Hi, my name is Vanessa, I am a NZ Coordinator and a past bariatric patient at Mexico Bariatric Center (MBC). Over the past month, I had the opportunity to attend both the Wellington Women’s Lifestyle Expo and the Palmerston North Women’s Expo, representing Mexico Bariatric Center here in New Zealand.

Education and Innovation at Palmerston North Women’s Expo

The 2026 Palmerston North Women’s Expo was buzzing with energy, drawing an enthusiastic crowd eager to connect and learn. It was encouraging to see so many women openly asking questions and wanting honest information about weight loss surgery and how the process works.

Some of the major highlights from this weekend included:

  • Insightful Mini-Seminars: One of the highlights of the weekend was presenting the new mini-seminars at midday on both Saturday and Sunday. These sessions were well attended, and I was grateful for the thoughtful and genuine questions people asked. It gave me the opportunity to explain the most common bariatric procedures, what the patient journey looks like, introduce our surgeons and Hospital Azar, and most importantly, share how life-changing bariatric surgery can truly be.
  • Regenerative Medicine: There was significant interest in the stem cell therapy options we now offer. Many people were keen to learn how these advanced therapies can help support healing, enhance post-operative wellbeing, and improve recovery outcomes after surgery.

Vanessa Coordinator at New Zealand Women's Expo 2026

Highlights of Wellington Women’s Expo

The 2026 Wellington Expo in mid-April certainly presented some challenges, with severe weather and flooding affecting many parts of the region. Despite this, it was wonderful to still see people making the effort to attend and stop by for a chat. I had some really meaningful conversations throughout the weekend, including enquiries about both bariatric and cosmetic surgery options, and most importantly, it helped introduce more people to Mexico Bariatric Center, Mexico Cosmetic Center, and the support we offer here in New Zealand.

The Ultimate Conversation StartersBody Fat 3D Model - Mexico Bariatric Center

We had a couple of items on display at our stand that became absolute magnets for conversation:

  • The 500g Body Fat Model: This simple tool helped people visually understand just how significant even small amounts of weight loss can be on the body.
  • My Life-Size “Before” Banner: I displayed a pull-up banner featuring a life-size photo of myself before I started my own surgery journey. Standing alongside this, many people were genuinely surprised to realise the person on the banner was me, which opened the door to some very honest, relatable and encouraging conversations about transformation, health, and hope for the future.

Why These Conversations Matter to Me

For me personally, these conversations matter deeply because I understand how difficult it can be to take that first step or even ask the first question. Speaking openly about obesity and surgery is not always easy, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to stop, chat, listen, and share parts of their own journey with me.

Vanessa at Women's Expo in New Zealand - Mexico Bariatric Center

Thank You, New Zealand!

A massive thank you to everyone who attended the expos and helped make both weekends so worthwhile. I look forward to continuing these vital conversations and helping more Kiwis explore the life-changing possibilities available to them.

Are you ready to take your first step? Fill out a health questionnaire to see if you qualify and leave a comment below to share your thoughts!

You are welcome to contact me at (916) 248-8863 or vanessa@mexicobariatriccenter.nz

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