Bariatric Surgery in Mexico for Canadians

Q: How fast can I get a surgery date?

Typically 2–4 weeks after your Blueprint is approved. Compare that to years on Canadian public waitlists.

Q: What's included in the all-inclusive package?

Pre-op labs, hospital, surgeon fees, medications, hotel nights, airport pickup, and 12 months of post-op follow-up. Companion stays free at the hotel. No hidden fees — quoted in writing before deposit.

🏥 20,000+ procedures

🎓 Board-Certified · IFSO · FACS

📅 2–4 weeks to your date

👨‍👩‍👧 Family stays free · Bilingual team

The waitlist is the real cost

In Canada, bariatric surgery is "free" — if you qualify, if your province has a program, and if you can wait. Every month on the list is health that doesn't come back: diabetes progressing, joints wearing, years of your life.

See the 2026 wait times in all 10 provinces →

Choosing Mexico isn't jumping the queue — it's taking your health off hold, privately, at your own expense. Thousands of Canadians do it every year — and many recover part of the cost through Canadian tax refunds →

Not sure if you qualify? Find out in 2 minutes.

ALO evaluates candidates from BMI 30 with a weight-related condition, or BMI 35 and above. No referral, no waitlist to join — Dr. López's team reviews your answers directly.

See if I qualify →Free · no obligation

Where we operate in Mexico

Three hospital locations across Mexico. Our driver picks you up at the airport at all three.

Tijuana

Hospital Dreams

Fly to San Diego (SAN) — our driver picks you up and takes you across the border. Perfect for BC & Alberta patients.

Tijuana details →

Guadalajara

Hospital Puerta de Hierro

Direct flights from Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Calgary (YYC). Central Mexico's top private hospital.

Guadalajara details →

Puerto Vallarta

Centro Medico Joya

Direct flights from major Canadian cities. Beach-front recovery for those combining surgery with a getaway.

Puerto Vallarta details →

What each province covers in 2026

Every provincial plan funds bariatric surgery for residents who meet its criteria. The limit is capacity, not eligibility: one referral route, and a wait from referral to surgery that is measured in years.

Province	Public program and who qualifies	Wait (official or reported)
OntarioOHIP	Ontario Bariatric Network centres. Referral from a family doctor through the OBN online system. Since April 23, 2026: BMI 30–34.9 with weight-related conditions, or BMI 35+ with or without them.	No bariatric-specific wait is published; most centres run multi-year from referral to surgery. Ontario guide
QuebecRAMQ	Covered at designated centres (IUCPQ in Québec City; Sacré-Cœur and Jean-Talon in Montréal, among others). Referral from a physician or nurse practitioner; no self-referral. BMI 35+, or above 30 with weight-related conditions.	Up to 4 years, per the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal. Guide en français
British ColumbiaMSP	Two programs: Richmond Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health) and Royal Jubilee Hospital (Victoria). Referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner. Richmond: age 18+, BMI 35+ or 30–34.9 with metabolic disease, 18 months of stable mental health.	Richmond: about 2.5 years from referral to first contact (the clinic's current figure). Victoria: under one year to first clinic contact, then assessments before surgery. BC guide
AlbertaAHCIP	Five AHS Bariatric Specialty Clinics (Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer for surgery; Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat also offer medical weight management). Referral from a physician or nurse practitioner. Edmonton's Royal Alexandra clinic: Alberta resident, non-smoker, age 17–64 at referral, BMI 35+ with a comorbidity or 40+.	“At least three years” from family-doctor referral to surgery, per an AHS bariatric surgeon (CBC News, Oct 2023), with 950 people on the list. Alberta guide
SaskatchewanSaskatchewan Health	Bariatric Surgical Program in Regina: gastric bypass and sleeve, covered for Saskatchewan residents. Referral from a physician or nurse practitioner; BMI 35–70.	“36 months or greater” after the referral is accepted just to start the program, then 3–6 months of classes and 4–12 months of assessments (program FAQ).
ManitobaManitoba Health	WRHA Centre for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg: the only funded program in the province. Referral required. Age 18–70, BMI 35–65 or 30–35 with comorbidities, non-smoker, Manitoba resident.	No published wait; the program is the single entry point for the whole province. Manitoba guide
Nova ScotiaMSI	Nova Scotia Health bariatric surgery (QEII in Halifax, Dartmouth General, Colchester East Hants), after completing the Halifax Obesity Network program.	The official clock starts only after that program: QEII median 126 days to consult plus 200 days to surgery (Aug 2025–Jul 2026). Time in the pre-program pathway is not counted. Nova Scotia guide
New BrunswickNB Medicare	Covered when performed in New Brunswick hospitals with a specialist referral from your family doctor. The province publishes no dedicated bariatric program page.	No bariatric-specific wait is published; ask your family doctor for the current estimate when they refer you.
Newfoundland and LabradorMCP	Provincial Bariatric Surgery Clinic at the Health Sciences Centre, St. John's (since 2011). Referral through primary care, then an education session and a nurse-practitioner assessment. Age 19–70; BMI 35–39.9 with a comorbidity, or 40+.	Not published.
Prince Edward IslandHealth PEI	No bariatric surgery program on the Island. Health PEI can fund a referral to another province's program with prior approval.	Follows the receiving province's list, usually in the Maritimes.
Yukon, NWT, NunavutTerritorial plans	No in-territory program. Residents are referred to a provincial program (typically BC, Alberta or Ontario) with prior approval from the territorial plan.	Follows the receiving province's list.

What this means for you. Eligibility is not the problem: every province funds bariatric surgery, and several now start at BMI 30 with a related condition. The problem is a single referral route and a wait measured in years, during which diabetes, joints and mobility keep getting worse. ALO uses the same medical criteria (BMI 30+ with a related condition, or BMI 35+), needs no referral, and gives you a surgery date in 2–4 weeks. It is private and self-pay: your provincial plan will not reimburse surgery abroad, but the federal medical expense tax credit may return part of the cost. Compare 2026 wait times by province →

Sources (checked September 2026): Ontario Bariatric Network, referral criteria · IUCPQ · CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal · Vancouver Coastal Health, Richmond clinic · Island Health · Alberta Health Services · Royal Alexandra Adult Bariatric Surgery Clinic · CBC News, Oct 19 2023 · Saskatchewan Health Authority, program FAQ · WRHA, am I a candidate · Nova Scotia wait times · New Brunswick surgical wait times · NL Bariatric Surgery Cohort Study protocol · Health PEI, out-of-province services

Serving patients across Canada

Every province has its own wait times and coverage rules. We built resources for the ones we serve most.

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Alberta

Calgary YYC + Edmonton YEG hubs · AHS wait explained

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British Columbia

Vancouver YVR → San Diego border · BC hub

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Manitoba

Winnipeg YWG via connections · Central hub

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Nova Scotia

Halifax YHZ via Toronto · Maritime hub

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Ontario

OHIP program & wait times explained

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All 10 provinces

2026 wait times comparison table

Paying for surgery as a Canadian

Quotes are in U.S. dollars and put in writing before you pay anything. Here is how the money side works for patients coming from Canada.

$4,500 USD

All-inclusive, from

Roughly $6,200 CAD at recent exchange rates; the CAD amount moves with the rate on the day you pay. Surgeon, hospital, anesthesia, labs, medications, hotel nights, transfers and 12 months of follow-up are included. See all prices

$500 USD

Deposit to reserve your date

The balance is paid before surgery; partial payments in advance are possible. No surprise fees: the written quote is the price.

Medicard

Financing for Canadian residents

Medicard is our Canadian medical-financing partner; the U.S. lenders on our financing page do not accept Canadian applicants. Your coordinator tells you the exact amount to request. Financing options

Tax credit

Recover part of the cost

Bariatric surgery abroad and, in many cases, the travel to get there can qualify for the federal medical expense tax credit on your return. How the tax refund works

Why Canadians choose ALO

You're not going to a stranger. This is what you're getting.

20,000+

Procedures performed

20+

Years experience

IFSO

Peer-reviewed publications

2–4

Weeks to your date

Dr. Alejandro López personally reviews every Canadian patient questionnaire — he meets you before surgery, is bedside day of, and follows up for 12 months.

Learn about Dr. López →

Is it safe?

Accredited hospitals + a board-certified surgeon with 20,000+ procedures and peer-reviewed publications. We include 12-month remote follow-up and offer optional complication insurance for peace of mind back home.

Read the doctor-reviewed safety guide →Complication insurance details →

Canadians who stopped waiting

Real Google reviews from Canadian patients.

"I'm a nurse and I researched the ALO team thoroughly before booking. Dr. López is incredibly well educated and dedicated to his craft. Two years later, my stomach looks impeccably done and I've maintained the weight loss. My province reimbursed a big chunk of the cost. Would I go back? Hands down, 100% yes."

Emily

Canada · Nurse · Puerto Vallarta location

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I was 383 pounds, homebound, and had lost my independence. My best friend put me in a wheelchair from Alberta to Tijuana and I had the best medical care you could ask for. If you think you can't do it — you can DO IT."

Stella B

Alberta · Tijuana location

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral from my Canadian doctor?

No. Your assessment starts online — fill our Blueprint questionnaire and Dr. López's team reviews your medical history directly. No family doctor referral, no provincial gatekeeping.

Can I use my provincial health coverage (OHIP / AHS / MSP) in Mexico?

No — this is private, self-pay surgery. However, some costs may qualify for the Canada Revenue Agency's medical expense tax credit. See our tax refund guide.

What if I have a complication after I return to Canada?

Your provincial plan covers ER visits like any other emergency. We include 12 months of remote follow-up with Dr. López's team, and offer optional complication insurance — details here.

How fast can I get a surgery date?

Typically 2–4 weeks after your Blueprint is approved. Compare that to years on Canadian public waitlists — see 2026 wait times.

What's included in the all-inclusive package?

Everything for the surgery itself: pre-op labs, hospital, surgeon fees, medications, hotel nights, airport pickup, and 12 months of post-op follow-up. Companion stays free at your hotel. No hidden fees — quoted in writing before you deposit.

Does OHIP, RAMQ, MSP or AHCIP reimburse surgery done in Mexico?

No. Provincial plans pay for bariatric surgery only inside their own programs, or in another province with prior approval. Surgery in Mexico is private and self-pay. What many Canadians do recover is part of the cost through the federal medical expense tax credit, which can include eligible travel; see our tax refund guide.

I was told I qualify at BMI 30 in Canada. Do I qualify with ALO?

Yes. ALO evaluates candidates from BMI 30 with a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea or hypertension, and from BMI 35 without one. Ontario (since April 2026), Manitoba, Quebec and the Richmond program in BC use the same BMI 30 threshold for their public programs, so if you qualify at home you almost certainly qualify with us, without the years on the list. Check in 2 minutes.

Will my Canadian family doctor keep seeing me after surgery in Mexico?

Yes, and they should. Routine visits and blood work are covered by your provincial plan as usual. You go home with a discharge summary and a 12-month follow-up plan to share with them, and our team stays in contact remotely for that full year. Some public bariatric clinics only follow patients operated inside their own program, which is exactly why our follow-up runs 12 months.

Is the price fixed in Canadian dollars?

Quotes are in U.S. dollars and locked in writing once you place the $500 USD deposit. The Canadian-dollar equivalent depends on the exchange rate on the day you pay, which is why we show CAD figures as approximate.

Can I fly into San Diego instead of Tijuana?

Yes, and most Canadians do. Fly to San Diego (SAN); our driver meets you at arrivals and crosses you into Tijuana through the medical lane, usually under an hour door to door. Puerto Vallarta has seasonal nonstop flights from several Canadian cities, and Guadalajara usually connects through Mexico City or a U.S. hub.

Ready to stop waiting?

Get your personalized Bariatric Blueprint — reviewed by Dr. López's team in 24 hours.

🛡 No obligation · 2 minutes · Reviewed in 24 hours