Mexico Prominence in Medical Technology Development

Mexico has long been recognized as a world leader in medical procedures and the destination of many a medical traveler. But the country just to America's south has another less easily visible strength: its powerful medical research and development resources. With low fees for researchers and great equipment available at low cost, Mexico is becoming the choice for anyone who is serious about medical technology.

This HUB will explore the various technologies that are being developed within the borders of Mexico. You'll learn about some of the most recent advancements that are benefiting men and women today, and you'll learn about what's on the horizon just waiting to be discovered.

One of the recent pioneering developments to come from Mexico is a new alternative to spinal fusion surgery, a low-invasive, reversible procedure that is performed with only local anesthesia and a higher success rate for ending chronic lower back pain This revolutionary surgery is called LDS, or Lumbar Dynamic Stabilization, and it is a life-changing procedure for anyone suffering from degenerative disc disease or other types of chronic back pain. The LDS procedure differs from the spinal fusion surgery in a fundamental way:

The spinal fusion solution works on the simple principle that motion is causing the pain, and therefore stopping the motion will stop the pain. Every detail is carefully planned out to ensure accuracy around the delicate spinal cord. Once the surgery plan has been checked and re-checked, the doctors will graft a piece of bone onto the vertebrae in question, inciting a biological response that will eventually cause the bone to fuse the two vertebrae together, permanently limiting the range of spinal motion.

However, with only a 70% success rate and  a host of possible complications – not to mention a very high price tag typically not covered by insurance - spinal fusion is a somewhat tarnished as a ‘gold standard’ for treating lower back pain surgery 

Now a new back stabilizing technology gives patients a chance to eliminate pain, restore flexibility, and with a vanishingly low complication rate.  LDS, or Lumbar Dynamic Stabilization spinal surgery, is so advanced it is still in clinical trial stages in the U.S.  LDS spinal surgery is available exclusively in Mexico and Europe; more than 400 procedures have been performed in the last two years, with all patients demonstrating overwhelmingly positive results. The global protocol for the LDS spinal surgery was authored by a spinal surgeon operating out of Hospital Angeles Tijuana, the exclusive destination for LDS in Baja California.  The affordability of LDS is as startling as its efficacy; at only 15-20% of typical U.S. spinal fusion surgery costs, LDS spinal surgery can deliver a whole generation of Americans from the ongoing problem of debilitating, chronic lower back pain and invasive, mobility-destroying surgical solutions.   

LDS spinal surgery is commonly available at the best private Mexico hospitals on the forefront of current research, and can be performed as part of medical travel. Working with a medical travel company is the best way to take advantage of the spinal fusion surgery, as planning for the full surgery can become complex. With a company, all the logistics will be taken care of. You'll know that your surgery will be performed at one of the top Mexico hospitals, and you'll have the comfort of relaxing as every detail of your trip is planned. There will be no questions, and nothing left for you to discover while in Mexico. You will be able to focus solely on your health.

The advantages of Mexican technological advancement don't end with LDS spinal surgery. Many men and women who suffer from problematic eye conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are finding the help they need south of the border. These conditions in particular can be difficult to find performed at a reasonable cost within the United States. They are covered only sporadically by insurance, and can easily weight in at multiple thousands of dollars per eye. Yet in Mexico, the most advanced versions of these treatments can be obtained for much less. In addition to standard LASIK, you will find Mexico doctors who perform all varieties of LASIK: standard, custom wave front, and the newly available presbyopia LASIK so advanced it is still in clinical trial stages in the U.S.  Ophthalmologists in Mexico’s top private hospitals have the same training and skill level as their American counterparts, but are able to offer their services for much less due to the lower overhead cost of operating in Mexico. This is particularly valuable with a procedure like presbyopia LASIK.

Presbyopia is a term that literally means "old eyes." As our eyes age, they begin to naturally lose some of the fiber flexibility they had when you were younger, becoming crystalline where they should be pliable, and thus breaking where they should be bending. The result is vision problems, particularly farsightedness. Presbyopia should be distinguished from other common eye problems, such as the need for glasses to read or from childhood. Remember that presbyopia is a constant ailment, not just one that occurs during reading. Remember also that it is something that comes with old age, and is thus impossible for a child to have.

Presbyopia LASIK is a specialized procedure, a branch of the usual LASIK surgery family. Whereas normal LASIK is designed to correct the types of vision problems that occur from birth and cause nearsightedness, farsightedness, and more, presbyopia LASIK works specifically for those suffering from presbyopia. The damaged fibers can be altered and the lens changed to make it easier for you to see and to stop the progression of the degeneration.

There are many things to take into account when deciding whether or not to have presbyopia LASIK. As presbyopia rarely occurs before age 40, ensure that your vision problems are actually caused by the degeneration. There are myriad other causes that could explain it; don't rush to presbyopia as the first one without consulting your eye doctor. A visit to the doctor's office is vital in creating a plan to get back your vision. In addition, presbyopia is more common in older men and women, which makes the surgery all the more tricky. Don't be deterred simply because the procedure may be more complex; it is still safe when performed by the right doctor, and still has a high success rate.

Also, consider how your individual vision pattern overlaps. There are some patients who have excellent reading ability but are nonetheless nearsighted. If you are one of these, you may gain wonderful distance vision after the surgery, but find it difficult to read. Your nearsightedness may be helping you read without your knowing it until you decide to have it cured via presbyopia LASIK.

Whether you decide to have presbyopia LASIK, spinal fusion surgery, or another of the highly advanced procedures available in Mexico, you'll find it helpful to work with a company that specializes in medical travel. A good company will be able to connect you with the most advanced hospitals in the country as well as help you with all aspects of travel planning and logistics.

Worried about finding a great company? Don't be. The most important resource you'll use is the internet. Look up companies and evaluate them, deciding which one is best for you. Do they have a specialty, such as orthopedics or bariatric surgery? Many of the best companies will work with a network of specialists, meaning that they don't have a specialty per se, but can offer the best of every specialty to you.

Alongside the excellent hospitals using the technology that has just been produced, more Mexican facilities are creating the lifesaving techniques and machines of tomorrow. These research centers are studded throughout the country, working on problems ranging from development of medicines to more concrete technologies to assist in surgery bays and more. And you can be certain that you'll see the real benefits of this research as soon as they are cleared by the relevant testing authorities: doctors in Mexico have proven to be incredibly up to date and responsive when new technologies come on the market.

Another major change you'll notice in Mexico hospitals is the service-oriented attitude. Unfortunately, it is often reported that, more often than not, the typical hospital employee in the United States is disinterested at best and rude at worst. But in Mexico, there is an incredible focus on patient care and satisfaction. In effect, you're getting the best technology at the best prices, administered by the most skilled and kind surgeons in the area. And you're getting all of it for a fraction of what it would cost you in America. Medical travel is certainly the medical care of the future, particularly if U.S. insurance costs keep rising and forcing men and women to go uninsured rather than pay high premiums. For many, medical care in Mexico is all that they can afford; for an increasing number, it is the care they choose for its high value of great quality for affordable prices. For anyone, the medical care in Mexico is so excellent that going south of the border for treatment is a real benefit. Some employers are beginning to understand the tremendous advantages and switch to insurance plans that encourage crossing the border for health care. But even if your employer doesn't understand the advantage of health care in Mexico yet, you can still enjoy the advanced technology and high standard of care independently.