The Ultimate Guide to Bariatric Surgery in Tijuana

If you’re looking at a way you can afford weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery in Tijuana could be an option.

Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery as it is also known, is a drastic and expensive option, but it may be something you have to do for your health. There are various procedures and techniques that limit the amount of food you can eat, and in some cases also restricts what your body absorbs, resulting in massive weight loss.

In order to be suitable for bariatric surgery, you must be morbidly obese, and usually with a BMI of over 30 – although this may vary depending on the type of bariatric procedure being undertaken. There is always a risk with surgery, and especially if you are very overweight, so you will need to be in reasonable health.

Why should I choose Tijuana for bariatric surgery?

For North Americans, it is reasonably convenient, and if there is an issue with you flying there is the option of driving.

There are a number of excellent bariatric surgeons and clinics in Tijuana, who have been providing successful treatments to local and international patients for some years. Just like at home, you can expect that your surgeon is highly skilled and qualified – many have US qualifications too, and may be members of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and/or international professional organizations, such as the International Federation of Surgery for Obesity.

You will also find hospital and clinic facilities for international patients to be on a par with those at home. Medical tourism is a growing industry and providers are in tune with the needs and expectations of their clientele, often offering services, facilities and customer care that is better.

We always recommend you do your own due diligence. Make sure you’ve done your homework and are happy with the decision you’ve made when choosing to have treatment abroad. Medical Departures can help as all of our clinics and doctors have been background-checked by us. Qualifications, professional memberships and patient reviews are all verified, we visit clinics personally and we check for any legal and/or criminal proceedings. You can find most of this information on our websites, along with high definition clinic photos and much more.

What are the different bariatric surgery procedures?

Your surgeon will discuss with you your suitability for a specific weight loss procedure, but they include the gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric (lap) band and duodenal switch.

How long does bariatric surgery take?

Most are performed laprascopically (keyhole surgery) which means your body doesn’t have to recover from large incisions and so you will be on your feet much quicker. The surgery may still take several hours.

What is the recovery time from bariatric surgery?

This varies depending on your procedure – for some you may be in hospital for up to 5 days, and for others you will typically only need an overnight stay.

For the first few days following the procedure you will not be allowed to eat anything so as to give your digestive system a little time to recovery. After that, different foods will be introduced slowly, starting with liquids, progressing to liquidized foot, then soft food like mash potatoes before introducing normal food.

You will be monitored closely with blood tests to ensure you are getting the required nutrients into your body. You may feel depressed, tired and cold for the first few months as your body adjusts to the new regime, but once this has passed you should start to feel much better, especially as the weight will be dropping off.

What is the cost of bariatric surgery in Tijuana, in comparison to the United States and Canada?

In Tijuana, expect to pay around $5,000 (CAD $6,500; GBP £3,300; €4,400; AUD $6,700) for bariatric surgery – a massive saving on the $20,000 (CAD $26,000; GBP £13,000; €17,500; AUD $27,000) it will cost in the United States.

What now?

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