So it’s time to change your life for the better. Even though your nerves are through the roof, there is excitement to finally have your life back. Happiness, confidence, and health are the biggest reasons why people get weight loss surgery.

You are next! The day has come, but what now? What should you expect? What should you bring to Mexico for weight loss surgery? Are you prepared?

What to Pack for Weight Loss Surgery in Tijuana, Mexico

Patients Packing List – Our patients collectively came together to make this list to prepare for Weight Loss Surgery in Tijuana, Mexico. Don’t forget your required travel documents including your passport.

Whether is gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, mini bypass, or gastric balloon – here is the packing list to bring to Mexico for bariatric surgery! Don’t pack too much, remember you are not traveling for a fashion show. You are traveling for weight loss surgery.

  • Just a small suitcase and a carry-on!
  • Don’t waste luggage space with your own pillow, you probably will never use it. Although bringing a pillowcase is helpful.
  • Bring a neck pillow.
  • Bring some spending cash, preferably smaller bills. Although tipping is up to you, having extra money for your travels may be worthwhile.
  • Bring slippers that easily slip on when you get out of the hospital bed.
  • Bring extra washcloths.
  • Loose, stretchy clothes. You don’t just magically become skinny immediately after surgery. Easily accessible clothing is a must.
  • Pack headphones with your own music for extra comfort.
  • Bring extra underwear.
  • Bring a Gas-X strip with you. If not MBC has a limited number of Gas-X strips for sale – ask the staff!
  • Bring a warm jacket or a sweater for the plane ride, just in case you’re cold in the hospital.
  • Sleep masks and earplugs.
  • Heating pad.

What to Pack for Weight Loss Surgery in Mexico

Updated Patient-Recommended Packing List [Facebook Post 2020]

Here is a recent packing list of what to bring to Mexico for weight loss surgery provided by one of our patients. *This is not written by or suggested by Mexico Bariatric Center. It is simply one patients’ packing list in her own words.
“Just got back from surgery 3 days ago. Wanted to post a travel list of essentials while it was fresh in my mind.

  1. Heating Pad – #1, do not forget, it helps with gas pain.
  2. Six foot charging cords and charging plug for phone/tablet.
  3. Light robe to wear if you prefer over hospital gowns.
  4. Wash clothes if you use them. They only have towels.
  5. Slippers for the hospital. Slide-on preferred, your belly will be too sore to bend down to put on shoes. Also, wear slide-on-type shoes in the airport… You have to take off shoes to get through security, and again, you WILL NOT feel like bending over to tie your shoes afterward.
  6. Bullion cubes for your flights/airport, and to add to the crappy broth at the hotel.
  7. SENSITIVE SKIN XL BANDAIDS…you will have 5 laparoscopic incisions, so bring at least 20 of them. Let me stress, get the SENSITIVE SKIN kind.
  8. Bare basics for toiletry items, skincare, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, hair ties. That’s it.
  9. 2-3 comfortable masks. You will wear it at the airport, on flights, and at any time you aren’t in a room at the hospital.
  10. Loose waisted comfortable cotton clothes, pack 2 outfits max, maybe 3 pairs of underwear because full liquid diets mean you cannot trust a fart is gonna stay a fart.
  11. I brought gas-x, liquid Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, and diarrhea tabs, all chewable/dissolvable, but did not need any of them. Still, better safe than sorry, right?
  12. A large yellow mailer envelope…you get LOTS of paperwork through your stay, and you want to keep them, but you won’t want to look at them at the time, so this is a place to consolidate them.
  13. Your normal travel documents, driver’s license, passport, cash, debit/credit card. MAKE SURE to call your bank to alert them of travel dates and that you MAY have charges from CA as well as Tijuana. I brought $250 cash, but it was nice to use my debit card at the pharmacy in Tijuana.
  14. My cell phone carrier (T-Mobile) automatically rolled over and worked in Mexico without me having to do anything, but call your cell phone carrier and let them throw, see if you need to add a short-term International roaming to your plan.
  15. Call your airline for the San Diego leg of your trip and all connections for your trip home. Arrange to CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE on the trip home, even if you have to pay. You will be too sore to drag a carry on through the airports. Also, let your airline know you will need wheelchair transport to/between gates on the way home. Yes, you need to walk, but those concourses are LONG in the airports and you will NOT be up to those walks 2 days post-op from major abdominal surgery. Walk around your gate area in the airport, not between gates.
  16. Bring a decent sized personal item for the airports…like a backpack instead of a purse, or a medium-sized messenger bag. Carry your home meds with you, in original pill bottles. You’ll put your discharge meds in here as well, all of your hospital/discharge documents, personal documents, money, passport, bullion cubes, masks, chapstick, hand sanitizer, etc.

That’s all I can think of that I really absolutely could not do without. As a woman, I would have packed just-in-case period supplies had Mother Nature not helped me out the week before I left.”

Do’s and Dont’s

Don’t let unrealistic fears and anxiety get in the way of your comfort as you prepare for surgery. Don’t wait any longer to have surgery, change your life now. Waiting may be your biggest regret. With patients losing 65-75% of their excess body weight one year after weight loss surgery, literally, every day makes a huge difference.

  • Enjoy your favorite meal before starting your pre-op diet going into surgery. Taste buds change, and you have to follow a pre-op diet and post-op diet. Your eating habits will change.
  • No long fingernails, artificial nails, or nail polish.
  • Relax and get sleep before the big day.
  • Don’t trust “gas,” as it may not be just “gas.”
  • Don’t be afraid to ask any of the hospital staff questions. Communication is key.
  • Three essentials: After surgery Sip, Sip, Sip – Walk, Walk, Walk –  Breathe, Breathe, Breathe.
  • Don’t be scared of being hungry, the surgery typically helps with hunger after surgery.
  • Don’t be scared of pain or comfort during or after the surgery. The staff is there to make you as comfortable as possible and they will take good care of you.
  • Relax and enjoy being taken care of by the staff. Remember that they are there for you.
  • Wear compression socks on the way back.

So What is the First Step to Getting Weight Loss Surgery?

Who knew a phone call could be so hard. Mexico Bariatric Center has made it easy to get affordable, safe, and quality weight loss surgery in Mexico. The medical tourism industry in Mexico is booming, and MBC is one of the leaders of Mexico bariatric surgery. It’s time to find out what your life is truly meant to be, and we can help get you there.

Why Choose Mexico Bariatric Center

Mexico Bariatric Center®, the number 1 medical tourism operator for weight loss surgery in Mexico, has been attracting many travel tourists across the border to Mexico. MBC has changed so many lives for the better with its quality and affordable all-inclusive gastric sleeve packages in Tijuana.

Haidee Before and After Gastric Sleeve 2019

  1. We have some of the most sought-after trusted, board-certified bariatric surgeons with the lowest complication rates in the industry.
  2. We have every staff member in place to make your experience perfect. Top-notch patient coordinators, nutrition coach program, and surgeon liaison accompany you every step of your journey.
  3. We have one of the biggest bariatric surgery support groups with past patients who will help you all along.

At Mexico Bariatric Center, we take care of our patients like they are family. Come and join the MBC Family!

Pack With Me For Weight Loss Surgery

Related: