Bariatric Surgery in Tijuana, Mexico: Father of Seven Reflects on His Four-Year Journey After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

[00:00:00] You're gonna be wise, healthy, and wealthy. You can't have wealth if you don't have health.

[00:00:11] My name is Omil Reed. I'm from Orlando, Florida. And I heard of OCC back in 2021 when I realized that I needed help with my weight.

[00:00:23] Always been a person who was very active, exercise, did a lot of different exercise programs.

[00:00:32] But the problem was to keep the weight off and it started to affect my health, like my blood pressure and things of that nature.

[00:00:40] So, I prayed about it and I'm like, Lord, show me a way. Help me to keep this weight off so I can be a better healthy me.

[00:00:45] And I start googling, you know, different weight loss doctors, surgery, different things.

[00:00:54] And I found out about the sleeve OCC on the internet and I start watching videos, researched the facility, researched the doctors.

[00:01:03] The reviews were excellent. It was great and I there was just a connection especially with Dr. Ortiz and all the staff after I met them.

[00:01:17] But on the video I was connected and that's how I found out. I pick up the phone, I call and I got Ephraim and he set up appointment.

[00:01:27] And from there it was both nervous and excited. It was mixed motion.

[00:01:34] Excited that I'm going to get help with the weight loss. Nervous like, oh my god, I'm going to do a surgery, you know.

[00:01:39] I was concerned cuz I've heard different things about coming to Mexico, going to Mexico for a surgery.

[00:01:48] But this place was totally the opposite. Like when you think of coming to Mexico for surgery, you hear all kind of crazy story.

[00:01:56] But when you come to this place is the top of the line, facility is beautiful.

[00:02:03] I'm like, oh my god, you know, this is even better than like America in some ways.

[00:02:06] Place was beautiful, staff was nice from the pickup from the airport, the greeting, the professionalism, the hospitality, transportation.

[00:02:17] Crossing over the border after we land at San Diego, coming to the facility.

[00:02:22] Everybody was really nice, very caring, very concerned. Lots of questions were asked. Very attentive.

[00:02:34] The facility is five-star. The hotel experience was fine. It worked very well because it works with OCC.

[00:02:46] They make it very easy. After leaving the airport, you come for your check-in and do all your blood work and paperwork and things of that nature.

[00:02:57] Then taken back to the hotel and the shuttle between the hotel.

[00:03:02] The fact that there are certain things set in place that OCC work with the hotel that makes it very easy.

[00:03:12] My first hotel was the Marriott and Marriott is a worldwide hotel. I'm an ambassador with Marriott.

[00:03:20] So the hotel was nice, the staff was nice, drivers, everybody. They also was aware of the schedule, what time I should be downstairs.

[00:03:29] OCC would make sure we're downstairs. They would ring upstairs, have us downstairs, we get pickup and come to the facility on the day of the surgery.

[00:03:37] The doctor's answered all my questions. I would say for me the worst part of the surgery was just the gas, the air.

[00:03:50] That's the main part. Everything else was really smooth. It was very quick. It was not as long as I thought.

[00:04:00] In 24 hours I was up walking back normal and everything. You start walking like maybe 3 hours after the surgery to get the air and the gas out of you.

[00:04:12] And after that you 24 hours you go back to the hotel. Then you have to come back for the swaller test to make sure your new stomach is perfect.

[00:04:23] Nothing is leaking. And everything was good. Everything was good.

[00:04:30] The first month of course I noticed start losing weight. But the weight loss for me start rapidly like after 2 3 months like there was a big difference.

[00:04:45] To the point where clothes sizes had to change. Everything was too big you know.

[00:04:51] I was lighter you know. So, and I've been losing weight ever since.

[00:04:59] My surgery was in 2021 and it's now 2025. I was close to 300 lb.

[00:05:08] Today I sit here at 156 lbs and I'm 6'2. My vital levels all perfect.

[00:05:16] Prior to my surgery, I was developing high blood pressure. You know, I was borderline diabetic, about to become a diabetic person.

[00:05:27] Suffering from diabetes and ever since my surgery, the weight loss, my blood pressure, no issue with diabetes, none of that stuff.

[00:05:34] I feel so much better. My confidence is up. When I walk into places, people like, "Oh my god, you look so good. Amazing, what did you do?"

[00:05:47] So everywhere I go, I said, "OCC, you got to go get the sleeve."

[00:05:52] Well, I wasn't a diabetic. I was starting to become like I was on borderline. I was my health was being threatened and my blood pressure and also the weight.

[00:06:05] The weight if I show you my before and now picture or if you look at my before picture and look at me now, you'll understand.

[00:06:12] I wanted more confidence. Even though I'm confident, but we live in an image world. I wanted to be more healthy. I want to live longer.

[00:06:22] You know, I'm a father of seven beautiful children. So, I wanted to do the surgery mainly for the weight loss and it worked.

[00:06:29] It's working. I tell everybody, listen, do it. I'm most grateful for a better me, a better life.

[00:06:39] I feel like I'm living and I'm not on the verge of dying. It changed my life in every way.

[00:06:49] Everywhere I go, I'm not trying to be vain, but when I'm walking through the airport, they're like, "Are you a model? Oh my god, look at you. You look so nice."

[00:06:58] And you know, when I tell people about my weight loss and how I do it, they're like, "Wow, where is this place?"

[00:07:04] And I said, "OCC, look it up. Go to Instagram, go to Facebook, go on the internet. They're everywhere. They're there. You'll find them."

[00:07:13] And so, it really, really changed my life. It gave me so much happiness, so much confidence.

[00:07:23] I love the skin now that I'm in. You only have one life to live.

[00:07:31] And you don't just want to be wise. You want to be wise, wealthy, and healthy. I know that's a message.

[00:07:41] You want to be wise, healthy, and wealthy. You can't have wealth if you don't have health.

[00:07:50] And so, there's nothing to be afraid of. You know, we have one life to live.

[00:07:55] And I got to the place where I realized that I have to do something about this weight because it was getting the best of me.

[00:08:02] I would say to them, don't be afraid. Coming to OCC here in Mexico, it's very safe.

[00:08:09] As I said earlier, from pickup to drop off, going through the border, paperwork, passport, everything is safe.

[00:08:17] You're in the arms of people who really care about you. The facility is clean. Everything is thoroughly done.

[00:08:28] Its technology is up to the top. Everything is top of the line. You're not going to some old broke down, dirty, unsanitized place.

[00:08:36] Even the bathroom in the hallway smells so good. I mean, everything is clean.

[00:08:41] The food it's amazing. Don't be afraid. Don't be nervous. Do not hesitate. Pick up the phone and call OCC because they're waiting to take care of you.

[00:08:52] The nurse, the staff, all the doctor, the anesthesia doctor, the nutrition doctor, all of the doctors.

[00:09:05] And I'm not just saying this, it is just real. They're loving people, good people, good-hearted people, and they care about you.

[00:09:15] There's nothing to be afraid of. Once you're here, all the nerve will just lift and you realize that you have made the best decision for your life.