Weight Loss Surgery Abroad - Gastric Band Abroad

There was once a time when an “obesity crisis” was something which we linked with America; we believed that the epidemic hadn’t yet reached British shores; recent data has however shown that most countries in the western world are facing an obesity crisis due to new technologies pulling kids away from exercise and fast-food teaching them not to eat healthily.

With such a global problem it’s no wonder that surgical solutions to obesity are now available all around the globe and are becoming a viable option for people carrying a few extra pounds who might want to take their baggage abroad to get rid of it. Weight loss surgery, because of its complicated nature, can be very expensive and thus many people are looking abroad in order to try and save money.

Weight loss surgery is now offered in countries as diverse as Belgium, the Czech Republic, India, Mexico and Spain and many of the companies operating from these exotic locations will offer you pre and post surgery care in the U.K (this is certainly something which you should look out for when booking any surgery).  

Whilst Europe offers prices which are competitive with the U.K, countries further afield, such as India, offer vastly reduced prices which can be very appealing to those candidates for surgery who are looking to save a few pounds as well as lose some.  

Obviously weight-loss surgeries can, at first, be very debilitating and thus it is worth considering how much it will cost to stay in your country of choice until you feel well enough to fly home.

Weight Loss surgeries are not merely for the vain, or for those people who want to shift a couple of extra pounds, they are only for clinically obese people who turn to surgery as a last resort in their battle against weight-loss. They are only the start of an entirely new life, not the easy solution. Weight loss surgery comes in two different forms; non permanent gastric band surgery which involves a band being put around the stomach in order to reduce its size and its capacity for holding food, and the permanent, very serious, gastric bypass option which involves permanently and dramatically reducing the amount of food which it is possible to eat before feeling full. This can often have dramatic repercussions on the people undergoing this sort of surgery and it is important to question how you would be cope with such a radical change when you are so far away from friends and family. 

Because this type of weight loss surgery is so serious and so dangerous, only those who absolutely need it are considered. Thus, any company based abroad which you may be considering going with should offer you a consultation in the U.K first in order to assess whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure and whether or not they wish to take on your case.  Because of the dramatic change which gastric operations can bring to your life, you need to make sure that your company of choice offers post-operation check-ups in the U.K as well and has a support network in place which can help you through the first tough months as you embark on a completely different life.

Things such as an entirely new approach to food and dieting, regular exercise and perhaps having to drastically change how you approach social situations are all ramifications of having gastric surgery and these put mental strain on even the most resilient of us. Thus, it is important that mental and physical guidance is given in the months after surgery and that such help is easily accessible to you. If you can’t find a company which is willing to offer you such support then you may well be better off staying in the U.K; it’s better to spend an extra couple of pounds than spend the months after your surgery being confused and maybe even depressed. It simply isn’t feasible to fly out to a foreign country every time you want a bit of advice or reassurance; it’s also not financially viable, unless you’re lucky enough to win the lottery.

More so with this surgery than any other discussed on this site, choosing a surgical destination because you like the look of the country in question is a very bad idea. You won’t be fit enough or feel well enough to explore any of the country you choose for several weeks and thus this is a decision which should be taken purely on the medical expertise of the establishment and the level of aftercare which you expect to receive. 

Weight-loss surgery is very much cheaper abroad but, performed wrong by the wrong surgeons with the wrong techniques and it could get very nasty. This isn’t something relatively minor like a bit of Botox; this is your stomach which is being either temporarily or permanently changed and thus any mistakes could have very severe consequences; ones which you would then have to pay again for a more competent doctor to correct.  Do your research and don’t rush into anything; this is a decision which is going to shape, and indeed slim down, the rest of your life and thus you can afford to spend time weighing up (sorry for the pun) all the options.

Costs of course vary widely from country to country, with the cheapest prices coming, as is always the case, once one leaves the “westernised” countries. The cheapest prices might not, however, guarantee you the best level of care and the main consideration for this type of procedure is really whether you are mentally up to the challenges it brings; these challenges are only made worse by being abroad.  

Weight Loss surgery can change people’s life for the better but you have to be prepared for a world in which you can have cake, but you can’t eat it as well. Saving pounds whilst losing pounds might be tempting, but is it safe?