Bariatric Surgery: are there any risks?

Bariatric Surgery: are there any risks? 

Bariatric surgery is not without risks. Preoperative studies allow us to assess and take appropriate action to reduce risks to the minimum.

Preoperative assessment of the patient, plus the training of the team of professionals involved in the procedure and the use of appropriate elements such as having the proper facilities to operate in , transform the risk of weight loss surgery in much less than the problems related to obesity itself.

On one side are the risks of any surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia, which is mainly based on who will be undertaking surgery: an obese, sick patient. This patient is considered at risk for any surgical procedure if the necessary precautions are not taken. However, being a scheduled bariatric surgery procedure, the patient reaches the operating room very prepared having followed a pretreatment and in the hands of epxerts specializing in obese patients, thus minimizing risks.

There is a second category of risks that have to do with weight loss surgery itself, but these are the lowest in the area of "major digestive system surgery." As this is a surgery that is done quite often nowadays, experts have gained much experience and that reduces complications. The potential risks are bleeding, leaks in your gastrointestinal system, lung or breathing problems, plus other long-term risks and complications of weight loss surgery such as bowel obstruction, dumping syndrome, ulcers, stomach perforation and vomiting.

It is important to note that the risks of weight loss surgery are fewer than those of obesity itself. As we know from well-designed population studies, the risks of mortality from obesity and related diseases are way larger than those from surgery. However, bariatric surgery risks can be dramatically reduced by making the right choices. 

For every surgical procedure it is of vital importance to choose the right surgeon and the best hospital. Mexicali Bariatric Center in Mexicali, Mexico, has the best bariatric program in the country. Besides, board certified surgeons Dr. Gilberto Ungson and Dr. Rodolfo Wilhelmy, colleagues and friends of the late Dr. Alberto Aceves, are two of the leading authorities in Latin America in weight loss surgery.

Only board certified physicians should perform an operation. Mexicali Bariatric Center is a world renown institution. Dr. Ungson, who trained Dr. Aceves on the duodenal switch surgery, and Dr. Wilhelmy, with 18 years of experience in laparoscopic bariatric surgery in Mexico, are widely respected in the international medical community, furthermore Almater Hospital has the best facilities in the region, with standards up to par with hospitals in the US and Canada.

For more information on weight loss surgery please visit mexicalibariatric.com or call us toll free at 1-888-344-3916.

WAHT DOES WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IN MEXICO COST?

The cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico may vary, depending on a variety of factors such as the type of bariatric surgery chosen and if the patient has already had a bariatric surgical procedure prior to the one being performed. Nonetheless, the cost of bariatric surgery in Mexico is often significantly less than in the United States. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average cost of weight loss surgery in the United States is between $20,000 and $25,000. As you will see below, the average cost of bariatric surgery in Mexico is about half that. That is why undergoing bariatric surgery in Mexico is quickly becoming a popular option for bariatric patients who want to undergo weight loss surgery but also want to get the most value for the cost.

If you are considering pursuing weight loss surgery in Mexico, review the following general information about the costs associated with bariatric surgery in Mexico. You may be pleased with what you find out!
General Costs Associated With Bariatric Surgery

The general costs associated with weight loss surgery with Dr. Alberto Aceves in Mexico include the cost of:

• Transportation to and from the airport if needed
• Required tests, including a preoperative chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram (EKG), complete blood chemistry test, anesthesiologist evaluation, cardiologist evaluation if needed, postoperative chest X-ray and leak tests
• When applicable, 1-2 night hotel stay prior to surgery
• Anesthesiologist
• Operating room
• Lap Band if applicable
• Hospital stay after surgery, which is usually five days for duodenal switch surgery and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 72 hours for gastric sleeve surgery and 48 hours for gastric banding surgery
• X-ray room needed for Lap Band fills (Dr. Aceves provides the actual fills for free for life.)
• Medication during your hospital stay and to take back home for use during the recovery period

Estimated Total Cost of Bariatric Surgery

The following costs are subject to change, again, depending on several factors, including those discussed above. However, here is a list of the estimated final cost of each type of bariatric surgery (in U.S. dollars) to help you get a ballpark idea of the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico.

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: $11,000
• Gastric bypass after a prior bariatric surgery: $12,500
• Gastric sleeve: $8,750
• Gastric sleeve after Lap Band (includes band removal): $10,500
• Allergan / Inamed Lap-Band System and Johnson & Johnson Band: $6,500
• Lap Band after a prior bariatric surgery: $10,500
• Duodenal Switch: $13,000
• Revision to Duodenal Switch: $14,500

Patient undergoing weight loss surgery with Dr. Aceves may qualify for one of the financing options available. To schedule a consultation to learn more about the cost of weight loss surgery with Dr. Aceves and the available financing options, please contact Mexicali Bariatric Center by calling (888) 344-3916