Unfortunately weight loss surgery is one of those much needed and desired medical procedures that is not covered by health insurance for Americans. In the past this has meant those who need and want weight loss surgeries like Lap Bands, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypasses with the choice of saving and paying for incredibly expensive medical care at home or continuing to suffer with their uncomfortable and in many cases, life threatening conditions. Fortunately that is now all changing.

Now those seeking medical treatment for weight loss have the option of traveling abroad to receive quality health care at a fraction of what it would cost at home. This has become known as medical tourism. Medical tourism is an industry that has been booming and has changed by leaps and bounds over the last several years. Millions of American residents are now traveling to countries like Canada, India, Brazil and Mexico each year to seek affordable health care.

At first many may immediately dismiss the idea as being unsafe. However we are not talking about visiting some backstreet butcher in the middle of nowhere. The expansion of medical tourism has spawned many world class hospitals that rival the best medical facilities in the world. In fact what many patients in the US do not know is that many parts of the health care process are already being outsourced to these countries. In an effort to cut costs US hospitals are already sending medical exams and data overseas to be interpreted and analyzed by doctors who are willing to work for pennies on the dollar. This actually means that selecting your own treatment facility abroad can ensure that you receive higher quality attention from better trained professionals. So where is the best place to look for high quality yet affordable and safe weight loss surgery? Canada may offer some discounts but not nearly as much as other countries. While Brazil and India may offer the cheapest medical services they are prohibitive because of travel time and cost and they have unfortunately also developed poor reputations for quality and safety. In contrast Mexico is not only conveniently reached within a few hours from anywhere in the US it offers the best in safety, high quality hospitals, expert doctors and prices far lower than in the US.

Safety, really? Yes. Clearly Mexico is without question safer to visit than countries like Brazil and India. Despite recent news headlines focusing on the US/ Mexico border the official statistics including the FBI’s own figures shows that Mexico is actually far safer to visit than many areas of the US!

When it comes to cost of weight loss surgery, Mexico is really unbeatable when you factor in travel and quality of medical care. Even at internationally recognized and accredited Mexican hospitals that offer the best care, prices for procedures like sleeve gastrectomy, Lap Band and gastric bypasses can be found under 50% of that in the US and often include stay at luxury hotel style facilities. In many cases this equates to savings well over $10,000 even after travel costs. However price shouldn’t be the only reason for seeking weight loss surgery out of your immediate area.

Mexico actually boasts a longer history of performing many of the most popular weight loss procedures meaning it’s doctors and medical professionals actually have been able to hone their skills and procedures better and have doctors that have far more experience performing these operations than their American counter parts. The best hospitals in Monterrey, Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico are also involved in educational exchange programs with the US’s leading medical institutions and many Mexican doctors have also studied in the US.

The dramatic increase in those seeking medical treatment in Mexico has in turn given birth to several amazing multi billion dollar hospitals offering the latest technology and most advanced state of the art facilities and equipment. The best of these are accredited by the Joint Commission International that bestows it’s accreditation on a small number of hospitals world wide who meet the highest international medical standards. Here you will find far superior personalized service and health care than you could ever expect at home from friendly professionals who really care about their patients and are committed to the highest levels of treatment and maintaining their world class reputations.

So before giving up hope for getting weight loss surgery because of the cost or making a poorly informed choice of expensive treatment centers, look at all of your options including the best hospitals in Mexico.

If you have been considering lap band, vertical sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass weight loss surgery it is worth giving some serious thought to crossing the border to Mexico for your procedure.

While many choose Monterrey, Mexicali and Tijuana for their health care for cost reasons, that is just one of the many benefits of medical tourism. In fact in 2009 alone almost 1 million individuals from the USA traveled to Mexico for medical attention. That is on top of the 1 million plus Americans who have already permanently relocated to sunny Mexico and rely on it´s health system for everyday needs.

It is true that there are huge cost advantages to weight loss surgery in Mexico. However that alone should not be your only motivation. In comparison to the cost of gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomies and lap band surgeries in the US you can expect to save between 30 to 70% by traveling south. That is big money that you can save for other things or emergencies later down the road. Even when you factor in the small cost of traveling to Mexico the savings are still huge.

These weight loss surgeries are not covered by most health insurance policies in the US. However some employers that have policies that do cover them have actually moved to insurance that specifically covers treatments in Mexico both for the cost savings and also because in many cases the standard and quality of service is higher which means better protection for employees as well.

Higher quality health care? Yes, absolutely. Health care in Mexico is considered comparable to the US according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However recent studies and surveys have shown that those who have actually made the trip and received medical attention in Monterrey, Mexicali and Tijuana are actually happier and rate their experiences better than compared with those who stayed in the US. Additionally many of the hospitals and medical facilities in Mexico are newer than those in the US and and have the latest technology and newest equipment. Even more importantly Mexican doctors and hospitals have been performing procedures like lap band surgery longer than their counter parts in the US meaning they are more experienced and knowledgeable. For those that are convinced that medical training is better in the US, you will be pleased to know that many of these hospitals have doctors that were trained in US medical schools as well as being participants in educational exchange programs with the most respected US medical institutions. If you have know that you want to travel abroad for medical treatment but just have not yet decided where, you should know that many other countries do not have any hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the non profit organization who ensures members are held to the highest international medical standards. Certainly when it comes to service there is no doubt that standards south of the border are often far superior. Referrals and great reputations are crucial to these hospital´s survival, so you can be sure that the facilities and staff aim to go far beyond your expectations in order to build solid businesses. This extends not only from initial consultations but through out your care and recovery.

Other factors that may come into play for some when weighing where to go for their weight loss surgery are safety and travel time. Certainly most of those in the US can be to any of the best Mexican hospitals within hours either by plane or car, many faster than traveling to the best hospitals in the United States. When it comes to safety, most concerns are unwarranted. Mexico may have a less than polished reputation for being crime free in the news. However the reality is that when you look and the real numbers, much of the US is far more dangerous.

So, when the US and Mexico is compared side-by-side for medical treatment and specifically for weight loss surgery, Mexico certainly takes the lead and checks all the boxes. You at least owe it to yourself to thoroughly weigh your options and make an informed decision. Definitely it would be a shame to stay home for your medical procedure and pay over twice the money for inferior service and care.

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.

Choosing the best place for your weight loss surgery whether it is a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, lap band or gastric bypass surgery means seeking out not only the best prices but also a quality, well respected medical facility with highly skilled and experienced doctors.

As weight loss surgery generally is not covered by health insurance in the United States it can be quite expensive. This a driven the trend for medical tourism abroad where health care can be found at a fraction of the cost of the US. Many foreign destinations have tried marketing themselves as great places for different types of medical care. This is far from a novel new idea of fad. In fact medical tourism is now a multi billion dollar business with over a million Americans traveling abroad for medical care each year. Among these destinations, Mexico has emerged as one of the most popular, especially in the field of weight loss surgery. Mexican cities like Mexicali, Tijuana and Monterrey see hundreds of thousands of Americans visiting each year for medical treatment on top of the million plus who have already permanently relocated south to take advantage of a better quality of life and affordable health care.

The cost of gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gatrectomy or lap band surgery in Mexico varies between medical facilities, though can be found ranging between 30-70% of the cost of the same procedures in the US. While this can mean saving even upwards of $10,000 of course price shouldn’t be your only concern. In the search for the best place for your weight loss surgery it is importance to know the difference between small surgery centers and actual hospitals. There are a number of small surgery centers that have popped up south of the border offering a variety of medical services. However these often spend the majority of their budgets on advertising to attract new customers which results either in higher prices or taking away from being able to afford the best doctors and equipment. Your health and safety is certainly not something to play with. In contrast the best Mexican hospitals in Tijuana, Mexicali and Monterrey offer state of the art medical facilities, providing the latest technology and techniques delivered by world class physicians. These hospitals are still able to offer the best discounts without sacrificing service and quality.

Lower cost weight loss procedures in Mexico far from mean lower quality service. In fact doctors in Mexico have actually been performing some of these procedures years longer than their American counter parts. The best hospitals in Mexico are distinguished by Joint Commission International accreditation and engage in education exchange programs with the world’s premier medical institutions such as the Children’s Hospital Boston and the Mayo Clinic. The World Health Organization has deemed these hospitals to provide a comparable level of service to the best in the US and more patients have rated their experiences in these prime Mexican hospitals good or excellent than patients who remained in the United States for treatment.

Safety should also be a consideration for those choosing to take advantage of more affordable and higher quality health care abroad. Many other places around the planet that have tried to attract medical tourists like India, Brazil and Thailand are infinitely more dangerous that taking a short trip to Mexico, not to mention more expensive to get to, which can severely cut into any savings. The leading hospitals in Mexico are often also able to assist patients with travel plans and accommodations in secure, luxury buildings. Remember that in comparison Mexico and especially the areas you will be visiting for treatment are much safer than many parts of the US. Repeat clients and word of mouth referrals are the lifeblood of these weight loss surgery centers so of course they take extreme care to make sure that all patients are treated with the utmost care and the highest possible level of personal service.

All in all, Mexico clearly offers a superior solution for those seeking weight loss surgery including lap band, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgery. Here you will find the best combination of discounted prices, stunning and well equipped state of the art hospitals and the most qualified and doctors along with administration and medical staff that provide first class treatment that truly make visits a delight.

With tighter economic times not only are more Americans seeking a remedy for weight problems but they are having to look abroad for affordable treatments and weight loss surgeries. It is estimated that 2010 will see around 2.6 million Americans traveling to another country for medical treatment, which is on top of many more residents who regularly travel to their home countries for health care. Far from a small industry medical tourism is well on it’s way to be a $100 billion a year business even at the incredibly discounted prices available. While some may think medical tourism is a new thing or a fad, they couldn’t be more wrong. The practice of traveling for better and lower cost medical treatment has existed since the times of the ancient Greeks. But where is the best place to go if you are seeking affordable and safe weight loss treatment like lap band, gastric bypass or vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery today?

Several countries have become highly marketed as medical tourism destinations including; Thailand, India, Canada, Brazil and Mexico, though there are many more that also attract tens of thousands each year. Each country has different advantages and disadvantages with price generally becoming cheaper the further away the country is from the US. Prices for weight loss surgeries abroad generally range from 30-70% of the cost at home which can easily add up to well over $10,000. However, while price may be your main motivation for looking into medical tourism it should not be the only thing that you consider for obvious reasons.

Other factors that must be taken into consideration when deciding where to go for your weight loss procedure include; travel time and price, accommodations while you are there, safety of the destination, quality of the medical facility and equipment and of course how experienced and qualified the doctors and staff are as well as the friendliness and attentiveness of the service. While traveling abroad for weight loss health care has many benefits you should not sacrifice or unnecessarily risk other aspects of your health in the search just to save a few dollars.

For example, those who are considering Asia of the Middle East as an option need not only be concerned with lower medical standards and safety of the destination but the high risk of contracting exotic diseases within the chosen medically center it’s self. Unfortunately westerners can easily contract further life threatening infections or viruses as the immune system is not developed to protect against them. While Canada may seem appealing to some, obviously the weather is not as nice as most of the other options and while English is commonly spoken the discounts are not as significant as other choices. While some South American countries have been performing various forms of cosmetic surgery they are also notoriously dangerous and have received a lot of media attention and have even been the center of many Hollywood productions. For most, Mexico offers the best overall option, especially when it comes to weight loss surgeries like vertical sleeve gastrectomy, lap band and gastric bypass surgery.

Of course the predominant concern for those seeking a foreign destination for affordable health care is the quality of health care and qualifications of the doctors performing any procedures. The best way to ensure safety and quality of medical facilities abroad is to check out their designations and accreditation’s. The most notable is being accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). The JCI, a relative of the Joint Commission of the United States inspects and accredits international hospitals and certifies those that meet the highest international standards and elite levels of patient care. There are several JCI accredited hospitals in Mexico including Monterrey. When deciding on a care facility you are much better off both in terms of cost and safety by choosing an actual hospital opposed to a small surgery center. Major hospitals can also be check out via the International Better Business Bureau. A dedication to constant improvement and affiliation with other world class medical centers and hospitals is also a great indication of safety and professionalism, for example education exchange programs with the like of the Children’s Hospital Boston and the famous Mayo Clinic.

In summary most Americans and others will find the Mexico offers the best combination of benefits when it comes to weight loss surgery from a close destination with great discounts to hosting some of the best international hospitals that are staffed by elite teams of highly trained and experienced doctors.

Mexico has become the first choice for almost a million people each year seeking affordable health care including weight loss procedures like vertical sleeve gastrectomies, lap band and gastric bypass surgeries, but is it safe? Not only safe in terms of medical practices and health care but as a destination to visit for medical tourism.

2010 has seen a number of news headlines about crime in Mexico however this should be looked at with the right perspective. How many crimes have there been in the US this year and who have the crimes been committed against? In comparison, when looking at the hard figures and statistics there are of course more murders in the United States. In fact according to data compiler Nation Master you are 20% more likely to be a murder victim staying in the US than visiting Mexico for your weight loss surgery. On top of this keep in mind that despite ‘sensational’ news headlines designed to boost ratings and fill the void when there is a lack of other news almost all of this crime in Mexico is by drug gangs against other drug gangs. So providing you do not get involved in buying or smuggling illegal drugs your visit to Mexico should be uneventful, except for of course enjoying the amazing scenery and great local culture. For those who are still wary, you can be sure a little common sense will go a long way to prevent even the slightest chance of even being robbed or taken advantage of. For example not flashing wads of $100 bills in front of those begging for money.

So having established the majority of Mexico as a safe choice of destinations for weight loss surgery in Mexico, what about the safety of the actual medical care that you can expect? Of course just as anywhere else in the world the quality of health care and qualifications of doctors vary between medical facilities. While there has been a lot of advertising by small surgical centers lately the biggest discounts, best equipped facilities and most experienced professionals can be found in the best hospitals in Monterrey, Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico. As far as safety goes in Mexico’s elite medical institutions, you will find hospitals that are comparable to the premiere hospitals in the US and other well respected destinations. In fact Mexico is one of the few countries to have hospitals that are accredited by the Joint Commission International who inspects and approves international hospitals according the the highest standards of patient care. Some of these same hospitals are also involved in education exchange programs with the USA’s leading medical institutions like the world renowned Mayo Clinic and Children’s Hospital Boston. Doctors in Mexico have actually been performing these procedures longer than their US counterparts to to delays releasing technology and procedures in the US, making Mexican doctors more experienced. Mexico’s newest multimillion dollar hospitals specializing in weight loss surgery also feature the world’s latest technology and best state of the art equipment.

On top of the safety of Mexico’s hospitals for weight loss surgery and the obvious cost advantages you will also find that personalized service is delivered with a smile and to a standard it would be next to impossible to find at home. The hospitals have been rated 10% better than those in the US by those who have already visited and focus on exceeding your expectations. This goes beyond your time in surgery and extends to world class, luxurious accommodation to make your stay an enjoyable experience from beginning to end.

Gastric Bypass Surgery is a proven method for permanent weight loss as well as a potential cure for Type II Diabetes and other conditions related to morbid obesity. Basically, the surgery helps lose weight of patients by changing how their stomach and small intestine handle the food they eat. The surgery is recommended when non-surgical treatments, such as diet, exercise and medicines have not worked. Generally, the surgery is considered for patients who have a body mass index of 40 or higher or if there is a life threatening or disabling condition related to the patient’s weight.

Preparation before the procedure includes a thorough and extensive screening process like blood tests, physical exams, bleeding and clotting time, and other needed laboratory work-ups. If the patient is smoking, the act is prohibited for weeks prior to the surgery. Eating will also be prohibited hours before to prevent aspiration. The operation requires a two to four day stay in the hospital and is done under general anesthesia.

During the surgery, the surgeon uses surgical staples to create a pouch from the upper part of the stomach separating it from the rest. A section of the intestine is then bypassed and re-connected to the pouch. This then creates a shorter route for the food to pass in the digestive system, thus lesser food is absorbed in the body. Gastric bypass be done by making a large incision in the abdomen (an open procedure) or by making a small incision and using small instruments and a camera to guide the surgery (laparoscopic approach). Other than the small size of the digestive system, some scientists also believe that weight loss following bariatric surgery is also the result of diminished blood cells of a recently discovered hormone called ghrelin, which is secreted by endocrine cells within the stomach. Blood ghrelin levels rise prior to meals and in the face of food restriction or starvation.

Just like any surgery, gastric bypass involves a set of risks. Risks common to all surgeries for weight loss include an infection in the incision, a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity or where the intestine is connected which may lead to peritonitis, and a blood clot in the lung. Ulcers also develop 5 to 15% of the time. Over time, the problems that may occur include, breakdown of the pouch, which would require another surgery to repair it, narrowing of the opening between the stomach pouch and the small intestine, low calcium levels, which can cause early osteoporosis. Also, problems such as gallstones and gallbladder attacks, gastritis, heartburn, stomach ulcers, poor nutrition, vomiting from eating more than your stomach pouch can hold, dumping syndrome when the contents of the stomach move through the small intestine quickly, incisional hernia and kidney stones may occur over time. An iron and vitamin B12 deficiency also occurs more than 30% of the times. About 50% of those with an iron deficiency develops anemia.

Weight loss is the major benefit of gastric bypass surgery. An expected weight loss of 65% to 80% of excess body weight is typical of most large series of the surgery. Most people lose about 10 to 20 pounds a month in the first year following the procedure. Comorbidities accompanying morbid obesity may also be corrected if the surgery is performed. Hyperlipidemia is corrected in over 70% of patients. Essential hypertension is relieved in over 70% of patients and medication requirements are usually reduced in the remainder. Obstructive sleep apnea is markedly improved with weight loss and bariatric surgery may be curative for sleep apnea. Snoring also improves in most patients. Over 90% of patients with type II non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus are expected to be off medication. Problems like, asthma, joint pain, arthritis, reflux, fatigue and shortness of breath are also improved or cured. In summary, the procedure causes an overall increased sense of well-being and an improved ability to engage in physical activity.

After the surgery, a restriction of eating for one to two days to allow the stomach to heal may be required, to be followed by a specific diet for about 12 weeks. Activities can be resumed after the patient can move around without a lot of pain usually in 3 to 5 weeks. Following the procedure, the patient needs to follow the exercise and nutrition guidelines established by the physician and the dietitian to lose weight and avoid complications of the procedure.

A real commitment to change your entire lifestyle is the only way that you can maintain the healthy benefits of Lap Band surgery. If you are one of those who have had lap band surgery or are still panning to undergo this type of bariatric surgery in order to achieve your weight loss goals, you must be completely prepared for a 360-degree shift to change some particular aspects of your life. The real struggle to achieve weight loss can be experienced by a patient after bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery alone will not shed your excess weight. Gastric banding, gastric bypass, and gastrectomy are just surgical operations to diminish your food intake and the body’s absorption of nutrients. Proper eating habits, diet modification, and other lifestyle changes are the primary elements for successful weight loss.

As a matter of fact, bariatric surgery is not a miracle cure to obesity and the direct ticket to losing all that excess weight you painstakingly want to get rid of. It is the combined diet and lifestyle alterations post-lap band surgery that will help you achieve your fitness goals. Your bariatric doctor will explain to you the pre- and post-surgical guidelines so as to help and support you to lose weight and prevent health risks. Lap band patients are examined beforehand to ensure that he or she is capable enough to withstand the pressure post-surgery.

DIET and NUTRITION

Following your lap band surgery, you must adhere to a strict diet. Right after your surgery, you are only to take occasional sips of water or suck ice chips. You must not be taking more than that. You can take more fluid a day after your operation, but only small amounts at a time. Besides water, you can also take other fluids with more calories. The first 3 to 5 days, you are on strict liquid diet.

One to four weeks after surgery, you can have clear broth/soup (without vegetables or meat, not creamy), low-fat yogurt, skimmed milk, jello, fruit juice, or pureed soft fruit. In the first week post-surgery, you may be allowed to eat food that may be restricted in your diet later as they may contain many calories. It is very important that for the first week after the surgery you must allow your stomach to be accustomed to the lap band system.

During the fourth to sixth week after surgery, you are now allowed to consume slightly thicker and creamier soups. By that time, you can be able to eat solid food. However, you may want to skip bread, red meat, and rice as they may be difficult to digest. Start with softer solid foods that are better and easier to digest (fish or moist white meat [chicken or pork]). You must cut your food into small pieces and chew your food thoroughly. If not, you will experience vomiting, nausea, stomach irritation and swelling. If this happens, you can go back to the liquid diet you had on the early days after the operation.

Your new nutritional plan must be followed for life. When you are able to digest solid food without any stomach problems, you must pay attention to your diet. You will not feel full if you only take liquid food. High-caloric food and drinks must be completely avoided. Eat three small meals a day. You must not eat in between meals. If you are already full, you need to stop eating. Eat only quality food while avoiding those with less nutritional value and those that are fibrous. Drink enough water and low-caloric fluids a day.

EXERCISE

As with any other health and wellness program, an exercise plan can be very crucial, it plays a very important role to achieve fitness or weight loss objectives. Exercise may be very difficult at the early days of post-weight loss surgery. Just take exercising simple and less strenuous at first. If you it becomes more comfortable, you can book a set each day as your exercise plan. Working out in the morning, mid-morning, or after work can make exercise an important item in your new lifestyle after bariatric surgery.

MONITORING AND ADJUSTMENTS

The lifestyle changes after lap band surgery can be very overwhelming at first. You need to keep your doctor in touch with you to monitor your progress. Adjustments to your band will be done during your visit to your doctor. You must need 5 to 8 adjustments within one year after the weight loss surgery.

In contrast to the circumstantial increase in the incidence of obesity among people these days, many medical professionals are choosing surgical options for people with weight problem. The choice to recommend weight loss surgery methods by doctors to their patients are greatly shaped by the relative failure of conventional weight loss strategies. Nowadays, most doctors are resorting to surgical options to effectively to control and restrain the rise of weight-related disease and accompanying costs. One of the surgical weight loss methods that are popularly done these days to obese patients is the bariatric surgery. This surgical operation is remarkably effective. However, there is more to it than just being under the knife to reduce your food intake. Your success in losing weight is usually gauged after bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery is a weight loss surgical procedure that refers to several different procedures that are aimed to reduce weight via the modification of the gastrointestinal tract to decrease the intake of food and lessen the amount of absorption within the body. The weight loss can be achieved through gastric banding (reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device called lap band) or via gastric bypass surgery (resecting or re-routing the small intestines to a small stomach pouch) or by means of removing a portion of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch).

With many patients who have had bariatric surgery, doctors and other medical professionals have concluded that this surgical option for weight loss goal is highly effective. Long-term research and studies have proved that bariatric surgery has several advantages. Benefits of bariatric surgery are inclined to weight loss and improvements in health conditions.

Weight Loss. Weight loss after gastric bypass surgery occurs really rapidly among men and women alike. For women, they lose about 1 pound every day within the first 2 to 3 weeks after the surgery. In men, they usually lose 2 pounds during the first few weeks after gastric bypass. Characteristically, patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery lose about 20% of excess weight within the first 2 months after the operation. About 30%- 40% of excess weight are eliminated after 3-4 months. One year after gastric bypass surgery, patients usually lose 60%-85% of excess body weight.

For those who went under gastric banding, weight loss can vary. The usually lose 25%- 60% of their excess weight within 1 to 3 years of adjustable band surgery. Compared to gastric bypass surgery, weigh loss after gastric banding is slower. Averagely, men and women will lose 40% of their excess weight.

After bariatric surgery, many patients will gain weight after their initial weight loss if they don’t follow recommended diet, exercise, and follow-up regimens.

High-Blood Pressure Improved. Hypertension among bariatric surgery patients may improve often just a few days after surgery. This medical condition may be completely resolved in 75% of patients. Although, some patients may still undergo treatment of their hypertension after the surgery, they are now treated with fewer medications or at lower doses.

Normal Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels. A few months after this weight loss surgery, many patients (80% of patients) will develop normal levels of cholesterol and triglyceride.

Improved Blood Sugar Control. It is very important that diabetic patients monitor their blood sugar levels shortly after gastric bypass surgery. Usually, blood sugar levels will become normal after a few days from the operation.

Diminish Risk of Heart Disease. Gastric bypass surgery effectively reduces the risk of patients to heart disease. Bariatric surgery can prevent major risk factors to heart disease such as hypertension, high levels of cholesterol, and diabetes.

Respiratory Insufficiency Reduced. Obese people have problems with breathing, especially on exertion. After bariatric surgery, these patients have improved lung capacity. Oxygen uptake during normal activities and activities with exertion is improved as body’s need of oxygen is now equal to the body’s supply.

All the patients who have undergone weight loss surgery find that they have overall quality of life. They are able to face all the challenges that they have faced before their operation.

These are just some of the known benefits of bariatric surgery. You can discover more advantages of this weight loss surgery with your bariatric doctor. Researching through medical books or online resources on gastric bypass, lap band surgery, and gastrectomy prove to be helpful for you to understand this weight loss option.

Bariatric surgery will completely change the eating ways-from the types of food the body will tolerate to how much the person can eat at any one time. It helps with hunger control and will make it easier to limit eating. Bariatric diet is a dietary plan typically recommended to patients who have undergone weight loss surgery. After weight loss surgery, the stomach changes in capacity and function, so the patient’s diet needs to be adjusted. The bariatric diet plan will focus on minimizing calories and maximizing nutrition that will in turn help in losing weight while staying healthy at the same time.

The bariatric diet begins with the pre-surgery diet and continues after surgery with the recovery diet. Pre-surgery diet includes the restriction of eating six to eight hours prior to the procedure. The physician may also recommend taking a diet high in protein and low in calories, fats and carbohydrates. Diet before the procedure is facilitated in the hospital since the patient will be admitted during this time.
Surgery for weight reduction is not a miracle procedure. It doesn’t guarantee that the individual will lose all of their excess weight or keep it off long term. Weight loss success after the surgery depends on the individual’s commitment in making lifelong changes in their eating and exercise habits. Therefore much attention should be given by health care professionals in teaching and making sure that patients understand and follow the diet guidelines post-op. First and foremost, remember that the overall goal is to optimize the nutritional value of small portions of foods being eaten and to obtain the nutrients needed by the body to be healthy. Portion sizes for meals should be no more than six to eight ounces and this should be enough to make the patient feel full. It is important that the patient be aware of body signals of satisfaction.

The diet progression through recovery can take up to three months, but it can also occur sooner. It all depends on the extent of surgery and how well the patient’s body adjusts to the changes. Immediately after the surgery there will be a restriction for eating and drinking for at least 24 hours. For the first week following the surgery the patient can only tolerate nutritious fluids which include water, tea, broth, protein fruit drinks, and artificially sweetened non-carbonated beverages. Second week diet includes having pureed and blended foods. Pureed foods are soft foods that have been blended into the smooth consistency of baby food and do not contain any chunks because the chunks can cause pain and vomiting. After a month, the diet will now include trying out of soft solid foods which can still be in pureed form. The aim is to make the patient chew soft pieces of food. Food items like meat paste, fish, cottage cheese, pasta, and rice are some examples. Once you are able to eat soft foods without any significant difficulties the surgeon will now begin introducing solid foods, the last stage of the diet progression. Foods will be added on a gradual basis to make sure it is tolerated by the digestive system.

Since the diet will be small portions, measuring tools can be used to check on the portion sizes. Serving meals on smaller plates, such as salad or luncheon plates will help make these smaller portions look more appealing. It is also important that the patient chew foods slowly possibly taking 15-20 chews per bite in order to ensure that nothing gets stuck passing through the narrowed outlet from the pouch. Perhaps taking 20-30 minutes to complete a meal is ideal for post gastric bypass patients. Since most bariatric patients are fast eaters before the procedure, this is a difficult behavior to change. Protein is an important nutrient for fast recovery and proper functioning of the body post surgery. Since our body does not store protein, it is a must that patients meet the daily minimum protein requirement which is approximately 50-60 grams for women and 60-70 grams for men. The patient should drink about 64 ounces of water or other fluids each day. With the reduced intake of food the body will gain less fluid, making it a must to drink fluids in order to be well hydrated. All fluids should be taken in between meals not with the meal. Carbonated and alcoholic beverages should be restricted. Additionally, patients will have a lifelong regimen of vitamins and mineral supplements post surgery. Patients should avoid high carbonated foods such as chips and pretzels. Snacks and grazing between meals and foods high in fats and sugars should also be avoided.

Having good understanding of proper nutrition for post bariatric surgery patients is essential for the success of the procedure. Failure to follow the guidelines may lead to potentially serious complication such as dumping syndrome. It is important to see the physician and dietician for consultation as well. The surgery will help in trying to control the weight, but the ultimate change of a person’s life into a better one will be on the hands of the person themselves.