The cost of weight loss surgery ranges dramatically depending on the type of procedure being carried out and the country that it’s being carried out in. In the UK, surgery on the NHS is free, but unfortunately, only a fraction of the country’s obese population are able to benefit from this treatment and those who do face many obstacles and long waiting times. Turning to private clinics in the UK is also often impossible since the price of gastric sleeve surgery in British facilities ranges from around £9,500 to £15,000 – well out of the reach of many patients. For those facing this difficult situation, the best thing to do is look for the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery so they can get the procedure they need at a price they can afford at world-class facilities like our WeightLossRiga in Riga, Latvia.
Although some patients are still concerned about whether they should look abroad for their weight loss treatment, afraid of unhygienic, unsafe hospitals and untrained, unqualified surgeons, these days there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
As long as you do your research thoroughly, you’ll find that the conditions in many European hospitals are even better than NHS facilities, and you can enjoy equally high-quality care with surgeons who have considerably more experience at performing bariatric procedures than their NHS counterparts.
As an added advantage, the prices charged for gastric sleeve surgery are much lower than those charged by private clinics in the UK, putting the procedure within the financial reach of obese British patients.
However, knowledge is power, so it’s important to know not only which are the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery, but also which are the safest and most technologically advanced. With this need for knowledge in mind, here is our expert guide to nine of the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery.
1. Latvia
Latvia has earned itself the honour of being one of the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery in Europe. In fact, it may even be the cheapest of all.
Eastern Europe is known for its affordable surgical procedures, with prices around three to four times lower than in Western European counties such as Spain, Italy or Germany. Since the living wage in Latvia is quite low, this means the price of surgery is cheaper too. However, you can rest assured that you won’t be compromising on safety or quality when you opt to have your treatment in Latvia.
The clinics in the capital, Riga, are known for their highly skilled and well-trained medical staff, their extremely experienced surgeons, their high tech facilities and equipment and their luxurious hospital accommodation with all modern conveniences.
You will be in very safe hands if you opt to have your gastric sleeve procedure carried out here, and with prices starting at around £4,980 you will be saving a lot of money compared to the price of the procedure in a UK private clinic. Even better, with such a short flight of only 2 ½ hours and with plenty of interesting attractions to discover before and after your surgery, it’s no wonder that so many patients from the UK are heading to this Baltic state for their bariatric procedures.
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- Gastric Sleeve BMI 30+
Known to help patients lose 50% of their excess weight within the first 12 months post surgery, the gastric sleeve is the world's fastest growing weight loss procedure.
- Gastric Bypass Surgery BMI 35+
Gastric Bypass surgery is the most powerful form of weight loss surgery providing you an effective, consistent way of achieving lasting weight loss.
- Mini Gastric Bypass SurgeryBMI 35+
A faster, easier procedure and a simpler method of achieving the same results of a standard gastric bypass.
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2. Mexico
Mexico is a popular choice among American patients seeking gastric sleeve surgery and it’s easy to see why. Not only is Mexico just a hop across the border for many US citizens, but the prices here are also around a third of those in American facilities. You can expect to pay only around £4,000 for a gastric sleeve procedure here which is extremely cheap since Mexican hospitals have much lower labour costs.
While this low price is appealing to UK patients looking for the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery, it’s important to remember that the convenience factor simply isn’t there for British travellers. Mexico may be a short trip south for American patients, but for UK citizens it involves an 11-hour flight which can be very costly both for you and anyone travelling with you.
3. The United Arab Emirates
Most patients looking abroad for the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery only consider countries which are traditionally popular with bariatric conditions like Germany or Thailand. However, in the past few years, there has been a new contender on the scene – the United Arab Emirates. A lot of people are very surprised to discover how affordable this type of surgery is in the UAE – after all, the Middle East is known as an expensive destination to visit. Yet due to local laws which regular the costs of patients from the UAE and for patients from overseas, you can have your surgery for as little as £7,000 – considerably cheaper than the same procedure would be in a UK private clinic.
Like Turkey, however, the flight time from the UK is long at almost 7 hours, which could be uncomfortable after surgery. Also, for anyone accompanying you for your procedure, the living costs will be very high, with expensive accommodation often proving to be prohibitive even for the shortest amount of time that a patient could choose to stay for recovery.
4. India
India is, without a doubt one of the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery in Asia. This is because of a general pricing policy that is determined by the income of the local citizens and the living wage. In India, the cost of a gastric sleeve procedure is around three to four times cheaper than it would be in the UK, or, indeed, in any other Western European country like Spain or Germany. You could reduce your costs by as much as 80% by having your operation here, with prices coming in at around £6,000.
Another reason why India is so popular with patients seeking overseas surgery is the affordability of medications here. Generic medicines are made here which are just as effective as the named brands found internationally but considerably cheaper.
Despite the low costs, there are some downsides to travelling to India for your procedure. The flight length is the first obstacle, being around 9 hours which is a long flight for anyone, let alone someone who has recently had surgery. Such a long haul flight will require you to take extra precautions to avoid blood clots when you travel.
Additionally, some people are worried that India may not be a very safe destination, and they may worry about independently exploring the local area before or after treatment.
5. Thailand
One of the reasons why Thailand represents very good value for anyone looking for the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery is because of the many packages and programs that are implemented to help overseas patients to get the treatment they need in the country.
Usually, the packages on offer include not only the surgery but also the necessary materials as well as the accommodation. It is estimated that you could save as much as 75% of the cost of your surgery if you go to Thailand for your gastric sleeve procedure. Another reason why Thailand is so popular is that it is a great choice for a relaxing holiday after your surgery if you can afford to take the time off of work.
Unfortunately, however, the length of the flight is once again a serious obstacle, with flight times stretching to more than 11 hours. This can present a problem after invasive surgery.
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6. Costa Rica
The price of gastric sleeve surgery in Costa Rica is a little higher than you could expect to pay in countries like Thailand and India, but it is still more affordable there than in the UK.
You can expect the average cost of your procedure in a Costa Rican clinic to be around £7,500 which is a pretty good saving compared to the price charged by a private clinic in the UK. Costa Rica is also a popular holiday destination, which makes it a good choice for relaxation and recuperation after your surgery.
However, yet again, the flight is a very long one at around 11 hours from the UK.
7. Turkey
More patients these days are travelling to Turkey to have their gastric sleeve surgery thanks to the low cost of the treatment and the absence of any waiting list. The cost of a gastric sleeve operation here is around half of the price charged in a German clinic and even less than the cost of the same procedure in a British private facility, coming in at around £3,500.
While this is a very attractive reason to come to Turkey for your surgery, bear in mind that a flight to Turkey from the UK will take almost 5 hours, which is quite a distance to travel when you’ve just been through an invasive surgical procedure.
The big decision to make here is whether to go for the cheapest options available – tempting, but those options are also outside the EU, primarily in Turkey. Or you could be looking at clinics within the European Union, with big leaders in Eastern Europe – like Latvia and other Baltic States.
HOW TURKEY COMPARES
8. Gastric sleeve in France
If you’re keen to stay closer to home for your gastric sleeve surgery, you could opt to have your procedure carried out in France. French clinics are very hygienic and safe and are staffed by medical professionals who are highly skilled and qualified. French bariatric surgeons also have considerable experience in performing weight loss surgery, with around 60,000 procedures having been carried out to date. France is also to the UK what Mexico is to the USA – a short hop across the channel, and this means a very short flight.
On the downside, however, like Germany, the cost of treatment is higher here than it would be in other countries. You can expect to pay around £9,000 for your treatment here.
9. Sleeve gastrectomy in Germany
One of the top choices for gastric sleeve surgery anywhere in Europe is Germany. One of the reasons for this is that the surgeons here are extremely experienced in performing this type of procedure. According to a report in the Bariatric Times Journal from 2014, there were more than 130 surgeons specializing in and performing bariatric procedures in Germany.
This means that bariatric surgeons are extremely experienced, and this, in turn, boosts their surgery success rate to more than 90%. The chances of an excellent result with minimal complications are very high when you choose Germany for your gastric sleeve operation. While these are excellent reasons to head to a German clinic, it’s important to remember that there is a major downside to coming here for your treatment. In Germany, gastric surgery can cost around £11,250, which may be cheaper than the highest price charged by some of the most costly UK clinics, but still a fairly hefty cost.
What Are The Primary Cost Factors For Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
There are three main factors which influence the price of gastric sleeve surgery:
- The location of the facility, both in terms of the country and city.
- The reputation of the facility and its staff.
- The qualifications and experience of the surgeon and their success rate.
The cost of gastric sleeve surgery varies between countries because of the level of the economy and the income of local citizens as well as the lower fees that are often paid to doctors in those countries.
How Can I Save Money On The Cost Of My Gastric Sleeve Procedure?
If you’re keen to save money when it comes to selecting a clinic for your treatment, it makes sense to seek out the most affordable countries for gastric sleeve surgery. However, it’s also important to keep in mind the distance you’ll need to travel and what you’ll be getting for your money. All nine of the countries listed here offer cheaper gastric sleeve surgery than you would find at any private clinic in the UK, and all have high-quality hospitals for overseas patients with well-trained and highly experienced surgeons. You need to weigh up the pros and cons of each destination and find the right balance for you between convenience and affordability.
This is why Eastern European countries like Latvia - home to facilities like WeightLossRiga - are proving to be such a good choice for bariatric patients from the UK. Offering the ideal mix of low-cost surgery with the convenience of a short haul flight, it represents an excellent option for anyone who is prioritising both their safety and their finances.
If you’re considering getting weight loss surgery abroad, let Weight Loss Riga be your site for weight loss surgery at affordable prices. Weight Loss Riga promises to be there every step of the way on the path to getting your life back through weight loss surgery!
