I underwent VSG with Dr. Sandy Martinez in February 2026, and unfortunately, I deeply regret my decision.
At 13.5 weeks post-op, I have lost only 13.4 lbs (from 199.4 to 186 lbs), continue to experience regular hunger, and can eat far more than I was told to expect after VSG. Based on the expectations presented to me before surgery, my results have been extremely disappointing. In a public response to one of my reviews, Dr. Sandy stated that I had “a highly successful vertical sleeve gastrectomy with the removal of 70% of the stomach.” This further raised concerns for me because her own website states that gastric sleeve surgery involves removing approximately 80% of the stomach to reduce capacity and decrease production of the hunger hormone ghrelin. When I questioned this discrepancy, I was told, “You already had a small stomach,” despite prior testing approximately six months earlier showing a normal stomach.
Another concern involved being told during surgery that a hiatal hernia was discovered and repaired, resulting in an additional charge. This was surprising given that prior testing had not identified a hiatal hernia. While I understand that findings can vary, these inconsistencies significantly contributed to my loss of confidence in the overall experience and communication I received.
Also in that review, Dr. Sandy stated, “We offered to cover your travel expenses and have you return to Tijuana for an endoscopy to evaluate the sleeve internally, which you refused, and “We also offered financial compensation if you could demonstrate through an independent medical study performed by a certified physician in the United States that the surgery was improperly performed, which you also refused.” They did not offer to do either. They offered to let me return to Tijuana at my own expense, and if Dr. Sandy evaluated me and determined the surgery was inadequate, they would reimburse me. They said that if I decided to have an independent evaluation, they would “consider” a reimbursement. Also, in Dr. Sandy’s response to my review, she stated she removed 70% of my stomach, although she advertises on her website that “80%” of the stomach is removed during a VSG.
I am the one who explained that I would pursue objective testing and a review by a neutral third party in the United States, rather than relying solely on the surgeon whose work is being questioned, which is a reasonable and safer decision for any patient seeking an unbiased assessment. At no point did I request compensation in exchange for withholding a negative review because I believe prospective patients deserve access to honest feedback, both positive and negative, when evaluating a surgeon and practice.
What concerned me even more was the inconsistent and contradictory information I received from the office. Over a period of approximately three months, I was repeatedly told by both Dr. Sandy and the staff that no surgical photos or video of my procedure existed. However, after I raised concerns and requested a refund, I was then told that the hospital records every surgery, that Dr. Sandy had reviewed my surgical video, and that the footage would be provided to me.
These conflicting statements left me uncertain about which information was accurate and significantly contributed to my loss of confidence in the communication and transparency I received throughout this process. Given that laparoscopic images and videos of internal organs can appear very similar across procedures, the contradictory explanations only increased my concerns about documentation and the identification of the referenced footage.
I also experienced what I consider a serious privacy issue when I received a screenshot containing other patients’ names, procedures, and surgery dates, along with my own information. It really concerns me because this should have never happened, which shows patients’ privacy is not taken seriously.
Perhaps most disappointing was the lack of meaningful follow-up care. In over three months after surgery, no one from the office contacted me to check on my recovery, progress, or nutritional status until I reached out myself to express my concerns.
I would strongly encourage prospective patients to conduct extensive independent research before choosing this practice and to evaluate online reviews and marketing claims with a critical eye. Pay close attention to the number of before-and-after photos. For every before photo, there should also be an after photo. If there are a large number of photos before and a small number after, it should be a red flag. Is it because other patients are not satisfied with their results? According to Dr. Sandy’s website, she has performed 2,500+ bariatric surgeries over 8 years. Shouldn’t she have at least 30 to 50 patient success stories with before AND “after ” photos? Yes, she should. Unless her patients aren’t satisfied with their results. Please ignore the hype; she is very good at marketing. Instead, focus on results. Another consideration is that if you have any complications or issues after returning home, you will need to follow up with a doctor in your local area or travel back to the country where you had your procedure. So choose wisely.
I would also encourage you to examine each individual’s size before and after surgery, because what matters most are the results.
One thing I personally found notable was the sudden increase in highly positive reviews, within one week of my sharing my concerns and informing them that I would be writing an honest review, despite the practice having previously accumulated a much smaller review volume over many years. I cannot speak to the authenticity of other patients’ experiences, but I strongly encourage anyone considering surgery to look beyond ratings alone and conduct extensive independent research before making an irreversible medical decision.
For anyone considering VSG, I strongly recommend focusing on documented long-term outcomes, sustained weight-loss results, follow-up care, transparency, and revision policies before making an irreversible medical decision. Also, ask if all the nurses who will be caring for you are licensed and not students, and if they speak and understand English, because language barriers in healthcare can be fatal.
I trusted the positive reviews and marketing, but my experience did not match the expectations presented to me. From the lack of “After” photos, those individuals’ results must not match what they expected. Based on my surgical outcome and the lack of post-operative follow-up or nutritional support, I regret choosing Dr. Sandy as my surgeon. To top it all off, after I sent an email and a text message requesting to speak with Dr. Sandy directly to discuss my concerns, she never contacted me, which speaks volumes.
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