General Surgery in Tijuana

General surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with a wide range of common ailments on almost any part of the body but typically focuses on treating diseases and injuries of the abdomen, including the esophagus, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, liver, appendix, gallbladder, and bile ducts. It also deals with diseases that involve the breasts, skin, soft tissue, digestive system, and endocrine system glands. 

Despite the term “general,” general surgeons are highly skilled surgeons. They can be found practicing many types of surgery, but they may also specialize in a type of surgery, such as treating cancer, which requires the skill to perform procedures on multiple areas of the body. 

Some common surgeries that are performed by general surgeons are as follows:

• Appendectomy.
• Breast surgery for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, including breast biopsy, lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery or partial mastectomy), and mastectomy. 
• Colon and rectal surgery, including colectomy, colostomy, and hemorrhoidectomy.
• Esophageal surgery, including esophagectomy, acid reflux surgery, and excision of an esophageal lesion.
• Gastroenterology procedures, such as gastric bypass surgery, upper GI endoscopy, and liver biopsy.
• Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy).
• Hernia repair.
• Varicose vein removal.
• Thyroid removal.
• Transplant, such as kidney and liver transplantations.
• Spleen removal.
• Wound repair.

How Long Should I Stay in Tijuana?

Your length of stay depends on the type of surgery you underwent. In general, you should wait for at least seven to ten days before you travel home, sometimes extending to 14 days. During your stay, you will need to rest as much as possible and let your body recover. In some cases, your surgeon may schedule a follow-up visit to evaluate your healing and, if needed, remove any stitches.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time can be different from one person to another, depending on the type of surgery you have and your general health. Anytime you have some sort of incision, you will have to wait until that incision has healed completely until you can go back to your full normal routine. Your surgeon will give you an idea of how long your recovery time can take. It can take a few weeks until you are allowed to return to work, and you may need to gradually increase your activity level until you can resume all of your normal activity.

What Aftercare is Required?

To speed your recovery time and avoid complications, it is important to follow the instructions you are given. Even a simple instruction, such as no baths after your surgery, may not seem meaningful, but your surgeon would not instruct it without good reason. You will need to have regular checkups after your surgery, but you can typically choose to have the checkups with your local doctor at home if you cannot make multiple travels to Tijuana. 

What's the Success Rate?

With new techniques, advanced technology, and extensive experience of general surgeons, the success and safety rate for general surgery continues to increase. For example, general surgeons can now use laparoscopic techniques or perform robot-assisted surgery to minimize the risk and increase the success rate of surgery. These new techniques are possible thanks to continuous research and advancement in general surgery. Still, no surgical procedure is risk-free. All types of surgery generally carry the risk of bleeding, infection, and damage to other organs. 

Are there Alternatives?

There is typically no alternative to general surgery. However, if your doctor suspects that you need a specific specialist for your disease or injury, they will refer you to the relevant specialist. 

General Surgery in and around Tijuana

About Tijuana

Americans travel every year in good numbers to Mexico to get specialized medical care. There are many reasons for this.

• Shorter waiting time for tests and procedures.
• Excellent technical expertise and world-class facilities
• It is less expensive than well-known hospitals in other countries
• Excellent aftercare.
• The Doctors are well qualified and experienced

Mexico attracts a lot of Americans for Medical tourism as well as people from all over the world as they get offered a good value package that combines the best medical treatment with a great vacation at a fraction of the price.

Tijuana is one such favorite destination in Mexico. It is the sixth-largest Mexican city and the largest in the state of Baja California. It has some excellent health centers that will rival any big hospital elsewhere. Some of the more common and popular surgeries that people undergo in Tijuana are Breast Augmentation, Weight Reduction, Botox treatment, and other elective surgeries.

Popular Areas in Tijuana

• The city has a very complex history and you can experience some of it by visiting the cultural center called CECUT.
• Trompo Interactive Museum can be a great place for some interactive fun for adults and children.
• A unique place to visit is the wall constructed between Tijuana Beach and Border Field State Park in San Diego. This is a strange sight and you may not want to miss this.
• La Caja is a famous art gallery that showcases the artwork of domestic and international artists.
• El Popo Market, Casino Caliente, and Catedral de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe are some of the other popular attractions of this city.
• People relish the local cuisine that consists of tacos. Food trucks and artisanal beer are also common and there are many different types of cuisines available.

Weather and Climate in Tijuana

The climate is semi-dry and akin to the Mediterranean climate. The weather remains mild throughout the year. Between November and March, there is a lot of rain and thunderstorms are common during this period. August and September are the hottest months. January is usually the coldest and Rain filled month.

Summer is the driest period. The temperature may range from 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) in the cold months to 33 °C (91 °F) during summer.

Getting around in Tijuana

Tijuana International Airport is the main airport and it serves many purposes. It is the hub for two major airlines that carry travelers to other domestic airports in Mexico. Volaris is a low-cost carrier while Aeroméxico is the flagship carrier of the country. It is also known for the Cross Border Xpress bridge that connects it to San Diego in the US. Passengers coming from the US can walk across the bridge and enter Mexico, then take a flight onwards. This airport also connects China, the USA, and many domestic airports in Mexico. Anyone can come to Tijuana directly or via the San Diego airport on the US side of the border.

There are two major highways that connect Tijuana to other cities of the country. People can take a bus connecting the city to the US and its domestic bus stations. U.S.-based Greyhound Lines and Crucero are famous. Domestic services such as Azul y Blanco de Magallanes and Transporte Efectivo Express de Tijuana operate from two different terminals in the city.

You can also opt for shared fixed-route station wagons, fixed-route taxis (somewhat expensive), and buses for local commuting. Apart from these, taxis without a fixed route, are also available. There is a Rapid transit system of buses (BRT) working particular routes now.

Tourist Visas in Tijuana

A tourist or a business traveler will need different types of visas to enter Mexico. The tourist visa is valid for six months. You can also get a visa for multiple entries or to extend your stay.

Citizens of some countries like the US, UK, and Canada do not need a visa to stay in Mexico. People who have a valid multiple entry visa for the US or the Schengen visa or have a PR in Canada do not need a separate visa to visit Mexico.

However, your passport should have a minimum validity of six months from the date of entry. You will also have to prove your financial status for the grant of a visa.

Additional Information

1. The currency of Mexico is The Mexican peso (sign $). The usual rate of exchange with other currencies is approximately $20 to $21 per euro and $18 to $19 per U.S. dollar. As in any other big city, you can use credit cards almost everywhere in Tijuana. Smaller merchants, however, prefer cash. You can use a debit card at any ATM in the city to withdraw the local currency. Both credit card and debit cards will incur some nominal charges every time you make a transaction. Ensure you are carrying a minimum amount of Pesos when you enter the country in case of an emergency. Exchange your money in an official money exchange office and not in hotels or at the airport. Tipping is voluntary. People do tip after a meal in restaurants and the usual rate is 10%.
2. Spanish, commonly known as Mexican Spanish, is the City’s local language and the government recognizes more than 60 local languages. Along the northern border and in all tourist areas many people speak English as English is easy to understand and communicate for the people in Tijuana due to its location in the state of Baja California.
3. Tijuana also has a very active and independent artist community whose internationally recognized work has earned Tijuana the title of "one of the most important new cultural meccas", Tijuana has been the inspiration for Tijuana Brass and Los Tucanes de Tijuana and, more recently, the birthplace of Nortec music style and Ruidoson.
4. Some of the major public holidays are New Year’s Day (1st January), Labor Day (1st May), and Christmas (25th December). Good Friday and Maundy Thursday are optional holidays. Independence Day on the 16th September is also a significant holiday.