Transparency
What it costs,
and what's included
I'm not the least expensive option, and I'm not trying to be. Here's the price, what it covers, what it doesn't, and how it compares — with the sources, so you can check them.
Who operates on you
Before any surgery date exists,
eight specialists review your case.
Dr. José Andrés Cárdenas Figueroa · General and bariatric surgeon
Board-certified by the Mexican Board of General Surgery
Bariatric surgery from
$6,500 USD
The final figure depends on the procedure and on what your evaluation finds. You get it in writing, itemized, after your video consultation.
Request my quoteWhat's included
- One to two nights in hospital, depending on your condition
- Fees for the surgeon and the full multidisciplinary team
- Specialized bariatric surgical materials
- Pre- and post-operative lab work
- Pre-operative endoscopy and post-operative contrast study
- 24-hour nursing during your stay
- Surgical follow-up at 7–10 days, 1, 3 and 6 months
- Five nutrition consultations and two with psychology
Not included: flights, hotel, and the annual check-up from month six onward. We work with partner hotels at preferred rates and coordinate your airport transfers.
How it compares
Gastric sleeve: typical costs
and wait times
Published figures from third-party sources, as of September 2026. They're ranges, not quotes — prices vary widely by city, facility and what's included.
| Where | Typical cost | Waiting time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States, self-pay | About $7,300 – $24,000 USDNational average around $14,900 | Varies by provider | Ranges reported by BetterCare and CareCredit. Many quotes don't include follow-up. |
| Canada, private clinic | CAD 16,000 – 22,000 | Weeks | Reported by iFinance Canada. |
| Canada, public system | Covered, for patients who meet the criteria | Months to yearsDepends on province and hospital | Nova Scotia reports a median of 135 days to surgery (Aug 2025–Jul 2026); other sources report waits often of one to three years. |
| Puerto Vallarta, with me | From $6,500 USDSurgeon's fee; full quote after your evaluation | Starts when you're ready | The package with the specialist team and six months of follow-up is quoted for your case. |
← Swipe to see every column
For gastric bypass, the same sources report roughly $15,000 – $35,000 USD self-pay in the U.S. and CAD 18,000 – 25,000 at private clinics in Canada.
An honest note
Price shouldn't be
why you choose a surgeon
Some U.S. quotes come in close to mine. When they're lower, it's usually because they include less. So compare quotes line by line, not by the bottom number.
What to ask every provider to itemize
- → Which specialist evaluations are included before surgery?
- → Is the pre-operative endoscopy included?
- → How many nights in hospital, and is it a hospital or a clinic?
- → How many follow-up visits, over how many months?
- → Are nutrition and psychology sessions included after surgery?
- → What does a complication cost, and who pays for it?
- BetterCare, Gastric sleeve cost
- CareCredit, Gastric sleeve costs and financing (citing the 2026 Synchrony Average Procedural Cost Study)
- iFinance Canada, Is weight loss surgery covered in Canada?
- Government of Nova Scotia, Bariatric surgery wait times
Common questions
About cost
Why does surgery cost less in Mexico?
Mostly because the costs around the surgery are lower: facilities, staff salaries, liability insurance and administrative overhead. The procedure, the technique and the equipment are the same. A low price achieved by skipping steps is a different thing, which is why it's worth comparing what each quote includes.
Are there hidden fees?
Everything included is listed on this page, and so is what isn't. Your quote is itemized and given to you in writing before you commit.
How do I pay?
By bank transfer, card or cash. The payment schedule is set out in writing with your quote.
Does insurance cover it?
Any Mexican major medical insurance policy is accepted. For U.S. and Canadian plans, many don't cover elective surgery abroad, some cover part of it, and a few cover it fully. Our coordinator reviews your specific policy before you book.
Is the gastric bypass the same price as the sleeve?
No. Bariatric surgery starts at $6,500 USD, and the final figure depends on the procedure. A bypass or a revision is more complex than a sleeve and costs more. You get the exact figure for your case after the video consultation.
About this page
Written and reviewed by
Dr. José Andrés Cárdenas Figueroa
General & bariatric surgeon
Residency in General Surgery at the University of Guadalajara, followed by post-residency high-specialty training in Advanced Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara. Staff surgeon at Hospital Vallarta Medical Center and Hospital Punta Mita.
Google reviews
What patients say — unedited
every one of them 5 stars
“Highly recommended. A doctor with a great deal of experience who explains everything in such detail that you get the confidence you need before going into the operating room. Thank you for the empathy, care and monitoring during and after surgery.”
Translated from Spanish · original on Google
“Attentive and dedicated, very professional and punctual. I'm very satisfied with the care and how quickly everything moved, from the first consultation to the procedure and the post-op visits. I highly recommend him!”
Translated from Spanish · original on Google
“Dr. Cárdenas performed laparoscopic surgery on my mother-in-law to remove her gallbladder, which was already badly infected. His prompt care kept it from getting complicated and, thanks to that type of surgery, she recovered quickly. We highly recommend him.”
Translated from Spanish · original on Google
Reviews are shown exactly as patients wrote them on Google, translated from Spanish. We don't write, edit or pay for reviews.
Next step
Get an itemized quote
Tell me about your case in a couple of lines. After the video consultation you get your exact figure, in writing, with every line item.
WhatsApp is free and works with U.S. and Canadian numbers. We're on Central Time (UTC−6) year-round.