Best Bariatric Surgery Clinics Abroad
According to a global estimate by the World Health Organization, about 39% of the world's population is overweight. 19% of them are obese. This problem can cause many serious diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. In foreign clinics, patients who have tried in vain all possible weight loss options are offered surgical treatment for obesity. These are operations aimed at modifying the stomach and intestines to reduce appetite, accelerate satiety and, as a result, lose weight. Such procedures are carried out by departments and centers of bariatric surgery. Today, in foreign clinics, in 99.9% of cases, they pass with little trauma (through several punctures instead of an incision), without complications.
Cost of bariatric surgery abroad
Turkey | Poland | Italy | Germany | Spain | |
Sleeve resection | From $6 000 | From $5 900 | From €11,000 | From €9 000 | From €8 000 |
Shunting | From $5 300 | From $6 000 | From €10,000 | On request | From €14,000 |
Balloon installation | From $1 500 | From $2 100 | On request | From €3 500 | From €3,000 |
Further on the page you will find out what methods of surgical treatment of obesity exist, who can undergo such an intervention, what results can be achieved as a result of bariatric surgery. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating of leading clinics based on reviews of bariatric surgery.
Helios Hospital Krefeld
Procedure | Cost |
---|---|
Mastectomy Surgery | $ 12000 |
Primus Super Specialty Hospital
Artemis Hospital
Bethesda Hospital Association
Konkuk University Medical Center
Yeditepe University Hospital
University Hospital Frankfurt
Confraternität Privatklinik Josefstadt
Helios Park Hospital Leipzig
Dobling Privatklinik
Procedure | Cost |
---|---|
Operative Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction | Price upon request |
Indications for surgical treatment of obesity
Bariatrics can help overweight people lose weight and solve many health problems. However, not every patient can undergo surgical treatment for excess weight. In foreign clinics, there are clear criteria that a candidate for bariatric surgery must meet:
- Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40.
- BMI ≥ 35 and at least one or more obesity-related comorbidities such as type II diabetes (DM2), hypertension, sleep apnea, other respiratory diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease.
- It is not possible to achieve healthy weight loss for some time with a combination of diet therapy and sports.
- Regaining weight after weight loss.
It is important to remember that bariatric surgery is not a panacea. You can not immediately resort to surgical treatment of obesity without trying to reduce weight in another way. If the patient has very high body weight indicators, there are comorbidities, such as joint problems, and because of this he cannot play sports in full, then bariatrics can be considered as an option. Failure to achieve healthy weight loss that persists over a period of time with previous weight loss efforts.
Who should not have bariatric surgery?
Like any other surgical intervention, metabolic operations have contraindications. So, it is worth canceling or temporarily postponing surgical treatment for patients with:
- exacerbations of pathologies, for example, an ulcer;
- women in position;
- oncological diseases;
- mental disorders, etc.
Not all of them are absolute. Thus, the patient may be admitted to surgery after the treatment of the ulcer and confirmation of the healing of erosions using endoscopy.
Cancer patients can undergo intervention after at least 5 years of remission.
Types of bariatric surgery
The essence of operations in bariatrics can be different: limiting the volume of the stomach, reducing the body's ability to absorb nutrients, or a combination of these goals.
The most popular surgical methods for treating obesity are:
- gastric bypass;
- sleeve gastrectomy;
- gastric banding;
- gastric ballooning, etc.
Below is a more detailed description of each operation.
Sleeve resection of the stomach (gastroplasty, drain operation)
During the procedure, a bariatric surgeon removes about 80% of the stomach. The rest of the organ resembles a sleeve, hence the name. As a result, the volume of the stomach decreases, respectively, the patient consumes fewer calories and loses weight. In addition, during the operation, a part of the organ where the “hunger hormone” is produced is removed, which also contributes to weight loss.
In foreign clinics, sleeve gastrectomy is performed laparoscopically. That is, the tissues are minimally injured, and the patient does not experience severe discomfort after the operation, quickly recovers, and returns to normal life.
Gastric bypass (bypass operation)
One of the most popular options for surgical treatment of obesity. The procedure consists of two stages. First, the surgeon separates a small part of the stomach, then connects it to the small intestine. This changes the route that food travels and limits the amount of food consumed and absorption of calories.
Most importantly, the modification of the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract has a strong effect on reducing hunger, increasing satiety, and allowing the body to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The impact on hormones and metabolic health often results in an improvement in adult diabetes even before weight loss occurs.
In the best hospitals abroad, gastric bypass is also performed laparoscopically.
Banding of the stomach
The procedure involves the installation of an adjustable gastric band. This is a silicone ring that is placed at the top of the stomach. Thus, its volume also decreases, due to which the patient eats less. If necessary, adjust the position of the bandage after a while. This technique has less effect on diseases associated with obesity and leads to little weight loss.
Therefore, bandaging is prescribed as a surgical treatment for obesity of 2-3 degrees.
Installation of an intragastric balloon
With the help of a surgical balloon filled with air or liquid, the volume of the stomach is reduced. This technique is not suitable for patients with morbid obesity, as it allows you to lose no more than 20 kg. Therefore, it is suitable as a surgical treatment for grade 1 obesity.
Although it would not be entirely correct to call ballooning a surgical intervention. Rather, it is a procedure in which a balloon is inserted transorally with a flexible tube through the esophagus into the stomach. That is, to perform manipulations, the doctor does not make incisions.
Preparing for the operation
Abroad, the patient must undergo thorough preoperative preparation. It starts with a consultation with a bariatric surgeon. At the appointment, the doctor conducts an examination, studies the patient's history, finds out the features and causes of weight gain, and calculates BMI and other parameters. Also, the patient consults with doctors of a narrow specialization:
- an endocrinologist,
- a cardiologist,
- a nutritionist,
- a psychologist, and undergoes a series of examinations.
Among them:
- blood and urine tests (including hormones);
- ECG and ultrasound of the heart;
- fluorography;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs; duplex scanning of the veins of the lower extremities, etc.
In addition, doctors recommend a special diet to achieve a weight loss of several kilograms. Thus, the patient prepares the gastrointestinal tract for subsequent changes. If the results of the examinations are normal, the doctors have not identified any contraindications for bariatric surgery, the surgeon sets the date for the intervention.
How is the surgery done?
Almost 100% of interventions for the treatment of obesity in foreign clinics are carried out using minimally invasive techniques. So, abroad are available:
- endoscopic balloon installation procedures;
- laparoscopic operations - interventions through several punctures on the anterior abdominal wall;
- robotic surgery - the use of the Da Vinci surgical system, thanks to which the operation is even more precise and gentle.
Since surgeons use minimally invasive techniques for the surgical treatment of obesity, patients spend only 2-4 days in the hospital.
According to patients, the absence of an extensive incision reduces pain and postoperative discomfort. The sick leave lasts only 2 weeks - after this time, the patient can go to work if it is not associated with heavy physical labor. Loads should be avoided for about 2 months.
Life after bariatric surgery
Abroad, patients with obesity are treated by a multidisciplinary team. Thus, in addition to direct surgical treatment, the patient works with other specialists. Before discharge, doctors give clear and detailed recommendations on how to behave after the operation.
For example, advice is about nutrition, physical activity, taking vitamins, managing diabetes and other comorbidities, and so on. It is important to remember that bariatrics is not a magic pill that solves all problems once and for all. If you do not monitor nutrition, move little, and do not take care of your health, weight can return.
The effectiveness of surgical treatment of obesity abroad
The process of weight loss starts almost immediately after surgery. According to the observations of foreign bariatric surgeons, the patient loses the first 20% of excess weight in the first few months. For comparison, with the help of sports and diet, such people manage to lose weight by only 5% during the year. The effect lasts 1-2 years. On average, during this time, patients manage to lose up to 80% of excess weight.
Where can bariatric surgery be done abroad?
Bariatric surgery is a popular medical field abroad. Therefore, each patient can find a clinic for the treatment of obesity. If you have any questions, you can always contact our coordinators for advice.
Bariatric Surgery in Turkey
Practically in all multidisciplinary clinics of the country, operations for weight loss are available. In addition to direct obesity surgery, patients can consult plastic surgeons in parallel.
Bariatric surgery in Poland
On the basis of KSM clinics and the University Hospital of Krakow, there are specialized centers for obesity surgery. The specialists of these units have returned the quality of life to thousands of patients. So, only the surgeons of the Krakow Uniclinic have more than 2 thousand successful bariatric interventions.
Bariatric surgery in Germany
Both conservative and surgical methods of treating obesity are actively used by specialists from the specialized center of the Sachsenhausen Clinic. They perform over 500 bariatric interventions annually. Almost all operations are performed laparoscopically, which means that patients after bariatric surgery return to normal life in a matter of time.
Bariatric surgery in Italy
San Donato Hospital is popular among overweight patients. The fact is that a large center for the treatment of obesity operates on its basis. Psychological assistance, medication, and diet therapy, as well as surgery for morbid obesity, are available here. The surgeons of the clinic perform about 1,500 weight loss operations annually.