Bariatric Surgery: Cost, Types, Requirement, Procedure, Benefits, Risk & Recovery

Bariatric Surgery

A huge portion of the world’s population suffers from lifestyle illnesses such as obesity as a result of rapid lifestyle changes, unhealthy dietary choices, and a lack of physical activity in people’s daily lives. To counter the ill-effects of obesity, many people opt for bariatric surgery.

Weight loss surgery, popularly known as bariatric surgery is becoming increasingly popular among patients who have significant weight problems. But what really bothers people is the bariatric surgery cost.

When other weight loss approaches such as diet, exercise, and supplements have failed, it can lead to long-term health issues like cancer, heart disease, and coronary strokes. In such a situation, the doctors suggest bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery is a technique that helps people lose weight by altering their digestive systems. The word bariatric surgery can refer to a number of operations, including gastric bypass and other weight-loss procedures.

The bariatric surgery cost in India is a fraction of what it would cost in the Western world. India is the third most obese country in the world, with one in every fifth Indian being obese. More than 100 weight loss procedures are performed in India every day.The bariatric surgery cost in India is a fraction of what it would cost in the Western world. India is the third most obese country in the world, with one in every fifth Indian being obese.

More than 100 weight loss procedures are performed in India every day.

What is covered in the above mentioned cost for surgery?

This price includes surgery cost, doctor’s fee, standard prescribed tests and all standard expenses required at the hospital.

India, a Preferred Destination For Bariatric Surgery

India is by far the most popular medical tourism destination, thanks to the long-term evolution of the Indian medical arena. India’s healthcare infrastructure is comparable to that of advanced countries such as the United States or the United Kingdom, resulting in equal or even superior outcomes.

Additionally, India is the most popular destination for those seeking low-cost weight-loss surgeries. The bariatric surgery cost in India is often a fraction of what it costs in the United States and other wealthy nations for the same surgery and treatment. The cost varies based on the type of operation and the patient’s underlying medical problems.,

In terms of quality and experience, the medical staff doing weight Loss Surgery in India is exceptional. The majority of weight loss surgeons in India are graduates of premier western colleges with a long history of producing top medical specialists.

The state-of-the-art technology, low bariatric surgery cost, a high medical expertise and huge bariatric surgery success rate has made India a preferred destination for this surgical procedure.

Indian Medical Visa Process (India e-Medical Visa)

By default, the Indian government allows a medical visa to be valid for 60 days. However, India’s new visa policy allows the paper-based medical visa to be extended for up to 180 days.

The procedure for obtaining an Indian Medical Visa is filling out an Indian Visa Application Form online. It will only take a couple of minutes. Then you have to make the payment through PayPal, and provide the appropriate documents for treatment, such as a letter from a hospital. This process takes 72 hours to complete, and an accepted Visa is emailed to the concerned person.

Nationals of e-Visa India-eligible countries who require a Medical Visa may apply online using the online e-Visa India application form at https://www.indiavisa-online.org. A letter from the hospital in India where they intend to receive treatment is required.

The individual may also be requested to show proof that they have enough money to cover their medical expenses in India. They may also be asked to produce a return travel ticket to their native country once the medical treatment is completed. These papers can be faxed or emailed to the Help Desk, or they can be submitted to the website later.

One of the benefits of the Indian Medical Visa is that, unlike the 30-day Tourist Visa, which is only valid for two entries, it enables three entries into India during its 60-day duration.

The following conditions and requirements of the e-Visa for medical treatment must be understood and remembered as pointers:

• The Indian e-Medical Visa is valid for 60 days from the date of arrival in India.
• The e-Medical India Visa allows you to visit India three times.
• Individuals can apply for a Medical Visa up to three times per year.
• It is not possible to extend the electronic Medical Visa.
• This visa is not convertible and cannot be changed to a tourist or business visa.
• It can’t be used to enter protected or restricted sites.
• Patients must show proof of financial support for their stay in India.
• During your trip to the airport, the patient must have a PDF or paper copy with you.
• On the e-Medical India Visa, patients can request a return ticket.
• There is no such thing as a group medical visa for India; each applicant must apply independently.
• On the day of arrival in India, the passport must be valid for at least six months.
• Individuals must have two blank pages in their passports so that immigration and border control personnel can stamp their passports at the airport for entry and exit.
• A regular passport is required to be presented. Indian Medical Visas cannot be obtained using diplomatic, service, official or refugee passports.
• Individuals must apply for a paper or conventional India Medical Visa rather than an electronic Medical Visa on the Govt. website if the treatment will continue longer than 180 days.

The website allows a person to apply online, and it will take you 3 to 5 minutes to finish the application. It is recommended that you apply for a Medical Visa in India online rather than visiting an Indian Embassy or High Commission.

Bariatric Surgery Procedure

Bariatric surgery involves a wide range of operations performed on obese patients in order to lose weight. The procedure involves either the use of an implanted medical device (gastric banding), or the removal of a piece of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch).

It also includes the resection and re-routing of the small intestines to a small stomach pouch (gastric bypass surgery). Long-term studies suggest that the operation results in significant long-term weight loss, aids diabetes recovery and reduces the cardiovascular risk factors.

When determining if an individual is a good candidate for bariatric surgery, the doctors have a complete profile of the patient. To be eligible for bariatric surgery, you must be ‘morbidly obese,’ which usually means being 100 pounds overweight (man) or 80 pounds overweight (woman) with a BMI of 40 or higher.

Other criteria that the surgeon will evaluate when deciding whether or not the treatment is good for you includes age, weight, medical conditions, and patient’s  history. Whether the patient is addicted to alcohol or any other kinds of drug is also taken into account.

Pre-operative procedure For Bariatric Surgery

After the tests, the doctors may put restrictions on eating and drinking and on the present medications that the patient might be on. The doctor might instruct the patient to start a physical activity program and stop the usage of any addictive drugs or alcohol or tobacco.

During the Procedure

Bariatric surgery is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Therefore the patient will be unconscious throughout the process.

Most of the bariatric surgeries are now done laparoscopically. A laparoscope is a tiny tube with a camera attached to it. The laparoscope is placed into the belly through tiny incisions. The surgeon can see and operate within the abdomen without making major incisions.

There are different types of bariatric surgery. It includes bariatric surgery including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric band, and duodenal switch.

Depending upon the patient’s specific situation and needs the surgeon may suggest any one of the surgeries. The doctor will take many factors into account, including body mass index, eating habits, other health issues, previous surgeries and the risks involved with each procedure.

• Gastric bypass

This is the most popular type of gastric bypass surgery. This procedure is usually irreversible. It works by limiting the amount of food you can eat in one sitting and restricting nutritional absorption.

The surgeon makes a cut across the top of the patient’s stomach, separating it from the rest. The pouch that results is roughly the size of a walnut and can only carry around an ounce of food. The stomach can normally store roughly 3 quarts of food.

The surgeon then cuts the small intestine and sews a section of it to the pouch. Food then passes through this little pouch in the stomach and into the small intestine that is stitched to it. The majority of the patient’s stomach and the intestines are bypassed when food is consumed thus making them feel full sooner.

• Sleeve gastrectomy

This procedure involves the removal of about 80% of the stomach. The only thing left is a tube-shaped pouch, often known as a sleeve. Because the stomach has shrunk, it can no longer hold as much food. It also inhibits the production of ghrelin, a hormone that controls appetite.

Significant weight loss and no intestinal rerouting are two advantages of this treatment. In addition, a sleeve gastrectomy requires less time in the hospital than most other treatments.

• Gastric band

The adjustable gastric band works by wrapping an inflatable band around the top of the stomach, creating a smaller pouch above it. Patients are able to keep less food and feel fullness sooner. With regular tweaks, the band shrinks in size over time.

• Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch:

This is a two-part surgery in which the first step is similar to a sleeve gastrectomy. The second surgery involves connecting the end portion of the intestine to the duodenum near the stomach (duodenal switch and biliopancreatic diversion), bypassing the majority of the intestine.

This procedure restricts the amount of food that a patient can eat while also reducing nutritional absorption. It is incredibly effective, but it comes with a higher risk of starvation and nutritional deficiencies.

Bariatric surgery success rate varies depending on the type of surgery performed by the surgeon. Patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery shows 65% weight loss after two years, 56% of weight loss who undergo sleeve gastrectomy and 49% of weight loss with gastric banding.

However, the bariatric surgery costs and the bariatric surgery success rate may vary depending upon the hospitals, doctors and amenities provided in different cities.

Post-operative Procedure For Bariatric Surgery

After the surgery the patient must remain in the hospital until the medical team determines that it is safe for the patient to be discharged. It takes around two to three days to get discharged. It is advisable that someone drives the patient around if the patient is on prescribed pain medication. An individual may take around 2-5 weeks to recover completely.

The patient will not be allowed to eat for one to two days so that your stomach and digestive system can heal. Then, they will be put on a specific bariatric surgery diet for a few weeks. The diet begins with liquids only, then progresses to pureed, very soft foods, and eventually to regular foods. There may be many restrictions or limits on how much and what the patient can eat and drink.

Slowly the doctor may increase the amount of food intake, although it will always be important to eat small, frequent meals and avoid skipping meals, chew the food thoroughly, drink at least 30 minutes before or after eating to avoid dehydration etc.

Following the surgery, there will be regular visits to the doctor, nurse, and dietician so that the health, food, and weight reduction are monitored.

Tips And Advice

The benefits of weight loss surgery generally outweigh the personal concerns, bariatric surgery cost, aftercare and bariatric surgery risks. All surgeries come with the possibility of risks, but fortunately bariatric surgery risks are negligible. These include, slippage of the band due to food intolerances, perforation of the stomach, vomiting after the surgery, but they are manageable if the patient follows the instruction of the associated doctors.

Bariatric surgery is a life-changing experience. After the surgery the patient may experience differences in their ability to fully perform day-to-day activities, the reduction of risk of diseases, the possible resolution of certain medical conditions and new opportunities for jobs or relationships.

The most obvious benefit is weight loss. It varies depending on the surgery, but on an average the patient can lose up to 80% of their body weight. Reduced body fat levels correspond to a leaner, more natural-looking individual.

The first twelve months after surgery are when the patient will lose maximum weight. After that, it will gradually slow down until it reaches a stable level. This is because the body gets adapted to the lower calorie intake and has reached a plateau. Once the patient reaches the desired weight, then they can enjoy normal, everyday activities that we all take for granted.

It is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations and the bariatric surgery diet once the patient returns home. This is to ensure that due to negligence the patient might not gain weight again which may then affect their health and the bariatric surgery success rate.

How Can MyMedTrip.com Help You?

It is natural to be overwhelmed and concerned while traveling to a new place for medical treatment. Throughout the journey, we shall assist the patient and their attendant, and provide a manager for help through the whole medical trip. We will also assist in overcoming linguistic barriers.

Should you decide on traveling to India for medical assistance, you may email us at hi@mymedtrip.com or Whatsapp at +91 9818237391. The first consultation arranged by us would be free of cost! Additionally, we also provide visa invitation letters and help in facilitating the medical journey to India.

For any further assistance/queries or questions related to bariatric surgery as well as services in India, do not hesitate to email us at the aforementioned address. We shall be glad to assist you and help you get well soon.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bariatric Surgery

Is bariatric surgery covered in insurance?

Expenses incurred on bariatric surgery are usually not covered in a basic medical insurance policy. However, insurers nowadays offer an option to get bariatric surgery insurance as an add-on cover by paying a little extra premium.

Does gastric bypass shorten lifespan?

Life-years gained with gastric bypass surgery did not vary considerably by age and sex subgroups. Relative to other major surgical procedures, gastric bypass for morbid obesity is associated with substantial gains in life expectancy

Can the patient drink alcohol after gastric surgery?

Avoid alcohol for the first six months after bariatric surgery

How long does the patient have to be off work after bariatric surgery?

Typically, it is recommended that patients wait between 1-2 weeks (for Lap-Band procedures) to 2-4 weeks (for stapled procedures such as gastric sleeve or bypass) before returning to their jobs. This assumes that the job does not require strenuous activity.

Is bariatric surgery painful?

The patient may feel pain at the incision site or as a result of the positioning of the body during surgery. Some patients also experience neck and shoulder pain, which occurs when the body reabsorbs gas used during surgery. Pain medications are therefore prescribed by the doctor.

Why do bariatric patients regain weight?

Patients may have gained weight after gastric bypass surgery because of changes in the stomach and intestine that allow them to eat more and absorb more calories.

How do the patients sleep after bariatric surgery?

It is advisable to sleep on the back or side

Is it possible to keep bariatric surgery a secret?

Of course, many bariatric patients have strategically used vacation time to accommodate their recovery periods, allowing them to keep the surgery a secret.

Which bariatric surgery is most effective?

Gastric bypass appeared to be most effective for weight loss. Gastric bypass surgery resulted in an average 31% loss of total body weight in the first year and 25% of total body weight after five years.

What are some long-term risks of bariatric surgery?

The long-term risks of bariatric surgery are gallstones, hernia, ulcers, hypoglycemia, and bowel problems.

When are the results of bariatric surgery visible?

Results are visible within one year.