For visitors to Puerto Vallarta
A surgeon here,
when you need one
Appendicitis, a gallbladder attack or a hernia that won't go back in doesn't wait for your vacation to end. If you're in Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, Punta Mita or Sayulita and something is wrong, I operate in private hospitals, laparoscopically, and I'll talk you through every step in English.
And if your case can safely wait until you're home, I'll tell you that too.
- 24–48 hUsual hospital stay
- LaparoscopicIncisions under 1 cm
- EnglishCare and full records
- $5,000USD, starting price
Who operates on you
Laparoscopic surgery in certified
private hospitals.
Dr. José Andrés Cárdenas Figueroa · General and bariatric surgeon
Board-certified by the Mexican Board of General Surgery
First, the urgent part
Go to an emergency department now if you have
Severe abdominal pain
Pain that came on suddenly and doesn't ease, or a belly that's hard and hurts to touch.
Fever with abdominal pain
The combination can mean an infection that progresses within hours.
Persistent vomiting
Especially with blood, or if you can't keep any liquid down.
A bulge that won't go back in
A hernia that has become hard, painful or discolored may have trapped intestine.
Yellow skin or eyes
It can mean a gallstone is blocking the bile duct.
Chest, arm or jaw pain
Pain spreading there, or shortness of breath, may be cardiac, not digestive. Call 911.
If you recognize yourself in any of these, don't wait for a reply to a message. Call +52 322 400 2048 or go straight to a hospital.
What I treat
Common reasons visitors need a surgeon
Gallbladder
Pain under the right ribs after a heavy or fatty meal, sometimes spreading to the back or shoulder. Removal is laparoscopic, usually with a 24-hour stay.
Appendicitis
Pain that starts around the belly button and settles low on the right, with loss of appetite and low fever. It's an emergency that progresses within hours.
Hernias
A bulge that appears with effort and disappears when lying down. A hernia that no longer goes back in is an emergency.
Reflux and hiatal hernia
Anti-reflux surgery is scheduled, not urgent — it requires specific tests first, and many visitors plan it as a separate trip.
Planned repairs
Some visitors choose to have a known hernia or gallbladder treated during a planned stay. Plan on 4 to 6 days.
Describe your symptoms
Send a message with what you're feeling, where and since when. If it can't wait, you'll hear that right away.
Contact →If you're far from home
Don't try to fly home with it
The most common mistake I see in visitors is trying to hold on until the flight home. An inflamed appendix or gallbladder doesn't pause for a travel itinerary, and a flight can turn a straightforward operation into a complicated one.
What I can promise is a clear answer. If your case can wait, you'll leave with a diagnosis, treatment and written documentation for your doctor at home. If it can't, it will be treated here, in a private hospital, with every step explained in English.
Insurance
Any Mexican major medical insurance policy is accepted. If you have travel medical insurance, call your insurer's assistance line as early as you can — most policies require it. Our coordinator then works with the hospital and your insurer on the paperwork. Payment is by bank transfer, card or cash if you're paying directly.
Cost
General surgery starts at $5,000 USD, including surgical fees, hospital stay and your post-op check. The final figure depends on the procedure and how complex the case is.
Common questions
For visitors
Will my travel insurance cover emergency surgery?
Many travel medical policies cover emergency surgery abroad, but most require you to call their assistance line before or as soon as possible after treatment. Call them first if you can. Our coordinator then works with the hospital and your insurer on the paperwork.
Can I wait and have surgery when I get home?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. A gallbladder attack that has settled can often be scheduled later. Appendicitis, an inflamed gallbladder with fever, or a hernia that won't go back in can't wait for a flight: they progress in hours. That decision is made with an ultrasound and labs, not with your return date.
How soon can I fly after surgery?
After uncomplicated laparoscopic surgery, most patients are cleared to fly 7 to 10 days later. It depends on how you recover and is decided at your post-op check.
Will I get my records for my doctor at home?
Yes. You leave with your complete medical records in English — operative report, studies and discharge instructions — so your doctor at home can take over your care.
Is my case an emergency?
If you have severe abdominal pain that came on suddenly, fever with abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, a hard and tender belly, yellow skin or eyes, or a bulge that no longer goes back in, go to an emergency department now. Don't wait for a reply to a message.
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.
Where and with whom
This is what working
with this team looks like
Google reviews
What patients say — unedited
every one of them 5 stars
“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
“I brought a family member to Dr. Cárdenas as an emergency. His diagnosis was spot on: a gallbladder problem that needed urgent surgery, and he kept her health from getting worse. After surgery he stayed closely on top of her recovery… she is now fully recovered.”
Translated from Spanish · original on Google
“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
Reviews are shown exactly as patients wrote them on Google, translated from Spanish. We don't write, edit or pay for reviews.
Next step
Tell me what's happening
Describe your symptoms in a couple of lines and I'll tell you clearly whether it can be scheduled or needs attention today.
WhatsApp is free and works with U.S. and Canadian numbers. We're on Central Time (UTC−6) year-round.