An Overview of Gastric Bypass Surgery Abroad
Gastric bypass surgery is a type of bariatric surgery that significantly helps in reduction of body weight. It’s a surgical obesity treatment which is carried out laparoscopically under general anesthetic.
This operation has now become more practical and prevalent, engendering remarkable benefits for overweight individuals whose BMI has crossed over 40.
Generally, the operation goes through the small incisions to divide the stomach into two separate pouches. A small-sized pouch from the large section of the upper stomach is produced and the remaining larger lower part is stapled off to that newly-formed tiny stomach, both of them connected to the small intestine.
Now, the reduced-sized stomach restricts an individual from consuming a large volume of food. Consequently, the patients’ diet will be comparatively decreased as they will feel full after eating just a small amount of food.
This bypassing of the stomach will not allow some nutrients of the food to absorb completely into the stomach, and the person will eventually lose considerable amounts of weight. Now you may ask:
Are the benefits of gastric bypass surgery abroad real and quantifiable?
The answer is yes. Since more than a decade, this surgery is proven to be a reliable and guaranteed treatment, allowing more and more people to avail its enduring, sustainable and desired benefits. This is the reason of its growing popularity among patients who find no other way to get rid of obesity other than this. Few of the major benefits are discussed below:
- It reduces considerable weight as the capacity of the stomach is substantially shortened which doesn’t allow the person to ingest that much food as he/she was consuming before. Nearly 50% to 60% of bodyweight reduction has been noticed from the operated patients.
- It decreases obesity-causing health risks. We all know obesity brings number of diseases with it like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep disorders, and hypertensions. Thus, this surgery is far better than a simple cosmetic surgical treatment.
- When these risks which are associated with obesity are minimized, your life expectancy will be enhanced. And if you stay committed to positive dietary and good lifestyle changes, you will have higher quality of overall health.
- As this surgery is performed using laparoscopic or keyhole surgical procedure, it has fewer negative impacts on the body than those caused by open surgery.
- One interesting benefit comes in terms of your financial benefits when you will have to bear less expenses on your food consumption. Since your food requirements are reduced, you will spend less money on groceries and dining as well.
Although this operation is a most effective and helpful solution for obese persons, post-operation aftercare treatments are necessary for all patients to prevent any potential complications.
Like every surgery, this surgery also involves a few risks as well, but they are very rare. The chances of most serious risks like pulmonary embolism, leakage and vitamin deficiency are less than 1% and they all can be properly managed through minor treatments and dietary adjustments.
Similarly, some post-operation side effects like nausea, pain and diarrhea can also be effectively dealt with if patients ensure a careful diet using prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements and other medications.
All You Need to Know About Gastric Bypass Surgery Abroad
Performing gastric bypass surgery abroad is a concept which gained immense popularity in recent years, which makes sense when its benefits are taken into consideration. People find this surgery quite convenient, beneficial, long-lasting and affordable when they travel abroad.
Many countries are delivering gastric bypass surgical services which are relatively cheaper and more facilitating in nature. Some Scandinavian countries have highly specialized, experienced and qualified bariatric surgeons which cater private customers with ultimate attention and guidance. One more advantage is that patients can have a relaxing holiday while their health-related concerns are being addressed.
In 2011, it was estimated that nearly 30 million people travel to foreign countries yearly for their gastric bypass surgery abroad. And, the number is incessantly rising as this trend is becoming popular, common and ever-more practical day by day.
For this purpose, many medical tourism companies have commenced offering travelling services to patients for their medical treatments. They arrange medical trips for patients to appropriate destinations while delivering many healthcare facilities and intensive care along with sightseeing opportunities. They provide these services in affordable prices through a convenient and straightforward procedure.
Besides, it usually happens in the home country that a patient has to wait for the operation due to several circumstances. However, the medical air-travel services can help them secure a surgical operation in a month’s time or even less time, according to the schedule they prefer.
A Gloomy Picture of Rising Obesity in UK
According to a report of BBC, almost 40% of UK youths who are below 25 are classified as super-obese people. Many of the young men and women have been suffering from severe health diseases which are caused by obesity, in which the most prevalent is type 2 diabetes. They face difficulties in performing their daily chores and even have claimed to struggle with heavy breathing while climbing the steps of stairs.
With a BMI of 50 or above, UK residents especially the youth are undergoing gastric bypass surgeries to decrease their excessive weight. As reported by National Bariatric Surgery Registry, 550 UK youths had undergone gastric bypass surgery or some other kind of bariatric surgery between 2010 and 2013. It’s surprising to note that all of these were under 25 and 62 of them were below the age of 18. The report says:
"It is a reflection on society's failings that these patients had already gained sufficient weight to be broadly comparable to patients who are much older."
Among obese patients, nearly 26% among all the bariatric surgical operations were conducted by only men in 2013. However, both male and female patients are increasingly being treated by gastric bypass surgery currently in UK as well as internationally.
As per the National Bariatric Surgery Registry report, they all had an average BMI of 48.8 and were almost twice the weight they should be as per their height at the time of operation.
Gastric bypass surgery comes as a rescue for all of obese individuals who are facing tons of problems everyday due to their health and appearance. They can’t go through with their life in the future if such severe obesity persists. Therefore, many NHS surgeons have supported gastric bypass surgery and evinced that it produces effective and favourable outcomes.
According to them, more than 56% of patients are able to manage climbing three flights of stairs without taking rest breaks after the surgery. Furthermore, these patients recover quickly after the operation, handle well with their new dietary and are happy with their reduced weights. The greatest benefit is that majority of them showed no symptoms of type 2 diabetes any more after the operation which is quite common in obese people. Type 2 diabetes can further impair the patient’s health as it entails the risks of dreadful ailments like heart attacks, strokes, blindness, amputations and Alzheimer's disease.
While talking about the benefits of gastric bypass and other bariatric surgeries, the NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh says:
“As in all branches of medicine, prevention is better than cure but this report clearly demonstrates that when required, bariatric surgery is effective and safe”
Why Gastric Bypass Surgery Abroad is Preferable
Due to a range of benefits, gastric bypass surgery abroad is immensely preferable by patients around the world. NHS surgeons have critically analysed the situation of gastric bypass surgeries in UK and claimed that UK is lagging behind the rest of European and Asian countries in carrying out such bariatric operations for the super-obese individuals.
On the other hand, many countries like France, Belgium and Sweden treat a large number of patients with gastric bypass surgery every year.
Moreover, in UK, this surgery is quite expensive. Another problem of having the surgery in the country is that the process is typically time-consuming. However, travelling abroad for gastric bypass surgery yields far-reaching advantages for UK patients:
It is less costly.
For instance, where in UK a gastric band costs more than £8,000, it can cost just about £3,800 in Belgium.
It is a fast medical procedure.
Patients often fret about their preferable date and day of the operation in the country which not might be possible due to many causes like unavailability of surgeon etc. and thus, the treatment takes a lot of time. However, having gastric bypass surgery abroad causes no such obstacles, and the patient can get the medical procedure done as fast as possible.
It is stress-free and convenient.
While a medical tourism company settles everything for you, from arranging the trip to managing the clinical schedules for you and from booking the comfortable hotel to bringing you back to your country safely, your worry-free tourism experience is guaranteed.
A number of foreign countries offer better services in terms of expertise and technology.
For example, each year France treats nearly 37,000 obese patients with gastric bypass surgeries while UK carries out only 5,000 operations a year as per the NHS report. Similarly, Belgium performs 12,000 bariatric operations every year and due to their increasing expertise in this field, the rate of operations are increasing.
A number of medical tourism countries have better infrastructure.
With more technological infrastructure, both human and capital resources like operational equipment and machineries, many countries are providing quality services in conducting gastric bypass surgery abroad.
It allows the patients to be treated in a very relaxing and enjoyable environment.
The environment offered by foreign countries to the patients is very calming, relaxing and pleasurable. Patients will have ultimate ease and satisfaction while their treatments are carried out.
Patients can avail sightseeing opportunities, which would positively impact their mental and physical health.
Travelling abroad for the operation also generates a pleasant prospect that is to discover a new country and to visit a few of its appealing sites that can eventually bring delight and tranquil to patients.
Choosing Popular Destinations for Obesity Medical Tourism
People often prefer to travel to those countries which are closer to their home. For UK residents, they have a significant opportunity to avail gastric bypass surgery abroad as many European countries are offering excellent surgical services at a more affordable price. They are also relieved from the complications of visa and any border-passing authorization troubles.
Here, we have mentioned few of the popular destinations for obesity medical tourism:
European Countries Popular for Gastric Bypass Surgery Abroad
Latvia has brilliant clinical services with measurably low prices. Patients coming to Weight Loss Riga, in particular, enjoy an English-speaking surgical team with over 2 decades of experience and all-inclusive packages.
Belgium and Germany have prices that are slightly more competitive as far as bariatric surgery and weight loss procedures than the UK, but nothing compares to the combination of superior quality and affordability at Weight Loss Riga in Riga, Latvia.
Hungary and Czech Republic are also popular in providing quality services within lower price range.
France, Italy and Sweden also perform a great number of gastric bypass surgeries every year.
Spain and Portugal are the ideal places for spending a relaxing holiday, however the countries have higher prices than Weight Loss Riga at at quality that is acceptable, not exactly superior, like those of Weight Loss Riga in Riga, Latvia. Weight Loss Riga, in Riga Latvia is where you can enjoy low costs and superior services like .
Cyprus is another more well-known destination for obesity medical tourism. While the physicians in this country may speak English as a second language, the standards are lower than ours at Weight Loss Riga.
All the above mentioned countries are easy to access and ensue cost-effective outcomes for gastric bypass surgery. However, if you are more concerned about the costs and are able to go further, then the following places are recommended:
Asian Countries Popular for Gastric Bypass Surgery Abroad
India, Thailand and Singapore are not in the European Union and do not have the same high standards that we have as far as quality, experience and safety. These countries also may not offer the same level of insurance liability that Weight Loss Riga does in Riga, Latvia. Call or submit a contact form to us at Weight Loss Riga. We're happy to help you understand whether you qualify for bariatric surgery!
