border for $200 cash (all I had left) but without my luggage or my friends. So I was dropped at the border. In the CA hospital where I was kept for 3 days, they found that I had lost about half the blood in my body and my heart was working so hard to pump blood that I was near cardiac arrest. I was quarantined because I had surgery in TJ. The ER said they get TJ surgery pateints almost daily and many of them die! I got blood snd iron trandfusions over the next few days. The doctor said that I better be glad the TJ hospital did not take me because they do not screen their blood like the U.S. does. I spent 7 days in CA recovering before flying home. Needless to say I am now in debt because of it. ON TOP OF THAT...my arm surgery is TERRIBLE (pics attached). He left large chunks of skin above my elbows that looks like a pouch. And my stomach skin was so tight that my stomach ripped below my belly button, ruining the brand new belly button I had paid $$$$ for. Now i have a bright red scar coming from my belly button (pic attached). I was messaged the followed day by EOC (the company he worked with) that i was no longer in his care since I "left against medical advice" (i would have died if I hadnt). And then they blocked me from their FB page even though I had not made a comment on it since surgery (fearing they would kick me off and i needed the support of the other patients in case i had questions).

smaxey's provider

Omar Lazos, MD

Omar Lazos, MD

Plastic Surgeon

4.8 | 482 Reviews
PROFILE

smaxey rating for Dr. Lazos:

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Replies (33)

November 24, 2019
I am so sorry to hear of your experience, and am very glad you survived. I live in Mexico, and came to the US for my arm lift. Your unfortunate experience is exactly why...people just do not understand the differing levels of health care available in Mexico, and I assume, many other countries where medical/plastic surgery tourism care is offered. Sure, many people do fine. It’s when there is a complication that the s..t hits the fan. The hospital denying care without money up front is the norm, not the exception, especially for foreigners who are perceived to have the funds to pay whatever is demanded. Actually getting admitted, and ‘cared for,’ is no guarantee of proper medical care. Most hospitals are very different than those in the US. (That said, there are some excellent ones that I would go to, but that is from over 15 years experience living here and knowing where) Out of curiosity, I did do an internet consult with a Tijuana surgeon (I get my health care in San Diego, and my dental care in Tijuana. As for medical care in the small town I live in, it’s limited to first aid. ‘Running for the border” when serious health care issues arise is the norm down here...19 hours south of San Diego. Forget evacuation insurance...I can give you many examples of failed evacuations.) Sorry, I digressed. Okay, I got a quote and promises of superb care, etc etc etc from the Tijuana surgeon. Not that I had any intention of using him. But for those who go out of country for cheaper surgeries: my brachioplastic with a top surgeon at UCSD medical center cost less than the Mexican quote. Money was not a major factor in choosing a surgeon, I had one quote more than double the UCSD cost, and one between the two quotes. I went with the surgeon I felt most comfortable with, and trusted the most, who just happened to be the least expensive. I would have chosen him if he charged more.
December 27, 2019
Who did you end up going to?
January 28, 2020
Who did you go to in San Diego
January 28, 2020
I sent you a message, check your inbox
January 28, 2020
I will send you a message, check your inbox
October 29, 2020
Dr?
January 11, 2020
Omg I thought of going to him..but hell no after reading this. I'm glad ur ok.
January 29, 2020
Wow. I was thinking of going with him
January 29, 2020
Another note, to add to my original reply...when a surgeon says, sure you can do multiple procedures at one time (in this case an arm lift, a body lift, and a BBL) think long and hard about it. Sure, it sounds good, only one anesthesia and only one recovery period. And cheaper surgeon fees. Some young, healthy, resilient patients with lots of help at home may do okay with this. Most older ones, need more recovery time, and may have less assistance. Do a search, ask some questions, perhaps on this site, like ‘do you recommend doing an arm lift, a body lift, and a BBL at the same time?” There are a lot of factors to consider such as optimal OR time, time under anesthesia, blood loss for each surgery site, possible complications from each of the multiple sites, where you are doing your recovery (which is a lot more important than you might think...a responsible PS might recommend you be in, or stay in, his/her area for up to a month or six weeks, because of possible complications or simply for reassurance and handholding though the physical and emotional roller coaster of recovery)
June 20, 2020
I would love to know who you saw in California too if you don’t mind sharing. Thank you for posting your comment. I was considering going to him but I’m weary of the you’ve got to stay here in the price package demand. The fact you almost died concerns me a lot more.
October 29, 2020
Dr Dobke, UCSD, Dept of Plastic Surgery, La Jolla campus,