Bariatric Surgery for Los Angeles — Drive or Fly to Mexico, Save up to 75%
Skip the $35,000 UCLA or Cedars-Sinai self-pay quote. Drive 2.5 hours down I-5 to Tijuana, fly LAX direct to TIJ on Volaris, fly LAX → SAN with ALO pickup into TJ, or fly LAX → Vallarta or Guadalajara. All 3 ALO destinations (TJ, GDL, PVR) accessible from Los Angeles. Internationally accredited hospital, board-certified bariatric surgeons, gastric sleeve from $4,500 USD all-inclusive.
Three Ways to Reach ALO Bariatrics from LA
Drive down I-5, fly direct from LAX, or combine surgery with a recovery vacation in Puerto Vallarta or Guadalajara. Most LA patients pick the route that fits their schedule and travel preferences.
Drive I-5 to Tijuana
Straight shot down I-5 South. Cross at San Ysidro or Otay Mesa, our coordinator picks you up at the border. Perfect for LA patients who prefer to control the trip end-to-end.
- Distance: ~135 miles from downtown LA
- SENTRI lane recommended for return
- Mexican auto insurance ~$15/day
- Free parking available on U.S. side at CBX lot
Fly LAX → Tijuana (CBX)
Direct flights LAX → TIJ on Volaris and Aeromexico from ~$200 round-trip. Land at TJ International, ALO driver picks you up at arrivals — hospital is 15 min away. Most popular LA route.
- Volaris, Aeromexico, VivaAerobus daily
- Flight time: 1h 25min
- No border lines (airport-to-airport)
- Or use Cross Border Xpress from SAN
Fly to Vallarta or Guadalajara
Direct flights LAX → PVR (Puerto Vallarta) or GDL (Guadalajara) from ~$400. Both ALO locations offer the same surgeons and accreditation, plus a beach or city recovery setting.
- LAX → PVR ~3h · Beach recovery
- LAX → GDL ~3.5h · Highland city, lower altitude effects
- Same Dr. López, same packages
- Bring a companion — hotels accommodate
Fly LAX → SAN + ALO pickup to Tijuana (no driving required)
For LA patients who don't want to drive 2.5 hours but also don't want to fly into TJ airport directly, the third option is fly LAX → SAN. Southwest, Delta, United, American, and Alaska all fly direct from ~$80 round-trip (30-min flight, 25+ daily). Our ALO driver picks you up curbside at SAN arrivals, crosses you into Tijuana via a Medical/CBX dedicated lane — door-to-door under 2 hours from LAX, no rental car, no Uber, no border-line stress. Often cheaper than LAX → TIJ direct on Volaris.
- LAX → SAN direct on SW/UA/Delta/AA/Alaska
- From ~$80 RT — cheapest TJ option from LA
- Free ALO pickup curbside at SAN arrivals
- Medical/CBX lane crossing — no border wait
Your Los Angeles → Mexico Bariatric Trip
From your kitchen in LA to the operating room and back — a typical timeline whether you choose to drive to Tijuana or fly direct to TJ, Vallarta, or Guadalajara.
Free evaluation + flights
Submit BMI + medical history online. Coordinator confirms eligibility within 24h. Book LAX flight or plan your I-5 drive. Pre-op labs locally if convenient.
Travel to Mexico
Fly LAX → TIJ/PVR/GDL or drive I-5 South. ALO driver picks you up at airport or border. Check in to hospital-adjacent hotel.
Pre-op labs & consultation
Blood work, EKG, anesthesiologist + bariatric surgeon consultation. NPO after midnight (no solid food).
Surgery (45–90 min)
Laparoscopic gastric sleeve, bypass, or revision performed at internationally accredited hospital. Recovery suite immediately after.
Hospital monitoring
Walking, hydration, pain management. Discharged 24–36 hours post-op to nearby hotel for continued recovery.
Hotel recovery + surgeon visit
Daily coordinator check-ins, post-op follow-up, light meal progression begins. Beach walks (Vallarta) or hotel gym.
Final clearance + return to LA
Surgeon clears you to travel. Fly TIJ/PVR/GDL → LAX or drive I-5 North. Most LA patients are home in under a week.
Telehealth follow-ups
Video calls with bilingual nutritionist + surgeon at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3, 6, and 12 months. Lab schedule emailed to your LA primary care provider.
Why Los Angeles Patients Choose ALO Bariatrics
No $35,000 UCLA self-pay bill, no waiting for Kaiser approval, no insurance denials. LA patients have Mexico's top bariatric program just a short flight or drive away.
Skip Cedars/UCLA pricing
LA hospital self-pay bariatric runs $30K–$40K. ALO from $4,500 USD all-inclusive — same accredited standards, same procedure types, fraction of the cost.
Multiple route options
Direct LAX flights to TJ, Vallarta, or Guadalajara. Drive I-5 if you prefer. Pick the route that fits your work schedule, mobility, and travel comfort.
Bilingual concierge team
English-speaking surgeons, nurses, and coordinators. Familiar with LA patient expectations — no language friction during pre-op, surgery, or recovery.
Optional recovery vacation
Choose Puerto Vallarta beach recovery or Guadalajara cultural recovery. Same surgeons, same packages, plus a recovery setting your insurance won't cover stateside.
Los Angeles vs Mexico — Cost Breakdown
Self-pay bariatric surgery costs at LA hospitals (UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Keck Medicine) vs ALO Bariatrics all-inclusive packages. Your savings include surgeon fees, hospital stay, anesthesia, pre-op labs, post-op meds, and bilingual concierge.
Pricing approximations. Final quote depends on BMI, comorbidities, and selected hospital (Tijuana, Puerto Vallarta, or Guadalajara). Add ~$200–$400 for round-trip LAX flights. Financing partners available for U.S. patients with $99/month plans.
Los Angeles Patients Trust ALO Bariatrics
"Flew LAX to TJ on Volaris for $180 round-trip. Surgery was the next day. Total bill including flights, surgery, hotel — under $5,500. My UCLA surgeon quoted $34K cash."
"Drove down with my husband from Pasadena, made a road trip out of it. ALO coordinator met us at San Ysidro, hospital was clean and modern. Home in 5 days, lost 70 lbs in 6 months."
"Picked Puerto Vallarta for the recovery — best decision. Walked the malecón daily during recovery, surgeon checked on me at the hotel. Saved $30K and got a vacation."
Before & After — Verified ALO Bariatrics Patients
Six real patient transformations after gastric sleeve, bypass, and revision surgery at ALO Bariatrics. Average loss: 65–110 lbs in the first year.
5+ Procedures for Los Angeles Patients
Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, duodenal switch, SADI-S, revision surgery — performed laparoscopically by Dr. Alejandro López and his bilingual team. Each procedure has its own eligibility (BMI, comorbidities), technique, recovery timeline, and price for LA County patients to compare.
Compare All Procedures & Prices →
Los Angeles Bariatric Surgery — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly direct from LAX to Tijuana for bariatric surgery?
How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Tijuana?
Is bariatric surgery cheaper in Mexico than UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, or Keck?
Which Mexico location should I pick: Tijuana, Vallarta, or Guadalajara?
Should I drive or fly from Los Angeles for bariatric surgery?
Can I fly into San Diego (SAN) and have ALO drive me to Tijuana?
Can I combine my bariatric trip with vacation in Puerto Vallarta or Guadalajara?
Do I need a passport to travel from LA to Mexico for bariatric surgery?
Are there ALO Bariatrics patients from Los Angeles County?
Plan Your Los Angeles → Mexico Trip
Tijuana Hospital
Closest ALO location for LA patients — 1.5h flight or 2.5h drive. Surgical suites, recovery rooms, accreditation details.
View Tijuana hospital →Puerto Vallarta Hospital
Beach recovery option for LA patients — 3h flight. Centro Médico Joya, ocean-view recovery hotels nearby.
View Vallarta hospital →Meet Dr. Alejandro López
Board-certified bariatric surgeon, FACS, 20+ years experience. Operates in all 3 ALO locations. Member of ASMBS, IFSO.
Read full bio →10-Step Surgical Process
From your free LA evaluation through long-term follow-up: complete timeline of what to expect at each stage.
See the full process →Financing for U.S. Patients
3 financing partners working with U.S. credit profiles. Plans starting at $99/month, soft credit pulls available.
Compare financing →IRS Tax Deduction Guide
California residents can deduct medical travel + surgery on Schedule A. Read the full eligibility breakdown.
Tax deduction guide →Ready to plan your Los Angeles → Mexico bariatric trip?
Free evaluation in under 24 hours. Bilingual coordinator answers your questions about flights, drive routes, financing, and surgery timing. No commitment required.