The number of patients traveling abroad to find weight loss solutions is rising. There are many reasons why a patient might find obesity surgery abroad attractive. Most patients fail to qualify for the procedure due to strict criteria. And if you do qualify, you will be on a waiting list before receiving the treatment.
Using private clinics is too expensive, leading people to look for countries outside the UK, USA, and Europe to have the procedure, where prices are more affordable.
There are many appeals to receiving obesity treatment abroad:
Doctors abroad speak and communicate in English
Some patients might hesitate to consider having the treatment abroad because of language or cultural barriers. But in medical tourism destinations like Turkey, Hungary, and Poland, doctors regularly serve international patients. They can communicate in good English.
Some doctors had their training abroad, which explains their good English proficiency. Also, their clinics have assistants who communicate in English.
Modern Facilities and equipment
The specialist uses the latest technology and equipment in their field. Ensuring your treatment will have great results and a higher success rate.
Spend your recovery period in a stress-free luxury environment
Some patients prefer an agency to plan their treatment abroad. It gives you relief to focus on your recovery. The agency will prepare a customized trip that fits your needs. The package will include flight, accommodation, and airport transfer.
Reduced waiting time
In some countries like the UK and USA, there is a waiting time for a specific procedure, which can take months. But in medical tourism countries, it is reduced drastically. In some cases, with no waiting time.
Easy Visa Process
Medial tourism hubs like Turkey, Poland, and Hungary facilitate the visa process for international patients. In these destinations, the visa is obtained immediately via an online procedure that will only take you minutes to complete.
Create a shortlist of possible clinics abroad: research the clinic you plan to visit overseas. Most reputable clinics will have an official website, and you can examine the surgeon's expertise, reviews, and credentials.
Check the local regulation: Knowing how the treatment is regulated in your chosen country is essential. It will help you identify reputable clinics registered with the governing body or national association. It will also tell you about your rights.
Prepare a list of questions for your doctor: prepare a list of questions to ensure you receive quality treatment. Common questions to ask - do they provide a translator? Do they have patients' testimonials? Is the clinic registered with the national association?
Trust your instincts: This personal element should not be underestimated since the treatment can be traumatic for many people. Mainly when undertaken in a foreign country and in unfamiliar surroundings. You should trust your instincts as much as the raw data. If a clinic feels wrong, then walk away.
Have a clear expectation of the results: understand the necessary procedure plan.
Choose a surgeon registered with an international governing body like the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Or any other reputable international board.
Verify the surgeon's experience. Ask about the surgeon's education, additional fellowship training, and how often they performed the treatment.
Schedule an online consultation. Most clinics or hospitals that work with international patients offer this service.
You're an ideal candidate for obesity surgery if:
The factors that affect the cost of obesity treatment abroad are the hospital's location, the surgeon's experience, the technique used, and the type of treatment.
Country | Estimated Cost |
UK |
€10,000 - €20,000 |
USA |
€15,000 - €23,000 |
Turkey | €3000 - €4850 |
Australia |
€16,000 - €18,000 |
Learn more about Obesity Surgery in Turkey by comparing costs and reviewing the clinics and doctors.
Obesity Surgery (46 Clinics)
Like other medical procedures, obesity surgery carries its risks and side effects. The common obesity surgery complications include:
Blood clots
Wound infection while healing
Gastric band slipping out of place, causing heartburn, vomiting, and feeling sick
The gut leak may cause infections inside your tummy
Blocked gut because the small intestine becomes narrower following the procedure
Malnutrition since the procedure makes it harder for the gut to absorb vitamins and minerals
Gallstones within the first year or two after the procedure
Excess folds and rolls on the skin as you lose weight
While most patients are stable to go home in 3 to 4 days after obesity surgery in Turkey, full recovery could take 4 to 6 weeks. However, the patient must make long-term lifestyle changes to help faster healing.
The recovery period takes longer when the surgery must be "open," meaning the surgeon makes a larger cut.
Obesity surgery provides long-term weight loss. The success rate is 95%, depending on the obesity surgery types and the patient's lifestyle after the procedure.
There are different obesity surgery types, and how each one is done differs from the others. Here is an overview of the obesity surgery types:
Gastric Bypass: the surgeon cuts the small intestine and sews part of it directly onto the pouch. Food will bypass most of your stomach and go into a small pocket.
Sleeve Gastrectomy: The surgeon removes about 80% of your stomach and leaves a long tube-like pouch. Therefore, the small intestine cannot hold as much food.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch: A two-part surgery where the first step involves performing a procedure similar to the sleeve gastrectomy.
Can surgery overcome obesity?
Yes! Bariatric procedures treat obesity by changing the stomach and intestine so that a person feels full with less food.
Which surgery is best for fat loss?
Obesity and bariatric surgery provide fast and effective fat loss by limiting your body's food intake. Over time, the body absorbs the extra fats resulting in quicker and less strenuous weight loss.