You’ve heard of people going to other countries for many things: vacation, business, & education. But for medical operations like bariatric Surgery? Really?
Traveling to countries like Mexico to get certain types of otherwise expensive elective surgeries is called “medical tourism.”
Common Reasons for Medical TourismMedical tourism is estimated to become a 200-billion-dollar-a-year industry by 2027; yikes, right?
( Source: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-medical-tourism-market )
Several common surgeries are performed on American and Canadian medical tourists in countries like Mexico. These include:
- Hip Replacements: Hip and knee replacements are frequently covered by U.S. and Canadian health insurance, just not fast enough. Much of the cost-saving is because what it costs to hire a surgeon in countries like Mexico is far less than what it costs in the U.S. and Canada. Many Mexican hospitals and medical facilities must not carry the same financially burdensome malpractice insurance that American and Canadian institutions must have.
- Angioplasties: Patients pay $10,000 to $15,000 for private practice angioplasty in the U.S. and Canada, and those requiring mitral valve replacements usually fork over up to $50,000. Angioplasty works to open blocked or clotted coronary blood vessels.
- Dental Crowns or Veneers: Dental crowns and veneers are costly and can cost upwards of 1,000 per tooth. Traveling to certain other countries can reduce those costs by more than half.
- Gastric Bypass: Gastric bypass, a surgery to shrink the stomach, is less than half the cost abroad, according to the Medical Tourism Association. Bariatric Surgery, or weight loss surgery, is designed to help patients surgically lose weight safely and with minimally invasive Surgery. Gastric bypass is performed laparoscopically. This means your recovery is faster, and you can move around again shortly after that. The affordability of bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve is one of the top reasons patients get passports.
The effectiveness & affordability of bariatric Surgery had me wanting to learn more. I want to share my findings with you!
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric Surgery is a type of medical procedure that involves manual alterations made to your digestive system to help you lose weight.
Each of the three main types of bariatric Surgery (gastric bypass, mini-gastric bypass, and the gastric sleeve) involves physically shrinking your stomach.
These weight loss surgeries also limit the number of calories you can absorb at a given time. While different individuals benefit more from specific treatments, bariatric Surgery’s end goal is always the same: Significant weight loss.
Bariatric Surgery is usually only an option for those who need to lose weight.
This can include those who are morbidly obese and people with Type 2 Diabetes.
Bariatric Surgery has high success rates because the procedures are minimally invasive surgeries that are performed laparoscopically, though they still, of course, require experienced professionals.
Bariatric surgeries also require recovery time (not too long) and dramatically impact how your body functions and processes food.
Types of Bariatric Surgery
The most popular types of bariatric Surgery include:
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band: Adjustable gastric band is an increasingly popular type of bariatric Surgery. In the adjustable band procedure, a surgeon will cordon off a section of your stomach with a flexible band. This band is filled with a salt solution that can be added to or removed over time. The surgery result is that you will feel less full. As you condition yourself to eat less and less over time, the amount your stomach is restricted can be reduced until the band is eventually obliterated.
- Gastric Sleeve Surgery (aka sleeve gastrectomy): Gastric sleeve surgery is a more radical weight loss procedure. Here, a surgeon will go in and remove a large part of your stomach and seal the rest off so it heals properly. The results are that you will feel less hungry and get full much easier. This is an option considered for the morbidly obese and or dangerously overweight.
- Gastric Bypass: Gastric bypass surgery is another popular weight loss procedure that involves sectioning off a part of your stomach, so you get full more quickly.
- Duodenal Switch: Although still popular, this type of Surgery is less and less common as, along with dramatic weight loss, it can result in some negative side effects.
How Much Does Bariatric Surgery Cost?
In the United States and Canada, Bariatric Surgery typically costs $18,000 or more, often up to even $30,000 for a single weight loss surgery procedure. Such procedures can be done at a fraction of the cost in other countries like Mexico.
Advantages of Medical Tourism
There are many advantages to choosing medical tourism for your next Surgery. After hearing the differences in pricing for bariatric Surgery above, Here’s a breakdown:
- Price: Cost savings are a predominant factor that has made medical tourism increasingly popular. One of the worst things about the healthcare systems in Canada and the United States is that many private medical procedures are so costly that many who can benefit from the surgeries choose not to undergo them (or cannot afford them). Suppose you are interested in expensive bariatric Surgery and are being stopped from moving forward because of debilitating costs. In that case, you should consider working with Healthcare Connects to dramatically reduce your bariatric Surgery costs.
- Wait Times: Imagine being able to have your procedure done next to no wait time. With medical tourism organized through Healthcare Connects, you can save time and money on your bariatric Surgery. Where provinces may take years, your medical tourism advocates can make it happen in weeks (Of course, this is once the world returns to normal, post-COVID).
- Quality Care: There are over 600 JCI-accredited medical facilities worldwide. These hospitals give patients access to high medical care standards, which may otherwise not be available in their home countries. Healthcare facilities paired with medical tourism agencies offer post-op care for visiting medical tourists. Patients receive the utmost attention and care at these facilities, helping them recover in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Secondary Fun: Medical tourism or a medical vacation allows patients to explore a new destination and culture. Medical tourism agencies offer well-rounded health vacation packages that let medical tourists receive first-class medical care while sightseeing tourist hotspots or relaxing on the beach in the destination.
- Stress-Free: Having Healthcare Connects take care of all aspects of travel and medicine, you don’t have to worry – You can use the time to mentally prepare and not worry about travel details or long hospital stays. It is all taken care of.
Healthcare Connects and Bariatric Surgery
Healthcare Connects is a Canadian medical tourism company that can help you save money and time and find the perfect bariatric surgeon for your particular circumstance.
One of the main reasons people opt for medical tourism is the convenience and cost savings. But, if you don’t know what you are doing or how best to approach having bariatric Surgery in another country, use Healthcare Connects To find the best surgeon, book your travel, set up where you will stay pre and post-op, and handle everything else that you can need to have a pain-free, stress-free weight loss surgery experience.
