Gastric Band Surgery in Mexico
Gastric Banding Surgery is probably the most inexpensive of all the various types of bariatric surgeries in the United States, and the cost for gastric band surgery in Mexico is even lower.
Gastric banding can run you between $10,000 to $25,000 in the U.S. and Canada, but the rates for gastric band surgery in Mexico are roughly half of that. You can find gastric band surgery in Mexico for as low as $5,000, with many things included in that package price.
On this page we will go over what is included in the typical package for gastric band surgery in Mexico, as well as the common risks and complications that may occur.
Click here to read more about the Gastric Sleeve.
Considering Gastric Band Surgery in Mexico?
Getting gastric band surgery in Mexico, or any type of bariatric surgery south of the border, is an excellent choice if you do not have insurance, or are looking for a low-cost option. Among the other benefits of gastric band surgery in Mexico is the experience of the surgeons. In the U.S., all medical technologies must be approved first by the FDA. In Mexico there is no need for this. Due to this, numerous bariatric surgeons have been performing gastric band surgery in Mexico long before American bariatric surgeons. In fact, some Mexican bariatric surgeons have performed hundreds of gastric banding surgeries, in some cases, they’ve done more procedures than top surgeons in the U.S.
The only major point to consider is that you can get gastric band surgery in Mexico, but the band cannot be inflated right away. Typically, patients must heal a few weeks before getting their first “fill”. This means a surgeon in the U.S. must inflate and adjust your band as necessary. Before getting gastric band surgery in Mexico, you should find a bariatric surgeon in your home town that would be willing to perform any adjustments for you.
Gastric Band Surgery in Mexico – The Typical Package
On average, we have found many bariatric facilities that can offer packages for gastric band surgery in Mexico for about $5,000 – $8,000, the lowest price being $4,500.
An average package for gastric band surgery in Mexico includes:
- Pre-Op procedures (including X-Ray, EKG, Blood tests and Patient Evaluation)
- All the Pain Medication and Antibiotics required
- Transportation to and from the airport, hospital, and hotel
- Hospital fees
- Recovery house fees
- Surgeon’s Fees
- Anesthesiologist fees
- Consulting with a Nutritionist to provide you with dietary information to help you achieve your goal weight
- Telephone access with free calls to the U.S.
- Internet access
With a package like this, all you would need to do is book your flight and you can get gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico. Some centers even provide a driver to take you shopping or sightseeing all included in their cost for gastric band surgery in Mexico. If you are thinking of getting gastric band surgery in Mexico, you should check out the facility, the price, and exactly what is included in the cost.
Note: The above list is the average package, but it is your responsibility to find out what is and is not included in the package price for gastric band surgery in Mexico.
What Is Gastric Band Surgery?
The easiest way to describe the gastric band is: it is a band that is wrapped around the stomach and then tightened to reduce the stomach size.
More accurately, the band is wrapped around the top portion of the stomach, and is then tightened. This essentially creates two areas, a smaller top portion, and a larger lower portion. The top portion is where the food you ingest will go first, and it is easier to fill with less food, so you will feel full after eating only a small portion of food. This is referred to as a Restrictive method, because the amount of food you can eat is restricted, or reduced.
The patient is put under general anesthesia, and the band is surgically implanted. This is usually done laproscopically, meaning through a few tiny incisions instead of one big incision.
The band is wrapped around the stomach, and then tubing is attached to a port located just under the skin, which will be used to inject or remove saline solution. After the device is implanted, the patient is closed up, and given a couple months to heal completely.
Once the patient has healed, it is time for the first “fill”. The band will be filled with a saline solution, a little bit at a time, the more the band is filled, the tighter the band gets around the stomach, the less food you can eat. The saline solution is injected through a port that is located just under your skin around your navel, which was positioned during the surgery. The band can be adjusted (filled or deflated) to suit your specific situation based on the rate of weight loss, food cravings, and any physical reactions.
Whether you have gastric band surgery in Mexico, the U.S., Canada, India, U.K., where ever, the procedure is exactly the same.
Are There Any Risks, Side Effects Or Complications With Gastric Banding?
Gastric band surgery has risks and possible complications, it is a surgery, and all surgeries have potential risks. However, gastric banding is one of the less invasive procedures, and is less risky than a gastric bypass. This does not mean there no risks, the risk of death is present but very minimal. It occurs only once in roughly every 2,000 surgical procedures. Having gastric band surgery in Mexico will not put at any additional risk. Facilities in Mexico are on par with U.S. facilities, there is no difference in the quality of care you will recieve by getting your gastric band surgery in Mexico.
Specific risks of the implant itself can include erosion, the implant may deflate, and the band may cause stomach blockage among other risks. There is also the risk of infection, but this goes for any surgery, as well as excessive bleeding. When a procedure is done laproscopically, the risks of bleeding and infection are lower. Side effects of the gastric band can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
A gastric band is not the solution for everyone, but it may be the right solution for you. It is the least invasive and the least expensive bariatric surgery, and the price drops even lower when you get gastric band surgery in Mexico. Gastric band surgery in Mexico carries no more risk than if completed in your home town. Plus, the gastric band can be a very effective method of weight loss if you follow the program correctly. You should discuss this decision with your doctor, and learn about all the possible complications and risks before committing to gastric band surgery in Mexico.
