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DENTON, TEXAS -
Larissa Hersom could only sip from a glass of water after her April weight loss surgery in Tijuana, Mexico--jobless at the time--the decision to have the surgery in another country was based purely on money.
"In the United States, the lowest quote I got was $24,000.00," Larissa said at the time.
Larissa paid $12,500.00 in Mexico, but since returning home has been in and out of the emergency room. She was told she needed surgery or she would slowly die.
Larissa is uninsured and couldn't find anyone to revise her surgery until doctor Nick Nicholson -- who appeared in our original story about medical tourism -- referred her to Dr. David Provost.
"Doors were slammed in my face," Larissa said. "He opened it wide open and he's been very kind to me and I owe my life to him."
Dr. Provost performed emergency revision surgery three weeks ago said revision surgery comprises about 45% of his business -- much of it from Mexico.
Dr. Provost said the problem with medical tourism -- to any country -- is the patient doesn't always know what they're going to get.
"There certainly are some very reputable and talented surgeons down in Mexico who do good work, and I know several of them, but it's very difficult as a patient to really know what you're getting into and who is actually going to do your surgery," Dr. Provost said.
Dr. Provost said follow-up appointments are vital -- and if the patient's doctor is in another country it makes it almost impossible--something Larissa knows all too well and offers this advice to people considering surgery in another country.
"They've got to arrange to have that planned ahead of time-what are you going to do if something goes wrong and they can't get to their doctor," Larissa said
Luckily for her, she found a doctor closer to home -- and just in time.
"Absolutely life-saving," Larissa said. "I honestly believe that I would not have made it much further."
"In the United States, the lowest quote I got was $24,000.00," Larissa said at the time.
Larissa paid $12,500.00 in Mexico, but since returning home has been in and out of the emergency room. She was told she needed surgery or she would slowly die.
Larissa is uninsured and couldn't find anyone to revise her surgery until doctor Nick Nicholson -- who appeared in our original story about medical tourism -- referred her to Dr. David Provost.
"Doors were slammed in my face," Larissa said. "He opened it wide open and he's been very kind to me and I owe my life to him."
Dr. Provost performed emergency revision surgery three weeks ago said revision surgery comprises about 45% of his business -- much of it from Mexico.
Dr. Provost said the problem with medical tourism -- to any country -- is the patient doesn't always know what they're going to get.
"There certainly are some very reputable and talented surgeons down in Mexico who do good work, and I know several of them, but it's very difficult as a patient to really know what you're getting into and who is actually going to do your surgery," Dr. Provost said.
Dr. Provost said follow-up appointments are vital -- and if the patient's doctor is in another country it makes it almost impossible--something Larissa knows all too well and offers this advice to people considering surgery in another country.
"They've got to arrange to have that planned ahead of time-what are you going to do if something goes wrong and they can't get to their doctor," Larissa said
Luckily for her, she found a doctor closer to home -- and just in time.
"Absolutely life-saving," Larissa said. "I honestly believe that I would not have made it much further."
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