Dr. Jorge Maytorena | Obesity Surgery | Mexicali

Welcome to the Bariatric Surgery Center

If you or someone you know is struggling with severe obesity and suffering from related health conditions, Dr. Jorge Maytorena can help!

Dr. Jorge Maytorena specializes in Bariatric Surgery and long-term patient management to help our patients take control of their obesity and regain their health.

With a highly trained team of surgeons, nurses, and nutritionists, Dr. Jorge Maytorena is able to provide our patients with a safe and effective weight-loss surgery, comprehensive pre- and post-operative education and ongoing aftercare. We are here to guide you to a happier, healthier life.

A decision to have obesity surgery is not to be taken lightly. The goal of this website is to provide you with information that can help you decide whether obesity surgery is right for you and if you are a candidate for the Bariatric Surgery.

Do You Have BMI of 30 or greater?

Do you have a life-threatening health problem caused or made worse, by being overweight, such as HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, SLEEP APNEA OR HEART DISEASE?

Have you tried to lose weight with supervised diets, medications and exercise regimens without success?

Are you seriously committed to improving your health with life long medical follow-up?

If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, you may be a candidate for Bariatric (Weight Loss Surgery)

Before and After Pictures

Mr Kenneth R. Sewell / Nuclear Engineer & Writer

Before Pictures, weight 306 lbs, waist size: 56

After Pictures, weight 200 lbs, waist size: 34

14 month's after Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Lap Band:Is a restrictive surgical procedure. During this procedure, two medical devices are implanted in the patient: a silicone band and an injection port. The silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach and molds the stomach into two connected chambers. The injection port is attached to the abdominal wall, underneath the skin. The port is connected to the band with soft, thin tubing.

Sleeve Gastrectomy:Is a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to about 15% of its original size, by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach, following the major curve. The open edges are then attached together (often with surgical staples) to form a sleeve or tube with a banana shape. The procedure permanently reduces the size of the stomach. The procedure is performed laparoscopically and is not reversible.
Gastric Bypass: Bariatric surgery is a tool to help morbidly obese individuals lose most, if not all, of their excess weight. During a gastric bypass procedure, the size of the stomach is significantly reduced, limiting the volume of food a patient can consume, and the digestive tract is altered, decreasing the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. When coupled with critical lifestyle changes, gastric bypass surgery can result in extreme weight loss within the first year after surgery. Patients typically lost 61.6 percent of their excess weight.

Mini-Gastric Bypass: A mini gastric bypass is a less invasive alternative to standard gastric bypass; but produces similar results. This procedure is performed laparoscopically, meaning the surgeon works through several small incisions and uses a tiny camera (called a laparoscope) and a television screen to guide special instruments through the incisions.
Gastric Plication: The procedure itself is performed in less time than traditional gastric bypass surgery, typically taking no more than an hour. Since the surgeon does not conduct mini gastric bypass surgery through one large incision, there is a lower risk of post-surgery complications.

Besides weight loss, all added pathologies derived from obesity, such as Gastroesophageal Reflux, Sleep Apnea, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Fatty Liver, Hyperinsulinemia (an abnormally high level of insulin in the bloodstream), Diabetes and Osteoarticular Problems are corrected.

In the majority of such pathologies it is possible to interrupt Pharmacologic Treatments for the control of these illnesses.

Our Center

belongs to the Medical Staff at Family Hospital; a prestigious institution located in Mexicali, Baja California just across the border from Calexico, California, with spacious rooms, Restaurant inside the premises, 5 complete surgery rooms, preoperative and recovery rooms, intensive care for adults and children, and English speaking staff.

is a General, Bariatric and Trauma Surgeon who performs the following Bariatric Laparoscopic Surgeries:

Gastric Band, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Mini-Gastric Bypass, Gastric Plication.
People that have had these surgeries with him have achieved their weight loss goal and are leading now a full and healthy life; you can read some of their testimonials.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Surgery) Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia, Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia.

Jennifer Cobernus Before and After Picture Surgery performed March 1st. 2011

Mr Kenneth R. Sewell / Nuclear Engineer & Writer

Before Pictures, weight 306 lbs, waist size: 56

After Pictures, weight 200 lbs, waist size: 34

14 month's after Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Lupita weighed 220 lbs. before Gastric Sleeve Surgery. Her current weight is 136 lbs.

Leonor Before & After the Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

This patient was a 62 years old diabetic, weighed 286 lbs. before Lap Band Surgery. His current weight is 220 lbs., She is now able to control their glucose levels and diabetes.

The length of stay for this procedure is as follows: you have your Gastric Plication Procedure done on day of arrival to hospital, you stay the next day and are released the following day.

The length of stay for this procedure is as follows: you have your Gastric Lap band Procedure done on day of arrival to hospital, you stay the next day and are released the following day.

The length of stay for this procedure is as follows: you have yourGastric Bypass Procedure done on day of arrival to hospital, you stay the next day and are released the following day.

The length of stay for this procedure is as follows: you have yourMini-Gastric Bypass Procedure done on day of arrival to hospital, you stay the next day and are released the following day.

The length of stay for this procedure is as follows: you have your Gastric Plication Procedure done on day of arrival to hospital, you stay the next day and are released the following day.

The length of stay for this procedure is as follows: you have your Gastric Sleeve Procedure done on day of arrival to hospital, you stay the next day and are released the following day.

ALL OF OUR PACKAGES INCLUDE:

Transportation (From Yuma, AZ airport or San Diego, CA Airport to the hospital and back to the airport.)
Pre-Operatory Tests
Nutritional Evaluation
Gastric Band Procedure
Hospital Fees Surgeons' Fees
Anesthesiologist Fees
Hospital Stay for patient and 1 companion with access to meals, bathroom, tv and wireless internet (Patient is not sent to a hotel for a proper follow-up)

Gastric Banding

Gastric banding is a restrictive surgical procedure. During this procedure, two medical devices are implanted in the patient: a silicone band and an injection port. The silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach and molds the stomach into two connected chambers. The injection port is attached to the abdominal wall, underneath the skin. The port is connected to the band with soft, thin tubing.

The band is adjustable. Adjustments are made by your healthcare professional using a needle to inject saline solution into your band through the port. Adding saline increases the amount of restriction provided by the band, helping patients feel fuller sooner and with less food.

Life After Gastric Banding

Excess Weight Loss
Gastric banding patients typically lost 47% of their excess weight.

Health Benefits
Studies found that gastric banding:

Resolved type 2 diabetes in 47.8 percent of patients
Resolved high blood pressure in 38.4% of patients
Improved high cholesterol in 78.3% of patients

Quality of Life
One meta-analysis stated that for bariatric surgery patients who experienced significant weight loss:

Overall quality of life improved greatly
They experienced improved physical functioning and appearance
They experienced improved social and economic opportunities

Recovery
Your healthcare team will advise you when to return to work and when you are able to resume normal activities.

Potential Concerns of Gastric Banding

Gastric banding can help you feel satisfied sooner and with less food, but it won’t eliminate the desire to eat. You will need to follow your specific diet and exercise guidelines provided by your surgeon to achieve success. Gastric banding requires more intensive follow-up care than most other bariatric surgeries.This is mostly because the band is adjustable. Keep in mind that even after reaching and maintaining your success weight, you may still need to see your healthcare professional for further adjustments.

Risks Associated with Gastric Banding

Migration of implant (band erosion, band slippage, port displacement)
Tubing-related complications (port disconnection, tubing kinking)
Band leak
Esophageal spasm
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Inflammation of the esophagus or stomach
Port-site infection

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to about 15% of its original size, by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach, following the major curve. The open edges are then attached together (often with surgical staples) to form a sleeve or tube with a banana shape. The procedure permanently reduces the size of the stomach. The procedure is performed laparoscopically and is not reversible.

Procedure
Sleeve gastrectomy is usually performed on extremely obese patients, with a body mass index of 40 or more, where the risk of performing a gastric bypass or duodenal switch procedure may be too large. A two-stage procedure is performed: the first is a sleeve gastrectomy, and the second is a conversion into a gastric bypass or duodenal switch. Patients usually lose a large quantity of their excess weight after the first sleeve gastrectomy procedure alone, but if weight loss ceases the second step is performed.

For patients that are obese but not extremely obese, sleeve gastrectomy alone is a suitable operation with minimum risks. Some surgeons even prefer it over gastric banding, because it eliminates the need of having to insert a foreign body. The sleeve gastrectomy currently is acceptable weight loss surgery option for obese patients as a single procedure. Most surgeons prefer to use a bougie between 32 - 40 Fr with the procedure and the approximate remaining size of the stomach after the procedure is about 4 ounces.

Gastric Bypass

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery uses a combination of restriction and malabsorption. During the procedure, the surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch. The surgeon then attaches a Y-shaped section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. This allows food to bypass a large portion of the small intestine, which absorbs calories and nutrients. Having the smaller stomach pouch causes patients to feel fuller sooner and eat less food; bypassing a portion of the small intestine means the patient's body absorbs fewer calories.

Life After Gastric Bypass

Excess Weight Loss.
Gastric bypass patients typically lost 61.6 percent of their excess weight.

Health Benefits
Studies found that gastric bypass:

Resolved type 2 diabetes in 83.8% of patients and often resolved the disease within days of surgery.
Resolved high blood pressure in 67.5% of patients.
Improved high cholesterol in 95% of patients.

Quality of Life
One meta-analysis stated that for laparoscopic bariatric surgery patients who experienced significant weight loss:

Overall quality of life improved greatly.
They experienced improved physical functioning and appearance.
They experienced improved social and economic opportunities.

Recovery
One study found that gastric bypass patients were able to:

Leave the hospital after two days
Return to work after 21 days
Potential Concerns of Gastric Bypass
A condition known as dumping syndrome can occur from eating high-fat, high-sugar foods. While it isn't considered a health risk, the results can be very unpleasant and may include vomiting, nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and diarrhea.
Patients must supplement their diet with a daily multivitamin and calcium. Some patients must take vitamin B12 and/or iron
The stomach, duodenum, and parts of the small intestine cannot be seen easily using X -ray or endoscopy if there are problems after surgery such as ulcers, bleeding, or malignancy.

It's obvious to many people who have lived with morbid obesity for years that the disease has a severe negative impact on quality of life. Because of morbid obesity, you may choose not to participate in certain activities. You may feel that you have limited career choices.

What you may not know is that morbid obesity has been found to affect the quality of your health.

Morbid obesity has been linked to several serious and life-threatening diseases. These co-morbid conditions include type 2 diabetes , heart disease and high blood pressure, acid reflux/GERD, and cancer. Most of these conditions do not develop for years. So many people living with morbid obesity may have one or more of these health issues without even realizing it.

Bariatric surgery may offer you a whole new outlook on health…

One study found that gastric bypass surgery reduced the total number of co-morbid conditions of participating patients by 96%.
Surgeons recommended bariatric surgery as a treatment option for patiens with type 2 diabetes who were morbidly obese. In some gastric bypass cases, resolution of type 2 diabetes occurred within days of the surgery. - A meta-analysis stated that several studies found that bariatric surgery patients felt better, spent more time doing recreational and physical activities, benefited from enhanced productivity and economic opportunities, and had more self-confidence than they did prior to surgery.

Risks Associated with Gastric Bypass:

Dehiscence (separation of tissue that was stitched or stapled together)
Leaks from staple lines
Ulcers
Dumping syndrome, an unpleasant side effect that may include vomiting, nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and diarrhea
Required supplementation of diet with a daily multivitamin, calcium, and sometimes vitamin B12 and/or iron
Inability to detect the stomach, duodenum, and parts of the small intestine using X-ray or endoscopy, should problems arise after surgery such as ulcers, bleeding, or malignancy
Increased gas.

Gastric Plication Laparoscopic Procedure

In Gastric Plication the stomach is constructed into a tubular shape by using medical staples.
The greater curvature of the stomach is then sleeved into the inner side using medical sutures.
The size of the stomach is reduced by almost 60-80%

Advantages of Gastric Plication:
One significant advantage of Gastric Sleeve Plication is that the process is reversible. The sutures can be removed in the future if required and the stomach capacity can be restored.

A study conducted by the Bariatric Times claims that the patients who undergo Gastric Plication demonstrate satisfactory weight loss and have the lowest complication rates among all bariatric procedures.
The nutrition absorbing capacity of the stomach remains intact.
There is no dumping syndrome or food intolerance.

Risk Factor:

Gastric Imbrication Plication Surgery is a new procedure and no significant medical data on long term effects is known.
General complications associated with surgeries like infection, bleeding, reaction to anesthesia may occur.

Mini-Gastric Bypass

Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery is a weight loss surgery procedure that is quick, simple and aids in loosing pounds, it is similar to other Gastric Bypass Surgeries in that a portion of the stomach is stapled so it is not used and a portion of the small intestines is bypassed.

The Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery is a very simple procedure which will reduce the amount of food that the stomach can hold and the amount of fat and calories that are absorbed through the small intestines.

Risks and Benefits
As with any major surgery there are risks involved, however the benefits outweigh the risks.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery (MIS), bandaid surgery, keyhole surgery is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5-1.5cm) as compared to larger incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery includes operations within the abdominal or pelvic cavities, whereas keyhole surgery performed on the thoracic or chest cavity is called thoracoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery belong to the broader field of endoscopy.

There are a number of advantages to the patient with laparoscopic surgery versus an open procedure. These include reduced pain and haemorrhaging, and shorter recovery time.

The key element in laparoscopic surgery is the use of a laparoscope. There are two types: (1) a telescopic rod lens system, that is usually connected to a video camera (single chip or three chip), or (2) a digital laparoscope where the charge-coupled device is placed at the end of the laparoscope, eliminating the rod lens system. Also attached is a fiber optic cable system connected to a 'cold' light source (halogen or xenon), to illuminate the operative field, inserted through a 5 mm or 10 mm cannula or trocar to view the operative field. The abdomen is usually insufflated, or essentially blown up like a balloon, with carbon dioxide gas. This elevates the abdominal wall above the internal organs like a dome to create a working and viewing space. CO2 is used because it is common to the human body and can be absorbed by tissue and removed by the respiratory system. It is also non-flammable, which is important because electrosurgical devices are commonly used in laparoscopic procedures.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Surgery)
Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia
Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia

UABC graduate in "General Medicine"
Residency in UNAM for "General Surgery" at the General HospitalSonora
Gastric Bypass and Metabolic Surgery Fellowship in the Sao Camilo Hospital at Sao Paulo, Brazil with Dr. Cohen team
Advance Laparoscopy training in the Mexican Society of Endoscopic Surgery with Dr. Lopez Corvala team
Sleeve Gastrectomy training of the Mexican College of Metabolic and Obesity Surgery
Fellowship in Gastric Banding by Inamed LapBand
Allergan (Inamed) certified surgeon
Member of the Mexican Society of Endoscopic Surgery
Certified by the Mexican Board of General Surgeons
Trauma Surgeon at Tijuana Red Cross

I weighed 330lbs 7/4/10. I now weight 227lbs. Lost 103 lbs!!! I'm losing a couple pounds a week. I ride my bike 50 miles per week and lift weights and eat healthy. No processed foods. I generally eat 6 small meals a day.

Breakfast - piece of whole wheat whole grain toast with peanut butter. Cup of coffee with half and half creamer.
Mid morning - Arbonne protein shake.
Lunch - normally a half a tuna sandwich with light mayonnaise or chopped baked chicken with whole wheat pasta.
Mid afternoon - protein bar or light mozzarella cheese stick
Dinner - chicken, pasta, steak, salad. Nothing in particular. I just ensure portion control
After dinner snack - light low fat yogurt and sugar free popsicle.

I don't eat any processed foods, fast food or sweets.

I eat healthy and portion control. I eat 1500 calories a day. If I eat too much I get sick. I have more energy, pants went from 48-50" waist to 38" waist, shirts from 4X to 1X. My shoes even went from size 11 to size 10.

Thanks for everything. You saved my life.
DW

My name is Heather Smith and I am 34 years old. I had my Gastric Sleeve on July 22, 2010 by Dr. Maytorena. I have now lost 57 lbs and have had no problems since my surgery. Dr Maytorena and his staff were very accommodating to my mother and I. The women's hospital was very clean and comfortable. My experience with Dr. Maytorena was wonderful and I am very grateful to him for helping me change my life.

He is always there to answer any questions I have and checks on me and my progress weekly. He cares a lot about his patients and their well being. I would definitely recommend him and his staff to anyone wanting Gastric SleeveSurgery. Nov./14/2010

Up-date Jan. 21, 2011
I am doing very good. I've lost 74 lbs so far. My weight loss has slowed down even with exercise. But I feel great and am very happy!

Dr. Maytorena I am doing great
You did a great job.