Everything patients ask about weight-loss surgery in Tijuana — eligibility, pricing, safety, travel, recovery, and the support that lasts a lifetime.
Who qualifies, how to begin, and what the first steps look like.
Standard criteria: a BMI of 35+, or BMI 30+ with a weight-related condition (type-2 diabetes, GERD, sleep apnea, hypertension, or significant joint pain). Most patients are 18–70, though we evaluate younger and older patients case-by-case. Take the 60-second self-check →
A BMI of 35 or higher qualifies on its own. A BMI of 30–34.9 qualifies when paired with a weight-related health condition. Patients near the threshold are evaluated case-by-case during your consult.
Apply online (it's free), send a short medical history, and a coordinator reviews it and books your consult. From first contact to a surgery date is often 2–6 weeks. Apply now →
Generally 18–70 — but there's no hard cutoff; fitness for surgery matters most. We've approved patients as young as 15 (with parental consent and an additional evaluation process) and select patients over 70 on a case-by-case basis.
A brief health history, your current medications, and any relevant recent labs or imaging. For revisions, we also need your original operative report and recent imaging. Your coordinator tells you exactly what to send.
Most patients schedule within 2–6 weeks of applying, depending on your readiness, pre-op clearances, and travel. Faster timelines can often be accommodated.
No referral is required. We do recommend looping in your primary-care provider so they can support your follow-up care once you're home.
The operations we perform — and the team performing them.
The sleeve (~80% of patients) is simpler, lower cost, and highly effective. The bypass is preferred when you have type-2 diabetes (~80% remission) or severe GERD. Your surgeon recommends based on your health and goals. Compare procedures →
Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y), revision and conversion surgery, and hiatal hernia repair — all performed laparoscopically (minimally invasive).
Yes. Every procedure is laparoscopic — a few small incisions and a camera — which means less pain, faster recovery, and minimal scarring compared with open surgery.
Often, yes — sleeve-to-bypass conversion, re-sleeve, lap-band removal, and pouch reset. We review your operative report and recent imaging first. See revision options →
Board-certified bariatric surgeons (CMCOEM / Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía General) operating at Hospital Bellas Artes, with thousands of procedures behind them. Meet the surgeons →
Roughly: gastric sleeve 45–60 minutes, gastric bypass 1.5–2 hours, hiatal hernia repair 30–60 minutes. You're under general anesthesia and wake in the recovery room.
It corrects a widened diaphragm opening that drives acid reflux. It's $500 standalone, or free when bundled with bariatric surgery — and surgeons check for it during your procedure. Learn more →
What it costs, what's included, and how to pay for it.
Gastric sleeve from $4,900, gastric bypass from $5,800, revision from $5,800, and hiatal hernia $500 (free when bundled). All-inclusive, with no hidden fees. See full pricing →
Yes. It covers surgery, surgeon, anesthesia, 2–3 hospital nights, your hotel nights, all medications, ground transport from San Diego, nutritionist visits, complication insurance, and lifetime aftercare. Not included: airfare, vitamins, protein shakes, and optional upgrades — all listed transparently.
Lower facility, staffing, and overhead costs in Mexico — not lower quality. The same implants, medications, and surgical standards apply. Our all-inclusive price is frequently less than a U.S. insurance deductible alone.
Yes — financing with same-day approval and $0 down for many patients, through partner lenders (primarily ModernHealthFinance, and occasionally United Medical Credit). The application uses a soft credit pull that won't hurt your score. See financing →
We accept cash, cashier's check, or financing. There are no deposits — your surgery date is reserved without one, and your balance is simply due before surgery. Your coordinator walks you through every step.
If pre-op testing shows you can't safely proceed, you receive a full refund — we'd rather lose the case than put you at risk. (Many clinics keep a portion of your payment; we don't.)
Often, yes — bariatric surgery is a qualified medical expense. Confirm the specifics with your plan administrator, and keep your itemized receipts to support the claim.
Almost never for surgery in Mexico — but our all-inclusive price is frequently less than a U.S. deductible alone, and HSA/FSA funds may apply.
Why surgery in Tijuana with Pompeii is safe — and how we prove it.
At experienced centers like Pompeii, yes. Our complication rates are comparable to or better than U.S. averages — the same medications, modern equipment, board-certified surgeons, 24/7 nursing, and complication insurance included in every package.
Surgeries are performed at Hospital Bellas Artes, a fully-equipped private hospital with modern operating rooms and round-the-clock medical staff. Take the facility tour →
Complication insurance is included. While you're under our care in Mexico, additional surgeries, hospital nights, nursing, medications, extended hotel stays, and flight rebooking are covered — we pay providers directly, with no claim forms.Honest note: U.S.-based ER visits or surgery after you fly home are not covered by this policy — that's where U.S. health and travel insurance fill the gap. If you can return to us in Mexico, post-op care is covered. Coverage details →
Board-certified bariatric specialists with thousands of procedures each and an established safety record across 30,000+ Pompeii patients since 2014.
Yes — administered and monitored by qualified anesthesiologists using the same modern agents and monitoring standards used in the U.S. You're assessed for anesthesia fitness before surgery.
As with any surgery: bleeding, infection, leaks, blood clots, anesthesia reactions, and long-term nutritional issues. Serious complications are uncommon with experienced teams, and your surgeon reviews your individual risks in detail.This page is general education, not medical advice — discuss your specific situation thoroughly with your surgical team.
Sterile modern operating rooms, prophylactic antibiotics, strict protocols, and 24/7 post-op nursing. The minimally-invasive laparoscopic approach also lowers infection risk.
Getting to Tijuana, crossing the border, and your time here.
Fly into San Diego (SAN). Your Pompeii driver meets you at the airport and drives you across the San Ysidro border — you're at the hospital within about 40 minutes of landing. Full travel guide →
Yes — a passport book or passport card both work. No visa is needed for tourist stays under 180 days, and the FMM tourist permit is processed at the border with your driver (included).
About 4–5 days for sleeve or bypass: an arrival hotel night, 2–3 hospital nights, and a final hotel night before flying home. Revision adds 1–2 days; standalone hiatal hernia is 2–3 days.
Yes — airport pickup, the border crossing, every hotel and hospital transfer, and your return airport drop-off, all in Pompeii's own fleet with bilingual drivers. More on transport →
Yes — most patients bring a support person, and we recommend it. Your companion can stay overnight with you in the hospital, and right now their meals are included in your surgery package. Your coordinator helps with everything else for their trip.
All of your hotel nights are included — normally two (an arrival night and a final recovery night) — at a vetted partner hotel near the hospital, stocked for post-op needs like protein and supplies.
Your passport and ID, loose comfortable clothing, slip-on shoes, phone and charger, your current medications, and your vitamins. We send a detailed checklist ahead of time. See the packing list →
What actually happens on surgery day and in the hospital.
Arrival and check-in, pre-op labs and IV fluids, meeting your surgeon and anesthesiologist, then surgery. You wake in recovery (~1 hour) and move to your private room. See the hour-by-hour walkthrough →
Discomfort is managed with medication, and most patients describe soreness rather than sharp pain. Walking early helps relieve gas pressure and speeds your recovery.
Typically 2–3 nights in a private recovery room with 24/7 nursing, before moving to the hotel for your final night.
No — laparoscopic surgery uses a few small incisions that fade to faint marks over time.
The CO₂ used to gently inflate the abdomen during laparoscopy can cause shoulder or chest pressure for a day or two. Walking and time resolve it — it's normal and expected.
Yes — you meet your surgeon before surgery, and they check on you during your hospital stay. Coordinators relay anything else you need.
Yes — you're under 24/7 nursing care, and your companion can stay overnight in your room with you.
Healing, eating, activity, and weight-loss expectations.
Desk work in 7–10 days, light cardio around week 3, and strength training by week 6. Most patients feel "normal" by month 3. Full recovery timeline →
Five stages over about five weeks: clear liquids → full liquids → puree → soft → regular textures. Each stage protects your healing — moving too fast risks complications. See the diet stages →
Sleeve: about 60–70% of excess weight in 12–18 months; bypass: about 70–80%. Year-one loss is commonly 100–150 lbs depending on starting weight. Long-term results depend on habits. See your projection →
Desk work in 1–2 weeks, and walking immediately (encouraged). Light cardio around week 3, and lifting or strenuous activity around week 6, once you're cleared.
Some temporary thinning around months 3–6 is common as your body adjusts, and it regrows. Hitting your protein and vitamin targets minimizes it.
It's possible after major weight loss, depending on age, genetics, and how much you lose. Strength training and hydration help; some patients choose skin-removal procedures later.
Long-term, avoid drinking with meals, carbonation early on, and high-sugar or high-fat foods — protein always comes first. Your nutritionist personalizes this for you.
Lifelong support, coverage, and living after surgery.
Lifelong support: daily coordinator check-ins in week 1, telehealth at week 2, a nutritionist consult at month 1, progress checks at months 3/6/12, then annual reviews — plus our 70,000+ patient community. See the community →
Yes — a bariatric multivitamin, calcium citrate, B12, and vitamin D daily, for life. Skipping them risks serious deficiencies over time. Budget roughly $40–70/month.
It's recommended (~$50–120). Travel insurance covers flight cancellations, lost luggage, and family emergencies — different from complication insurance, which covers in-Mexico surgical complications. Compare both →
Some regain (5–15%) in years 3–5 is common. Re-engage your nutritionist, the community, and the basics — protein first, log meals. Significant regain may warrant a revision evaluation. We don't disappear when the scale moves.
Yes — but wait until your weight stabilizes (usually 12–18 months) and discuss timing and nutrition with your OB and our team. Fertility often improves after weight loss.
Avoid it during early recovery. Long-term, your tolerance changes and the calories add up — drink rarely and cautiously, and never during the healing phases.
Try another term — or just call a coordinator.
No IVR maze, no chatbot. A real human, fluent in your situation, walks you through anything we didn't cover here.