Bariatric surgery in Tijuana, Mexico, with Dr. Edgar Serrano
Bariatric surgery options in Tijuana with weight-loss surgeon Dr. Edgar Serrano include the gastric sleeve, his One-Port Sleeve (a single-incision gastric sleeve), gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass, duodenal switch and revision. Cross Border Medical Connection Inc. coordinates your trip, from San Diego pickup to your hospital stay. Prices are listed for two hospitals, and you meet your surgeon for a consultation as you shape your plan.
Your health deserves personalized attention.
What does bariatric surgery cost in Tijuana?
Prices with Dr. Edgar Serrano depend on the procedure and the hospital you choose: Rio Medica or New City Medical Plaza. A gastric sleeve, for example, is $3,795 USD at Rio Medica and $4,595 at New City Medical Plaza. Our coordinators stay with you. Revision is quoted after your surgeon reviews your case.
Zelle, cash, or cashier's check price
Prices by hospital
| Procedure | Rio Medica | New City Medical Plaza |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric sleeveTrip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights | Rio Medica $3,795 USD | New City Medical Plaza $4,595 USD |
| Dr. Serrano's One-Port Sleeve, a single-incision gastric sleeveTrip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights | Rio Medica $4,095 USD | New City Medical Plaza $4,895 USD |
| Gastric bypassTrip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights | Rio Medica $4,795 USD | New City Medical Plaza $5,595 USD |
| Mini gastric bypassTrip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights | Rio Medica $4,795 USD | New City Medical Plaza $5,595 USD |
| Duodenal switch / SADI-STrip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights | Rio Medica $5,895 USD | New City Medical Plaza $6,695 USD |
| Revision surgeryTrip: set after your surgeon reviews your case | Personalized quote | |
All prices in U.S. dollars (USD). Trip lengths follow Dr. Serrano's published plan. Your written quote confirms your total and your nights.
Prices as published by Dr. Serrano at dredgarserrano.com, as of October 23, 2026.
Your price includes:
A driver from the transportation company we hire picks you up in San Diego and drops you right back.
A hotel night before your procedure
Pre-op tests and labs
Anesthesia for your surgery
Your surgery and hospital stay, with 24-hour nursing care in the hospital
One team, from pickup through recovery.
For anything not on this list, your written quote confirms whether it's included.
For revision surgery: Your inclusions, including any hotel nights, are confirmed in your written quote.
Not included
Flights
Extra hotel nights
Additional procedures
Your companion's meals and personal expenses
What can change your quote?
- The hospital you choose. Your quote shows the price for that hospital.
- Payment method. Listed totals are for Zelle, cash, or cashier's check, and your written plan shows your total for each method.
- Extra hotel nights or additional procedures, which aren't included.
Your written quote lists what's included and what isn't, before you travel.
Most U.S. insurances do not cover in Mexico, so unfortunately we're not allowed to take them. Check with your insurance first.
Pay by Zelle, cash, cashier's check, credit card, PayPal, PayPal Credit, or Apple Pay. There is a 4% transaction fee for credit card payments.
Which weight-loss procedures do we coordinate?
-
Gastric sleeve
Removes most of the stomach; what's left is a narrow tube.
- Rio Medica
- $3,795 USD
- New City Medical Plaza
- $4,595 USD
Trip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights
-
Dr. Serrano's One-Port Sleeve, a single-incision gastric sleeve
The same sleeve through one small incision, usually at the navel.
- Rio Medica
- $4,095 USD
- New City Medical Plaza
- $4,895 USD
Trip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights
-
Gastric bypass
A small pouch joined lower in the small intestine.
- Rio Medica
- $4,795 USD
- New City Medical Plaza
- $5,595 USD
Trip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights
-
Mini gastric bypass (OAGB)
A long pouch with one connection.
- Rio Medica
- $4,795 USD
- New City Medical Plaza
- $5,595 USD
Trip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights
-
Duodenal switch and SADI-S
A sleeve plus an intestinal bypass.
- Rio Medica
- $5,895 USD
- New City Medical Plaza
- $6,695 USD
Trip: 3 nights, 4 days · Hospital: 2 nights
-
Revision surgery
Changes or converts an earlier weight-loss surgery.
Personalized quote
Trip: set after your surgeon reviews your case
Which weight-loss surgery is right for me?
The right surgery depends on your health, your goals and any earlier surgery. A sleeve doesn't reroute your intestine. Gastric bypass is often discussed if you have reflux. Duodenal switch and SADI-S bring the most nutrition needs. Your surgeon reviews your history and tests, then recommends what fits you.
| Procedure | How it works | Reroutes intestine? | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric sleeve | Removes most of the stomach; what's left is a narrow tube | No | No |
| One-Port Sleeve | The same sleeve, through one small incision, usually at the navel | No | No |
| Gastric bypass | Small pouch joined lower in the small intestine; two connections | Yes | Difficult |
| Mini gastric bypass | Long, narrow pouch; one connection | Yes | Can be converted, or sometimes reversed, as a new operation |
| Duodenal switch | Sleeve plus an intestinal bypass; two connections | Yes | Ask your surgeon |
| SADI-S | Sleeve plus an intestinal bypass; one connection | Yes | Ask your surgeon |
| Revision | Changes or converts an earlier surgery | Depends on the plan | Depends on the plan |
Sources: NIDDK, ASMBS, a 2020 review (PMID 31982993).
What does the research say?
Studies report average weight loss after these operations. Individual results vary. Each number below names its measure and its source. Your surgeon can explain what the numbers mean for your health.
- Total weight loss: many people lose an average of 15% to 30% of their starting weight, depending on the operation (NIDDK).
- Sleeve vs bypass: in one trial that followed people for 5 years, average excess weight loss was 49% after a sleeve and 57% after a gastric bypass (SLEEVEPASS, JAMA, 2018).
- Nutrition: guidelines call for regular vitamin and mineral checks after a sleeve, bypass or duodenal switch (ASMBS nutrition guideline, 2017).
What happens after you're home?
After surgery, Dr. Edgar Serrano's team gives you nutrition and recovery guidance. Weight-loss surgery needs regular follow-up, vitamins and lab checks, so before you travel, plan which doctor will see you at home, and bring copies of your surgery records to that first visit.
Sources: NIDDK: Bariatric surgery overview · ASMBS nutrition guideline, 2017
How does coordination work, step by step?
Our coordinators handle the travel logistics, start to finish, while your surgeon handles your care. You start by requesting your plan, then meet Dr. Edgar Serrano for a consultation. After that, you get a written quote and a trip plan. A driver from the transportation company we hire picks you up in San Diego and drops you right back. Your timing depends on your tests and your surgeon.
- Request your plan from a coordinator.
- Have your consultation with the surgeon, in person or by video.
- Get your written quote and choose your hospital.
- Pickup in San Diego and transportation to Tijuana.
- Pre-op tests and labs, then a hotel night before surgery.
- Your surgery, then 2 nights in the hospital.
- A driver from the transportation company we hire picks you up in San Diego and drops you right back.
- Follow-up and nutrition guidance after you return home.
What should you do before you travel?
- Line up a doctor at home who will see you for follow-up.
- Ask your surgeon for your follow-up plan and records in writing.
- Follow your pre-op diet as your surgeon's team instructs.
- Bring a valid passport or other document accepted for land re-entry, and check the current rules with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- Fly into San Diego, and set your return date with your surgeon's team.
- Tell our coordinators if a companion is coming with you.
Where does surgery take place?
Dr. Serrano operates at Rio Medica and New City Medical Plaza in Tijuana. Your quote shows the price for the hospital you choose. The hospitals we coordinate with are less than a mile from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Rio Medica
New City Medical Plaza
If your surgery is at New City Medical Plaza, the Quartz Hotel & Spa is in the same complex, in its own building connected to the hospital. Its Care Rooms are set up for recovery, with a motorized adjustable bed, assistance buttons by the bed and in the bathroom, and a shower with a chair and grab bars. Hotel details are from the Quartz Hotel & Spa website as of October 24, 2026.
Dr. Edgar Serrano
Dr. Edgar Serrano holds board certification in general and bariatric surgery and is certified in aesthetic surgery.
Bariatric surgery FAQ
What does Cross Border Medical Connection Inc. do, and what do the surgeon and hospital do?
We're concierge patient coordinators. We coordinate your scheduling, transportation, hotel, and communication with Dr. Edgar Serrano and his team in Tijuana, Mexico. We coordinate your care. Your doctor and hospital provide it. Medical questions go to your surgeon, and it all starts when you request your plan.
Do I qualify for weight-loss surgery?
Your surgeon decides, based on your health history and current guidelines. The 2022 guidelines from ASMBS and IFSO look at your weight together with related diseases, for example type 2 diabetes, and they use a lower threshold for people of Asian descent. A coordinator can help you set up a consultation, where your surgeon reviews your history and tests.
How do I choose a bariatric surgeon in Tijuana?
Choosing a surgeon is your decision. Good questions for any surgeon include how often they perform your operation, which hospital they use, what happens if a problem shows up after you're home, and what your follow-up looks like. Dr. Edgar Serrano helps you choose the procedure that fits you best. Meet him for a consultation to shape the plan that fits you.
How long will I stay in Tijuana?
For a primary procedure, Dr. Serrano's published plan is 3 nights and 4 days: 1 hotel night before surgery, then 2 hospital nights. For a revision, your plan, stay and price are set after your surgeon reviews your case. Many people return to light work in about a month, once their surgeon's team clears them. Plan on about four to six weeks before heavy lifting, and only once your surgeon clears you.
What will I eat after weight-loss surgery?
After surgery, your diet moves in stages over several weeks per your surgeon's plan, starting with liquids, then soft foods, then solid foods (NIDDK). You'll eat small meals, chew well and take vitamins and minerals for life, as your surgeon's team prescribes. Before surgery, you'll follow a pre-op diet, which can help shrink your liver. Your surgeon's team gives you a plan, including how long it lasts.
Can a companion come with me?
Yes. A companion can stay with you in your lodging. Your quote shows any added cost. Your companion's meals and personal expenses aren't included. Let our coordinators know if someone is coming with you, and before you decide, your written plan lists what's included and what isn't.
About Cross Border Medical Connection Inc.
Cross Border Medical Connection Inc. is a team of concierge patient coordinators in San Diego and Tijuana. Dr. Edgar Serrano is your weight-loss surgeon at Rio Medica or New City Medical Plaza in Tijuana, and our coordinators are with you from pickup to recovery.
Sources
- NIDDK: Bariatric surgery overview
- NIDDK: Definition and facts
- NIDDK: Types of bariatric surgery
- ASMBS/IFSO indications guideline, 2022 (PubMed)
- SLEEVEPASS trial, JAMA, 2018 (PubMed)
- PCORnet cohort study, Annals of Internal Medicine, 2018 (PubMed)
- Bariatric surgery outcomes review, JAMA Surgery, 2014 (PubMed)
- ASMBS nutrition guideline, 2017 (PubMed)
- ASMBS: Endorsed procedures
- MedlinePlus: Weight loss surgery
- CDC: Medical tourism
- Dr. Edgar Serrano's published prices
Last updated:
Body contouring after weight loss
After major weight loss, some people choose loose skin removal and body contouring. We coordinate that next chapter on our dedicated guide to loose skin removal in Tijuana, with a personalized written quote after your surgeon reviews your case.
Your next step
Select “Request My Plan” and fill out the short form. A coordinator will reach out to answer your questions.
Your health deserves personalized attention.
Request My PlanCross Border Medical Connection Inc. is a coordination company, not a medical provider.