Bariatric surgery, gastric bypass

jaramillo says on Feb 9, 2006, 00:11:

In Cartagena? I would not even let someone take my temperature in Cartagena.

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RobMiami says on Feb 9, 2006, 01:19:

Cartegena I only mention Cartagena because in my web searches for bariatric surgery in Colombia only one case kept coming up: Argentine soccer star Maradona had his very public/famous bariatric surgery done in Cartagena.

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jaramillo says on Feb 9, 2006, 03:36:

Sure,I saw the same story. Blew my mind. I'd definetely choose bogotá, or Medellín.

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juanalejo says on Feb 9, 2006, 04:25:

Valle del Lili The Fundacion Valle del Lili Hospital is 1st quality hospital in Cali, and it is not the only one. My cousin had this surgery done there about a year ago, and he lost 53 kilos. As long as you are going to the best, I do not think Bogota or Medellin would be better than Cali, they simply have more famous hospitals that is all.

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jaramillo says on Feb 9, 2006, 08:54:

I'm with juanalejo there. Cali would also be an very good choice.

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kikolina0920 says on Feb 9, 2006, 18:45:

A big city Rob:
First of all, I wish you the best of luck with your gastric bypass surgery, wherever you decide to it. I had mine a year and a half ago, and I have never been so happy. I have lost a total of 160 lbs. so far, and I have 20 pounds left to go. I thought that my goal of fitting into a size 16 pair of designer jeans was an impossible one when I started, but now, I have surpassed that dream, as I can easily fit into a 14 and sometimes even a size 12. It is amazing!!!!! If you have any questions about the surgery, or want some post-operative advice or help, I will be more than happy to help you in any way I can.

I am leaving for Medellin on Tuesday to have some consultations with plastic surgeons because now that I have lost the weight, I have all of this extra skin that I want to get rid of....I can't wait!!

Anyway, wherever you decide to do the surgery, please consider having it in a large city such as Bogotá or Medellín. Cartagena is a well-known city, but it's renowned for its tourism, and not its medical advances. All I know that I had my surgery by the BEST medical team in the state of New Jersey, and I really did my research first.

Unfotunately, I don't know of any surgeons in either Bogotá or Medellín who specialize in this surgery, but I'm sure once you get there, it'll be easier for you to do your research before making any decisions.

Once again, I wish you the best of luck, and really, if you have any questions, I would be happy to help you in any way I can.

Take care and God bless....

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Gomezman5 says on Feb 9, 2006, 19:06:

I am proud to say that .... I am with Juanalejo 100% on this one. Not 99 but 100%. And trust me, Juan gets no freebees out of me. First, Medellin and Bogota are well know for the quality of their medical institutions of high quality. But for some strange reason, it is my understanding that Cali has the market on this procedure. I don't know why, but someone I know from Bogota, who ate far too many ajaicos, arepas, y brevas con queso, took a hike to Cali for this procedure. At the time I thought it was strange that someone would go from Bogota to Cali for this procedure. But apparently,his research led him to believe that Cali was the place to go.

So if Juanalejo, who does live in Bogota, says he would reccomend some place in Cali, I would trust his advice. I main have a problem with his politics, but when it comes to day to day affairs within the country, I cannot say I can claim superior knowledge (most of the time)

Also, as to Cartagena.....uh.....better to deal with the obesity than take your chances there

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RobMiami says on Feb 9, 2006, 20:33:

LOL!! Gomezman5 - "Also, as to Cartagena.....uh.....better to deal with the obesity than take your chances there"

HAHA thanks for the laugh!

And thanks for all the good advice everyone. I will be Cali this coming week making contacts and doing research into the procedure.

Can't wait to meet some of you cool people!

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Gomezman5 says on Feb 10, 2006, 09:25:

Well Rob I'll tell you the truth, all kidding aside, just make sure you are up to the surgery in general. Also, given the fact that this is really a specialty onto itself, make sure you find a doctor that has done this procedure many, many times. No neophytes. You don't need someone to go to school using your life as a guinea pig.

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CalifornianPaisa says on Jun 27, 2008, 16:51:

I have lived in Colombia for the last four years working and traveling all over the entire country. I can assure you that Cartagena has some of the best Bariatric Surgery medicine in the world. The Argentinean soccer god Diego Maradonna chose Bariatric Support Group in Cartagena for a specific reason. The 4 surgeons that operated on him are excellent. And the prices are around 75% less than what we pay in the US.
Those who have claimed Cartagena is not a safe place for medicine or dentistry have been greatly misinformed. Just check out Bariatric Surgery Group in Cartagena online they are excellent. (http://www.bariatricsurgerycartagena.com)
Less than 1% complication rate in 3,600 patients, which is way better than most groups in the US. State of the art laparoscopic technology and the surgeons are the best. All the surgeons have trained internationally. Dr. Bolaños and Chaux are world-renowned laparoscopic bariatric surgeons trained in Colombia and the US, and Dr. Holguin gives lectures in the US on trauma surgery. I would prefer these guys over the US for quality and price combined.
Sorry to contradict but this is basically some of the best bariatric medicine available in the world, IN CARTAGENA. They also have a plastic surgeon that specializes in reconstructive surgery after weight loss. A physical therapist, dietician-nutritionist, and a psychologist as well. They got it all. They also have really beautiful consultation rooms in the old city and operate in a beautiful, state-of the art clinic called MediHelp Services Clinic.
This group also has offices in Bogotá, Cali, Bucaramanga, and Montería, and they basically fly all over the country for surgeries during the week. The irony is that when you refer to the markets in Bogotá or Cali, you are referring to them. They are only ones in Cali worth contacting and the high profile group that operates in Bogotá. They also happen to have beautiful facilities in Cartagena as well. (http://www.bariatricsurgerycartagena.com)
Feel free to ask any further questions about it if you like.

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 18:31:

Is this an advertisement? Have you had the surgery?

I think this is an advertisement.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 19:19:

I say stick with Cali, Medellin, or Bogota....

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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CalifornianPaisa says on Jul 23, 2008, 14:49:

No it is not an ad. I have lived in Colombia and understand peoples concerns and what they are looking for. I also love Cartagena, and know a lot of people (and doctors) there, so I thought I would set things straight with a formal response. But here is the informal one:
Cartagena is as good as it gets for bariatric medicine. Why doesn’t everyone understand that when we talk about Cali and Bogotá as the best cities for obesity surgery, we are talking about Dr.s Chaux and Bolaños? They are the same Dr.s that FLY to Cartagena to perform the surgery IN CARTAGENA. It is the same thing… Dr.s Ganem and Holguin are also part of the surgical team in Cartagena, and the reality is that we are all talking about the same internationally famous group. They are the ones who did Maradonna – can you ask for anything better?

Furthermore, those who cast a discerning eye on Cartagena’s medical services know nothing of Cartagena. MediHelp Services Clinic is the most well recognized clinic on the Caribbean and where they operated on Maradonna. Why do you think he chose Cartagena? As a favor?

And don’t think bariatric surgery is all there is. Excellent dentistry too. I am getting my teeth cleaned there next month, and have friends that have gotten great implants.

Take the time do your research. Check out Bariatric Support Group. You will find the proper information you are looking for on Cartagena.

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