Should I undergo weight loss surgery in Monterrey Mexico?

I know two friends that have had the surgery and they are doing great and have lost a great deal of weight. I am 30 years old and i am really overweight, I am 5 10 but i weigh 263 pounds. I am really tempted to get the surgery but the problem is I dont know if the procedure is safe. Initially i thought it was the lap band but I talked to the Dr and its called the gastric band, Its not adjustable band. i have tried looking up other doctors that perform the procedure but I have not learned of any. They claim that a dr in Houston offers the same surgery. Im afraid of the anesthesia and the fact that i dont know much about the procedure and that there might not be studies on the long term affects of this surgery. Then i look at how good my friends look and feel and i wonder if I should too get it done. I have two children ages 6 and 4 and i want to be more active with them and I would like to feel more energized, I worry that I smoke almost a pack a day and i want to quit but im afraid of gaining even more weight. When i told the dr that i smoked a lot he told me to try not to smoke at least a week before the procedure. Would that be enough time and does the fact that i have anemia also affect me in any way as far as the surgery? By the way the Dr.s name is Roffe Samaniego and the hospital is San Lucas and its going to cost approx, 3,000 us dollars. Please visit the site to read about the procedure if you can. Banda gastrica dr roffee samaniego. Any advice would me much appreciated, thank you in advance....