Gastric bypass surgery is the newer version of bariatric surgery that has been known today. Unlike any other weight loss methods, this surgery involves two parts. Often, it is considered as the safest choice for extremely obese individuals who need a surgery for weight loss. It is also known for helping in the control of chronic illnesses like diabetes.

Diabetes is categorized as one of the major chronic illness that obesity causes. An estimated 80% of those who develop diabetes are obese. However, the relationship of the two has always been a mystery to many for years already. Today, research groups are nearing conclusion into this mystery. One research has concluded that fat cells prompt tissues to resist the action of insulin. The research studied animals that are obese from over eating. They found out that the hormone they call resistin are of high levels. The same resistin gene is found in humans as well. Another research also concluded that a condition known as Endoplasmic Reticulum stress, caused by obesity and high fat diet activate an abnormal glucose production in the liver. This abnormal glucose production is a pre-cursor to insulin resistance thus causing diabetes.

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Three types of Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease of uncontrolled and consistent increase in blood sugar. It is chronic and irreversible. It has three types, Type 1 also called Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) results from the body’s failure to produce insulin. Type 2 also known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) results from insulin resistance in the body. The third type called Gestational Diabetes occurs in a patient who is pregnant and has no history of increased glucose before pregnancy. The disorder has a triad of major symptoms which are increased appetite, increased thirst and increased urination. Other symptoms include vision changes and skin rashes. Series of tests are done to diagnose the illness. Fasting Blood Glucose test or Fasting Blood Sugar test, done usually as part of a regular check-up, is a basic screening for diabetes. If the result reaches 126mg/dL or greater then diabetes is diagnosed while if the result ranges from 100-126mg/dL pre-diabetes is assumed. Another test called Oral Glucose Tolerance test also confirms diabetes. Diagnosis is given if glucose level is higher than 200mg/dL after 2 hours.

Upon diagnosis of chronic illnesses, focus of treatment is given towards prevention of further complications and damage to major organs since most chronic illnesses are not treatable only controllable. Few of the acute complications related to this disease are hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome. The serious complications known to diabetes on the other hand, include cardiovascular diseases, renal failure, sepsis, and retinal damage. The medications for diabetic individuals depend on the type of the illness. For type 1, insulin is used and is given through the subcutaneous route of injection. For type 2 on the other hand oral hypoglycemic agents are given. Some of the known oral hypoglycemic agents are sulfonylureas and nonsulfonylureas which trigger insulin, biguanides that acts by decreasing hepatic glucose output and by increasing uptake of glucose by the periphery, and alpha glucosidase inhibitors that slows down the digestion of starch in the small intestine thereby matching the impairment of insulin production. Commonly used medications for type 2 diabetes are metformin, glucotrol and acarbose. These prescribed medications are however only effective if the patient adapts the lifestyle changes necessary.

Knowing that diabetes is closely related to obesity, its first line of treatment are adapting lifestyle changes that specifically leads to weight loss. Losing weight is a process, not a thing that is done once and then success is achieved. Individuals who are obese and have diabetes must lose weight thru performing daily exercise routines and controlling appetite. If these measures are however unsuccessful, weight loss medications are then prescribed then next, weight loss surgery may be an option. For people with excessively morbid obesity, the best choice of surgery is gastric bypass surgery. In this surgery, the patient undergoes two processes, first a small pouch is made from the upper part of the stomach and then after a small portion of the intestine is bypassed and reconnected to this pouch. The shorter route and the absence of the cells that produces ghrelin in the stomach help in the weight loss process.

Research says that in most of the individuals who undergone the surgery and has diabetes, the disease was controlled, complications prevented and life was better.

With the stated facts about diabetes and their complications and control, one cannot help but conclude the close relation it has to obesity. Since being obese seems to be one of the leading causes for this chronic illness, management should also be related to such. Managing or controlling obesity is not an easy task. It requires diligence, perseverance, patience and a lot of hard work. Weight loss surgeries help in this task, but the psychological burden is still for the patient to carry. It is however important that the health care provider state the benefits that is in for the patient clearly. As the old adage say, for effective control of a problem the cause must be prevented. Thus for control of diabetes, obesity must also be controlled.

Medical tourism is a trend that has been growing by leaps and bounds for a number of years. Of course the main attraction for most seeking medical attention abroad has been cost. However, now patients traveling to Mexico for medical treatment are also doing so for the higher level of quality service and expertise, especially when it comes to weight loss surgeries. In fact Mexican hospitals and doctors have been performing lap band surgery for even longer than doctors in the United States. This is further evidenced by a report from Washington advocacy group (for health care issues), Families USA that showed that 90 percent of patients traveling to Mexico for medical treatment rated their experience as good or excellent, while only 80 percent of those who remained in the US for treatment gave the same rating.

When taking into consideration that the cost of medical treatment in Mexico averages 50% less than in the US, with prices often as low as one fifth, even when you add in travel expenses it is much wiser to cross the border for health care. This is especially true when it comes to medical procedures like lap band surgery, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypasses. Why anyone would want to stay in the US and and pay more for inferior service and less experienced doctors is a mystery.

These types of weight loss surgeries are normally not covered by US health insurance plans, however many US employers have been turning to health care plans that cover treatment in Mexico instead of the US to both save money and take better care of their employees. Last year it was reported that 1 million people from the US headed to places in Mexico like Monterrey, Tijuana and Mexicali for health care. Additionally another 1 million American retirees now reside south of the border and rely on Mexican hospitals for their everyday health needs. In fact many US doctors have given up the battle and have relocated to Mexico themselves in order to be able to compete.

Find out price of Lap Band Surgery in Mexico

However the best savings and doctors in Mexico for bariatric procedures are normally not found a the clinics that do the most advertising. Those unfortunately spend far too much in promoting themselves and eat up the savings which either results in higher costs, lower quality services or both. Instead look for Mexico based hospitals in Mexicali, Tijuana and Monterrey that are accredited by the Joint Commission International and participate in educational exchange programs with the US´s top medical facilities. These hospitals offer the best in world class service, along with the highest trained doctors, latest equipment and offer the biggest savings as most of their business is on referral basis not from spending millions on having to attract new clients each year.

Perhaps the only one factor that has deterred some from taking advantage of the great benefits of bariatric surgery south of the border has been safety concerns. Not with the medical services themselves but due to the country. However while the news media has enjoyed some extra stories from some small isolated incidents in the last couple years, when you look at the hard facts and statistics you will find that in general Mexico is much safer to travel to for health care than many areas of the United States. Certainly traveling to Mexico is much safer than other options like India. Which raises another interesting point. Those who are still under the misconception that health care may be better in the US , may be horrified to realize than many US hospitals now outsource the interpretation and reading of test results to doctors in places like India in order to cut costs. Scary but true.

So the bottom line seems to be that medical tourism to Mexico, while offering incredible discounts on health care services like weight loss surgery also has the superior advantages of more experienced surgeons, newer equipment, better personalized services and safety. It certainly seems like it is not a choice of going to Mexico for your medical needs, but simply which hospital to choose and how soon you can go.

In a country where obesity has become a major problem, an affordable gastric bypass surgery can really be of help. This type of procedure has shown instant dramatic results for overweight patients, and has allowed individuals who are more than 100 pounds overweight to lose their excess fat.

Ready 4A Change can direct patients to a world-class medical facility in Monterrey, Mexico, where this type of weight-loss procedure can cost 80% less to what it may cost in the United States. There’s no arguing that medical facilities in the US are indeed top-of-the-line. However, the medical services provided in Monterrey, especially at the CIMA Santa Engracia hospital, are as well respected, and are even known as a beacon of excellence for the Latin world.

Through Ready 4A Change, overweight patients can have the gastric bypass surgery they need and improve their way of living ( Lap-Band Surgery Vs. Gastric Bypass Surgery). Learn more by visiting their website at Ready4AChange.com or contact 1-800-270-7120.

Obesity means accumulation of excess fat on the body. Foods provide us with the nutrients we need for healthy bodies and calories for energy. But if you overeat regularly, you gain weight and if you continue to gain weight, you may become obese.
Poor diet cause obesity. Beyond a person’s heredity, poor dietary habits can contribute to heart disease and diabetes.

Again, obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) more than 30. The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height. It can also be calculated for weight in pounds and height in inches. For most people who are obese, the safest and most effective way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more.
Controlling diet
Reducing calories moderately is essential to achieve a slow but steady weight loss. Strategies of dietary therapy includes knowing about the calorie content in different foods, food composition, understanding nutritional value and how to prepare food and what to buy etc.
Physical activity
Moderate physical activity on daily basis is recommended for weight loss. Abdominal fat and waist circumference can be mostly reduced through physical activity. Strategies of physical activity should include the use of aerobic exercises like- cycling, dancing, swimming etc.
Diet and exercise are always a better alternative to weight loss surgery, but if these don’t work, you may need some extra help.
Behavior therapy
This includes changing diet and physical activity patterns and habits to new behaviors that promote weight loss. This includes joining a support group that can encourage weight loss in a positive way, developing a social support network, setting achievable goals about weight loss and working for it, maintaining a record of daily exercise and diet. A combination of a lower calorie diet and increased physical activity is reported to produce more weight loss than diet or exercise only. This is more about mental activity-changing your attitude towards food and exercise.
Medical treatment
If you are unsuccessful at losing weight on your own, you can seek doctor’s help. Various drugs are also used for weight loss and weight maintenance. For this, patients should be continuously assessed to determine the effects and safety of the drug. A combination of drugs, diet and exercise could prove to be an effective treatment for obesity.
Surgery
Obesity surgery is recommended as a treatment option for persons with obesity that have-a BMI of more than 40. Obesity surgery is used either to modify the stomach or the intestines to reduce the amount of food that can be eaten. This is for long-term weight loss control with severe obesity. Patients should know the benefits and risks associated with surgery before operation. For morbidly obese patients, who have significant obesity-related medical complications, surgery is the only option for them.
Mainly, there are two types of bariatric surgeries are done-gastric bypass surgery and lap band surgery. While they are helping people lose weight, to be more successful, it must be accompanied by healthy eating habits and regular exercise.

Bariatric surgery can help you get rid of excess fat of your body and helps in leading a healthy lifestyle. This could be either achieved by stapling a small portion of your stomach or by tying the stomach with a band.

Lap-Band vs. Gastric Bypass

Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass are the two surgical options for severely obese patients who have been unable to control weight through diet and exercise. Deciding between the two largely depends on your personal preference and a good knowledge about both surgeries.

Lap band surgery is a minimally invasive procedure requiring no stomach stapling or re-routing of internal organs The Lap band consists of a silicone ring that is placed around the top of the stomach giving it the shape of an hourglass. The resulting pouch dramatically reduces the functional capacity of the stomach. It is designed in such a way that it can be inflated or deflated at any time after operation. Lap band surgery can be adjusted, moved and has no requirement for permanent alteration to the body of the stomach or intestines, which makes it a better option to lose weight. Look into the side effects of Lap Band Surgery to see the full risks of using Gastric Banding Surgery.

Gastric bypass involves creating a small pouch by dividing the stomach. The small intestine is divided and brought up to join the new stomach pouch. This allows the food go straight from the stomach pouch into the small intestine, which causes it to bypass the lower stomach and the duodenum. This reduces the amount of calories that the body absorbs (Find out if having Lap Band Surgery in Mexico is right for you).

The lap band surgery lasts around an hour and requires an overnight stay in the hospital. Gastric bypass surgery takes about four hours and you may have to stay three to five days in a hospital after surgery.

Weight loss is quicker in gastric bypass. With lap band surgery initial weight loss is slower than Gastric bypass, however over a 5-year period, weight loss outcome is similar in both.

In case of Lap-Band it is easy to remove the band and reverse the surgery, requiring only a laparoscopic procedure, after which the stomach usually returns to its normal pre-banded state, since it uses an inflatable saline filled strap that is wrapped around your stomach. A gastric bypass surgery can be reversed, but it should not, as it is very risky.

A gastric bypass cannot be adjusted, while a lap band can be adjusted by means of a port through the skin that the surgeon leaves just below the ribs. To tighten the lap band, the surgeons injects saline solution into it.

Gastric bypass surgery is more expensive than a Lap band surgery. While the cost of lap band surgery comes in between $15,000 to $20,000, gastric bypass costs $20,000 to $25,000.
Gather information like procedure, precautions, recovery period, reversibility and cost of both types of bariatric surgeries. This will help you make the most informed decision.

There are several types of Bariatric Surgeries to cure obesity:

First category is Restrictive, which surgically reduces the stomach size to reduce amount of food intake. This includes Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (referred to in 70s and 80s as stomach stapling), Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding and Laparoscopic Vertical Gastrectomy (Sleeve Resection).

The Second category is Malabsorption, which is surgical re-routing of the intestines leading to reduced absorption of the food consumed. This includes Jejuno-ileal Bypass (which is not done anymore) and Biliopancreatic Diversion (which is currently rarely done).

The Third category is a combination of Restrictive and Malbsorption procedures which reduces the size of the stomach in conjuction with bypassing some of the small intestine to create a weight loss surgery that works on both advantages. It includes Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (Proximal RNY), Fobi Pouch, Distal RNY, Mini Gastric Bypass and Duodenal Switch.

Other procedures are Gastric pacemaker and Gastric Balloon, neither of which are FDA approved and are still in the investigative process.

In Vertical Gastric Banding the stomach is stapled with surgical staples to half of its capacity. A silastic ring is inserted in the stoma to help prevent the stomach opening from stretching in size and also to prevent stenosis or a stricture of scar tissue from closing this opening. It restricts food intake and creates a feeling of satiety. The VBG was very popular in 1970-1990 – but long term results were poor at best. Over time the stomach stretched back to the original capacity and the staple lines eroded causing patients to regain all if not more of their weight.

Gastric banding limits the quantity of food that can be contained in the stomach with the help of an inflatable silicon band. This removable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach creating a smaller pouch close to the barrio receptors that sense fullness. This method includes less surgical trauma, less pain, a lower rate of complications and smaller scar.

In Laparoscopic Vertical (Sleeve) Gastrectomy the stomach is reduced to the shape of a sleeve and essentially ¾ of the stomach removed. The reduced size causes weight loss because less food can be eaten without any bypass of the intestinal malabsorption. People lose 60% of their excess body weight within 6 months of this surgery. This surgery is only recently done as a standalone surgery; historically the Vertical Gastrectomy was used as a first stage surgery in the super obese because of its low risk factor. Once the patient had lost 50% of their excess weight, a Duodenal Switch could then be performed to insure continued weight loss without the inherent surgical risks of performing a two stage surgery in the same session.

Gastric Bypass or Roux-en-Y surgery is the most common form of laparoscopic surgery. This is recommended for morbid obese patients who are at least 100 pounds over their recommended weight. The surgery bypasses sections of the stomach and small intestine creating significant weight loss through both restricted portions and malabsorbtion. There are several variations of the Laparoscopic RNY – Distal, Proximal and Fobi Pouch.

The Laparoscopic Proximal RNY (up to 150 cm of bypassed intestine with the Y at 75 cm) is the most researched procedure to date and sometimes called the ‘Gold Standard’ of weight loss surgery.

In the Distal RNY procedure, the Y limb connection is created down further than the traditional 75 cm. This longer limb bypass shortens the intestine available for the absorption of nutrients aiding in weight loss. This Distal RNY should only be performed on patients that will without questions have the ability and commitment to secure proper follow-up and will require supplements the rest of their lives.

The Fobi Pouch is a variation of the Proximal RNY in which a silastic ring is placed in opening between the stomach and the intestinal connection to preserve the integrity of the connection over time.

The Duodenal Switch is a hybrid procedure and the most technically challenging and highest risk weight loss surgical procedure. While offering substantial permanent weight loss, the risks are high and the long term complications malnutrition, chronic frequent stools along with flatulence and unpleasant odor make this surgery difficult to live with.

Mini Gastric Bypass has been condemned by the world’s top bariatric surgeons. Do not let the word ‘mini’ fool you. This is basically a rename of the abandoned loop gastric bypass performed in 1970. This procedure while creating good weight loss also creates severe stomach irritation because the stomach is bathed in bile and pancreatic enzymes. Long term effects of this procedure are stomach ulcers and esophageal cancers requiring surgical reversal.

The Intragastric Balloon (BIB) System does not involve surgery. Under the supervision of medical experts an intragastric balloon consisting of a soft silicon balloon is placed in the stomach and filled with sterile saline. The balloon induces a feeling of satiety and the person does not feel hungry. The balloon is removed after six months. This procedure seems to have many complications and is NOT FDA approved and still investigational.