Medical Tourism Resource Guide Affordable Healthcare Worldwide Thu, 14 May 2020 08:19:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Medical Tourism Resource Guide 32 32 How Will COVID-19 Pandemic Impact the Future of Medical Tourism? Sun, 19 Apr 2020 23:52:43 +0000 The trend of traveling abroad for affordable healthcare came to a screeching halt with the recent outbreak of Coronavirus. This phenomenon is called medical tourism, where thousands of medical travelers from the United States, Canada and across the globe for less costly medical services.

How will the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic change the medical tourism industry? Here is what patients and providers need to know…

Thousands were recently forced to cancel trips due to COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by Patients Beyond Borders.1 Patients who planned to go abroad to receive affordable medical and dental procedures are cancelling or postponing their trips due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Map of COVID-19 Spreading Pandemic - How Will Coronavirus COVID-19 the Future of Medical Toursm

The Spread of COVID-19

This spreading virus is quite literally putting the world to a standstill. Nearly everyone has felt the impact or even suffered, from the devastation caused by COVID-19. Coronavirus is contagious through the eyes, nose, and mouth. For every person who is infected, spreads to an average of eight people!

This is truly a once in a lifetime event, unlike anything we have ever seen before. So when will the world start spinning again? More importantly, when will the medical tourism industry be back up and running and what can you expect from healthcare providers abroad because of this crisis?

Medical Tourism Statistics

Hundreds of thousands of individuals from all points around the world travel overseas to destinations like Mexico, Thailand, Costa Rica, Thailand, Israel, Turkey, and Iran to get healthcare services not available or affordable at home. It was estimated that about 1.4 million Americans were to cross the borders for healthcare in 2020.

These procedures range from weight loss surgery, dentistry, cosmetic and plastic surgery, orthopedics, cancer treatments, fertility care, stem cell therapy, and cardiovascular medical procedures. Tourists seeking medical services can generally save from 20% to 80% percent, especially with most savings in conveniently located Tijuana, Mexico.

We estimate that the medical tourism industry is one of the hardest-hit industries. 90% of companies can’t operate because traveling abroad is uncertain and risky. Borders have closed to major countries and for some regions, travel is banned.

So now that we are beginning to beat the curve and more and more medical tourism providers open their doors again, how can you travel safely abroad with the threat of COVID-19?

Here are our suggestions!

Precautionary Measures

As a measure to exercise caution and reduce risks the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends people practice good hygiene through;

  • Washing hands with soap or water
  • Using an alcohol-based sanitizer
  • Routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, like cell phones.

There are no vaccinations in sight yet and the only remedy is social distancing, stay-home, and lock-downs. If you have a chronic medical condition and may have a higher risk of serious illness, check with your doctor about other ways to protect yourself.

Avoiding Coronavirus While Traveling Abroad

As we know, COVID-19 is an airborne virus, meaning that it spreads through touching a contaminated surface or object, contact with an infected individual, and close-contact through the mouth, nose, or eyes.

COVID-19 Mask Use - How Will Coronavirus COVID-19 the Future of Medical ToursmFirst things first, if you are planning on traveling abroad in the near future, create an action plan and a backup plan.

  1. Check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) for recent updates and advice.
  2. Look into local and statewide health advisories to both where you are coming from and where you are going to.
  3. Create a direct travel plan to get to your destination with as little contact, delay, and interaction as possible.
  4. Check the number of confirmed cases and deaths in the specific regions you are traveling through. Make sure to stay out of major infected cities, airports, or known cluster-zones.
  5.  Now that you have done your research, create an alternative route in case of emergency, travel bans, or special circumstances. Plan carefully and know your options for a variety of transportation methods. Car rentals, bus rides, airports, uber, etc.
  6. Make sure you have enough money in care and you are forced to stay put for a few weeks. Coronavirus
  7. Think about “worst-case scenarios”, “what ifs”, or “emergency situations”. If one is likely, you should probably consider putting your travel on hold.
  8. Avoid people at all costs. Wear an n95 mask or scarf covering your mouth and nose.

If you’re planning to travel, first check the CDC and WHO websites for updates and advice. Also, look for any health advisories that may be in a place where you plan to travel. You may also want to talk with your doctor if you have health conditions that make you more susceptible to respiratory infections and complications.

The Future of Medical Tourism Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Medical tourism industry, like the travel industry, is hard-hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The countries around the world implemented measures like stay-home, social-distancing, lock-downs, and travel restrictions to contain and flatten the virus curve.

7 Step Prevention Coronavirus - How Will Coronavirus COVID-19 the Future of Medical Toursm

It is reported that around 100,000 patients canceled their planned medical trips, mainly elective or non-urgent procedures, in March alone. There are estimated some 500,000 more cancellations to occur through the third quarter of 2020.

“Over 90% of bookings were cancelled or rescheduled from the end of March to now,” Ron Elli, Ph.D., the CEO of Mexico Bariatric Center.

This may become new normal for some time unless a quick and conclusive test or better yet a vaccination and cure becomes readily available.

Will We Ever Return to “Normal”?

This could be a new normal… Times of disruption always leads to times of drastic, and in some cases, desperate change. Whether the COVID-19 global pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime effort to shake the world to its core, or its an opportunity to rebuild our society again. It is certainly a wake up call which we all have suffered from in one way or another.

Everyone is getting the chance to see what we have to be thankful for, and how quickly it can all be taken away.

So will domestic medical tourism flourish? As it appears more and more that obesity and its comorbidities like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are deadly during a virus epidemic such as Coronavirus 2019.

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Genomics and Medical Tourism – Use In The Clinical Setting Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:38:33 +0000 What is Genomics?


With a field that helps to understand the genetic material and how it works together to produce proteins, genomics has paved the way to understand better and advance the fields of pharmacology, oncology, and infectious disease. Additionally, it is also useful in aiding in the diagnosis and management of rare illnesses.

The Use of Genomics in the Medical Setting

But what is the use of genomics in the medical setting? Genomics is split into two broad categories – translational genomics and clinical genomics. Clinical genomics is involved in the way drugs and drug manufacturing can be better tailored to the human body by using the study of genomics, whereas translational genomics deals with genetic mutations that make specific diseases.

Clinical genomics has helped us to individualize patient treatment. Patients can receive the proven best treatment which is specific to their unique genetic code via genomics and the decoding of their genetic material, giving us a step into precision medicine. We are more frequently seeing the benefit of precision medicine in the fact that, oftentimes, generalized treatment for a disease can produce vastly different effects and results in different people.

Pharmacologists have always posed the question as to why this is the case. Why is it that some patients on narrow therapeutic range drugs like phenytoin display more side effects or toxicity than others? Why is it that some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work better in some people than in others? Up until recently, the answer as to what is best for which patient has always been the “trial and error” concept. Patients are trialed on medication; if it is not effective, they’re moved onto the next “wonder drug.”

In fact, the answer to all these questions has all come down to genomics – the slight molecular individual variances make a notable difference in the management and treatment and efficacy of treatment in individuals. Therefore, precision medicine is in fact, more cost-effective, since it eliminates the cost of potential side effects and adverse events, therapeutic failure and long-term complications of the disease.

Clinical Genomics and Genetic Testing

As clinical genomics and genetic testing in the context of pharmaceuticals become more readily available, it is predicted that there will be a boom in medical tourism. Medical tourism is the concept where people undergo or seek medical care from a country other than their own out of the assumption that it will be of a higher quality or more affordable. Therefore, states that make genomics a standard of therapeutic care available, there is sure to be an influx of patients trying to access these services.

With cancer being the leading cause of death and still no breakthrough in a generic cure, pharmacology and medicine have been called into question about how this global endemic can be stopped. The answer is simple: genomics. To understand why it is imperative to understand what cancer really is. Over the course of life, cells, which contain genetic material, divide and die as part of normal cell growth. When there is damage to the cell, every time it splits, there is the risk of minor genetic mutations. Over multiple divisions, these mutations multiple, until the cell is no longer able to regulate its own growth. At this point, cells rapidly replicate, without regulation.

From this; it is easy to understand that cancer is, in fact, a genetic problem, at which point the solution obviously becomes a genetic one. Genomics can compare cancerous genetic material to that of normal cells and understand where the mutations arose and thereby, decide on the most effective treatment of each patients’ mutations. Examples of precision medicine already in use in cancer treatment are the use of anti-EGFR antibodies in certain colon cancers which present the KRAS surface protein.

It is clear that, from a clinical perspective, genomics is the best way forwards in terms of individualizing our patient care to produce the best health results at the most cost-effective rate.

Human Genome Project (HGP)

A very ambitious International research project was a milestone in biology led by Francis Collins launched in 1990. HGP aimed to map out entire human genome, to map all genes in the human body and to discover all 3 billion base sequences.

Genomic Medicine Destinations

Having in mind that more than half of the global population above 65 years of age resides in the Asia-pacific region, it’s no wonder why to precision medicine market focuses this part of the world. The amount of money governments of India and China spend for the precision medicine research, makes those destinations as fastest growers on the market of precision medicine providers globally. As the Eastern economies show a steady growth in the last couple of decades, Europe and North America are not exclusive consumers of the expensive (but cost- effective!) treatments of all sorts (medical included).

Hong Kong

Medical biotechnology sector in Hong Kong has developed so much; it can accommodate the needs of millions of patients annually using cutting edge technology. At the moment, Hong Kong is among the most significant providers of precision medicine services in the world (if not the biggest).


Another region in the Asia Pacific region that recognized the potential of precision medicine and puts tremendous effort to become the leader in this part of the world. Thailand holds the largest share of Asian medical tourism market (followed by India and Singapore). This is why the 12th Asia Pacific Conference on Human Genetics was held there in November 2017.


Another Asian country that makes excellent results in medical tourism and presents cutting-edge innovations in precision medicine. In 2016, the Sunway University hosted International Conference on Precision Medicine. World’s highest echelons in biomedical science gathered there to discuss implications of precision medicine.


India is a serious player at the Asian medical tourism market. Having more than 15 prestigious medical centers for precision medicine throughout the country, it tries hard to catch up with other competitors on the market. Being the biggest medical tourism market in the East, India wants to secure that reputation by investing in the precision medicine packages as well.

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State of Medical Tourism Industry Around The World Tue, 21 Nov 2017 23:20:11 +0000 Medical tourism or Global Healthcare refers to people traveling to other countries to obtain medical treatment not available at home or take advantage of the packages which typically cost far less than the procedures at home. The medical tourism industry is growing at leap and bound. Medical Tourism Resource Guide (MTRG) reflects on the latest trends in the medical tourism industry emerging around the world.

1. Status of the medical tourism market in the Gulf Nations

The medical tourism market is growing at a steady pace. However, Gulf nations have seen a decline in outbound medical tourism as the availability of various social and economic factors have brought down a decline in the numbers of patients traveling abroad for treatment.

2. Significance of Unique Value Proposition (UVP) in the Medical Tourism Industry

The lack of a Unique Value Proposition (UVP) is among the most common shortcomings in medical tourism marketing. As marketing in the medical travel industry is usually focused on advertising and promotion, UVP explains to your audience how you solve a problem or meet the need of your customer.

It highlights the specific benefits of your services and tells your potential customer why they should get their treatment done from you. Most importantly, a UVP communicates how you are different from your competition. When you tell your target audience what you can offer that others are not offering, they will certainly prefer you over all others. This important component is still missing from the strategy of medical tourism marketing.

3. Is India’s Medical Tourism Market Worth $8 Billion?

India has emerged as a lucrative medical tourism market and according to a bold estimate, the value of this market may even reach $8 billion dollars by the year 2020. According to Grant Thornton, 200,000 tourists come to India every year for medical care, including complicated surgeries, this means that India currently has 18% of the global medical tourism market. If things go smoothly, it will reach 20% by 2020. This information also tells us that the average revenue per medical tourist is approximately USD 15,000.

4. NHS Shortcomings Are Causing Patients To Seek Treatment Overseas

Another recent trend that has emerged in the UK is that due to various shortcomings, women are going abroad for fertility treatment. The increasing pressure on NHS (National Health Service) budgets, as well as, a shortage of donors have negatively affected IVF treatment that was provided by the NHS. It is due to these shortcomings and high-costs, that British patients are seeking infertility treatment abroad.

These are some of the emerging trends that are shaping the medical tourism industry around the world:

  • Stem cell treatments
  • Regenerative medicine
  • Genomics

The limitations and financial hardships that can be faced are becoming predominantly obsolete as patients become more educated about their options. With the rising popularity of medical tourism, the world of healthcare is rapidly changing in remarkable ways.


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Is Tijuana, Mexico Safe For Medical Tourists? Thu, 02 Nov 2017 22:07:25 +0000 Tijuana is located on the Pacific coast of Baja California in Mexico, right next to the border with the U.S. It is undoubtedly the single most visited border city in the world. Tijuana is known for its industrial community, excellent geography, rich culture, convenience, and history, that makes it one of the most popular Spanish influenced cities in Mexico. Americans have been traveling to Tijuana for at least a century now to enjoy its nocturnal charms but Tijuana’s biggest attraction over the last few decades has been its low-cost medical treatment.

tijuana round-about. Is Tijuana Safe for Medical TouristsTijuana is 25 minutes away from San Diego, California. It is conveniently located just across the border between Mexico and the United States. The border city has proved to be an ideal destination for safe weight loss surgery, such as the gastric sleeve. People who want a cheaper yet safe Mexico weight loss surgery, choose Tijuana to get their surgeries done.

Affordable and Safe Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatrics’ network of physicians in Tijuana are equipped with the latest technology equipment and tools that match the rigorous standards followed in U.S. hospitals. The experienced surgeons in Tijuana provide you with a wide spectrum of weight loss surgery services that are cost-effective. These weight loss surgeries are extremely safe and more affordable as compared to bariatric surgeries in the United States and Canada.

Surgeons performing surgery. Is Tijuana Safe for Medical Tourists?

Is Tijuana, Mexico Safe?

The medical tourism industry in Tijuana has been attracting more and more Americans as well as Canadians who come to this border city to get advanced surgeries at low cost. A dentist in Tijuana will charge 40-50 bucks to treat a cavity, whereas, in the U.S., dentists charge you 200 bucks. Most people prefer to take a 15-minute drive down from San Diego to Tijuana and get the job done for a quarter of the price.

Now, Tijuana’s thriving medical tourism industry is revamping and classing up. Developers are busy working on a cluster of luxury high-rises just across the border from California to build a one-stop shop for visiting American patients.

The 26-story New City Medical Plaza is all set to open in Tijuana by 2018 which will house facilities for doctors from a wide range of disciplines, and also feature a 140-room hotel and top local restaurants.

Nearly 50 million Americans cross the border to Baja, California each year for affordable healthcare for better facilities. These are U.S. citizens who lack suitable insurance coverage in their own country and also those who want to avoid the exorbitant costs of safe weight loss surgery or plastic surgery in the U.S.

According to the latest study conducted by OSAC titled Mexico 2017 Crime & Safety Report: Tijuana, apart from a major uplift the city has also seen a decrease in crime rate. The Police department has become active and regularly patrol the city. The road conditions have improved over the years and safety measures have been taken to reduce the crime rate.

As far as terrorism threat is concerned, the US Department of State has already declared Tijuana as being a low threat location for the terrorist activity.

If you want to get your weight loss surgery done at a low cost, visit Mexico Bariatric Center that offers attractive Mexico weight-loss surgery packages with its leading certified surgeons and certified hospital facilities in Mexico.

The Mexico Bariatric Center surgeons. Is Tijuana Safe for Medical Tourists?The center has helped thousands of patients undergo successful weight loss surgery in Mexico. All surgeries are packaged to make them more reliable and affordable for patients from the United States, Canada, Europe, and the entire world.


How to Find Safe Bariatric Surgery in Mexico: Why
How Safe is it to Travel for Surgery without a Companion?
A Guide to Tourism in Tijuana, Mexico 2016
Why Tijuana Weight Loss Surgery?


Mexico 2017 Crime & Safety Report: Tijuana

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Health Care in United States, Aging Population and Global Healthcare Tue, 24 Oct 2017 18:17:36 +0000 Medical Health System is a huge part of the economy as U.S. National Health Expenditure (NHE) is 3.2 trillion annually (2015 data). Even though the United States is spending a higher proportion (17.8% – 2015 data) of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare than other developed countries, it is still unaffordable, or even inaccessible to many. Worldwide U.S. health system is ranked 37th in terms of overall efficiency.

Factors contributing to the inefficiency:

  • Drugs – The price is set by the pharmaceutical company and cannot be negotiated down.
  • Administrative Cost – The billing system is too complicated, co-pay, co-insurance, and deductibles. It is not a single-payer system as in Canada, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
  • Referred Specialist – PCPs are not taking care of patient needs and refer them to more expensive specialists. Specialists are compensated at an average of 45% more than the primary care physicians with expected increase income of 16% compared to 10% for the primary care physicians.
  • Newer Treatments – Newer treatment options are not necessarily better than older ones, but it cost more.
  • Defensive Medicine – Doctors & hospitals are afraid to be taken to court (medical malpractice lawsuits). They order more tests to leave a paper trail.

The U.S. healthcare system is great in treating most difficult cases and American doctors, nurses and medicines are incredible, but the expenditure is astronomical.

Foreign-Born Physicians and U.S. Healthcare

The U.S. population is aging and retiring; baby boomers are becoming heavy users of health care. By 2030, 71 million Americans (about 20% of the U.S. population) will be 65 and older. This issue, coupled with a shortage of health workers, are straining this sector. There are not enough native-born physicians and healthcare workers to meet the growing need. The shortage of professionals will be even more pronounced as one-third of physicians also retiring in the coming years.

Currently, more than 25% of physicians are born (born & trained) outside of the U.S. According to 2010 data, about one-fifth of nursing, home health, and psychiatric aides, as well as one-sixth of dentists, pharmacists, and clinical lab technician, are foreign-born. This system is heavily depending on proper immigration policies.

Doctors who are born and/or trained outside of United States often end up practicing in rural or low-income areas where there is a shortage of physicians. The foreign-born specialists bridge the cultural, language, and trust gaps in the system and communicate with patients for a better outcome.

It is estimated that the United States will face a shortage of approximately 46,000 to 90,000 physicians by 2025. This means that foreign-born professionals will have to help fill the gap and they play a crucial role in the health labor force.

Medical Tourism and U.S. Healthcare

The medical tourism industry, where people travel abroad to receive medical treatment, is growing fast. Medical tourism offers reliable and quality medical care (physicians, drugs, devices, etc) abroad at a lower cost (and no wait time). There are an estimated 11 to 14 million medical travelers annually – and this number grows by 15-25% a year.

To resolve the shortage of healthcare professionals in the U.S. and Canada, crossing the border to get medical services is a viable option. Medical tourists from the U.S., Canada, Australia, … travel to Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico, India, Malaysia, Philippines … to get treatment. They travel to get services not covered by insurance, like infertility and plastics, or partially covered, like dental and bariatrics.

For example, a heart bypass that costs an average of $90,000 in the U.S., costs about $30,000 in Costa Rica. The average cost of a hip replacement is $33,000 in the U.S., compared to $12,000 in Thailand. The average cost of RNY Gastric Bypass is over $25,000 in the U.S., as the cost in Tijuana, Mexico is $6,500 (including accommodation cost). Taking into account the cost of travel, the total cost for medical tourists can be as little as one-half to one-fifth of the going rate in the United States.

The National Health Expenditure is expected to grow to 20% of GDP by 2025 and the health care spending spiral with age. As life expectancy lengthens and baby boom cohort ages, it is likely that the burden of the high cost of healthcare is shifted from government to consumers. Here is an opportunity for the aging population to combine a short vacation with medical care.

One of the most global healthcare popular procedures for overweight adults is bariatric and metabolic surgery in Mexico. Weight loss surgery is becoming more and more popular as it renews obese individuals and prolongs their lives. Tijuana, Mexico is becoming the mecca for gastric surgeries. You can find top certified surgeons and accredited facilities to get an equal or a better treatment at an affordable price.

More Reading

Doctors Who Trained Abroad Are Better at Their Jobs
Doctors from Abroad: A Cure for the Physician Shortage in America

Medical Tourism a Cure for US Healtcare Shortage
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NEWS: Bariatric Surgery May Help Reset Weight “Set Point” Wed, 26 Oct 2016 23:29:41 +0000 Overweight Woman, set point, bariatric surgeryFor those that struggle with obesity, diet and exercise are often not enough. Studies have shown that there is as much as a 95% failure rate in those trying to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone. This high failure rate is due to numerous factors, including:

  • Failing to address the root of the weight gain.
  • Difficulty in adhering to diet and exercise guidelines.
  • Health issues that prevent exercise.

But perhaps one of the greatest challenges standing in the way of weight loss is the individual’s “Set Point.”

What is a Set Point?

Studies have shown that a person’s weight has a natural “Set Point” caused by genetics. When you eat less food, and your weight starts to go below that set point, your body goes into “Starvation Mode” and slows down your metabolism and increases your fat storage so that you can avoid going much lower.

Extensive diet and exercise can still promote excess weight loss even with a set point. But the other problem with a set the point is that, unless your diet and exercise frequently and consistently, your body will respond to any lapses in diet or activities by keeping your metabolism slow until your weight goes back to the “set level.”

Your set point is usually formed by genetics, among a few other factors, and for those of a healthy weight, the set point is not easily changed. But an unhealthy diet, a lack of movement/exercise, a lack of sleep, and many other factors can have a profound effect on your body chemistry, and unfortunately, over time can reset your set point to a greater weight. This is one of the main reasons that diet and exercise fail.

Bariatric Surgery Provides a Better Reset

It’s not clear why obesity can re-set your weight set point while weight loss struggles. But those that have had trouble losing weight may want to consider bariatric surgery. For those that combine bariatric surgery with diet and exercise, there appears to be evidence that bariatric surgery helps your body gain a new stable mass set point – one that allows you to lose weight quickly and safely, without putting your body into starvation mode.

Bariatric surgery makes it possible to get another lower-weight set point, providing it is met with healthy lifestyle changes.

How Does Weight Loss Surgery Affect Set Point?

The exact mechanism for why weight loss surgery can provide a new body mass set point is not entirely clear. But it may be related to original signals. Researchers believe that it’s not just genetics, but also signals from within your body that tell it if you’re eating, how much you’re eating, whether you are starving, and more. It’s possible that due to changes in diet, nutrients, ghrelin (hunger) hormone, and other sensors tell your body that you’re eating the amount you’re supposed to.

While it’s not clear what causes this reaction to occur, what is clear is that weight loss surgery is one of the only successful ways to lose a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time and keep the weight off for years to come.

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Gastric Banding Surgery No Longer For the Obese Fri, 04 Dec 2015 23:43:02 +0000 The weight loss surgical procedure has been used for countless years to control diabetes in the severely diabetes. However a new study shows that overweight diabetics may benefit from the procedure too. The operation provides countless health benefits to both overweight and obese patients.

The laparoscopic method of adjustable gastric banding surgery is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure that limits the amount of food that enters the stomach. Many studies have shown how it helps to improve blood sugar in the body and even reverses diabetes in patients. Currently, this type of surgery is an option for the obese, but with recent studies showing improvement in overweight patients, it may soon be available to those types of patients too.

Recent Studies

Recent studies and research from Australia have discovered that gastric banding may also help overweight patients to reduce their diabetic symptoms or in some cases, eliminate the disease entirely. The study was run by Paul O’Brien, MD, founder and emeritus director of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and National Medical Director of the American Institute of Gastric Banding in Richardson, Texas.

The study looked at 51 individuals who were overweight, but not obese. All participants of the study had a body mass index between 25 and 30. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, normal weight BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. A BMI over 30 is considered 30.

Many studies have showed that people who have extra body weight and fat are at a higher risk of developing Type II Diabetes. The extra pounds make controlling blood sugar with insulin more difficult. While diet and exercise can lead to significant weight loss, some patients may need alternate methods to losing enough weight to change their health outlook.

Dr. O’Brien and the other researchers randomly assigned 25 of these patients to have gastric banding and the post-op care needed for success, which included regular follow-up visits and nutrition consultations with a dietitian. The remaining patients in the study received only care, no surgery.

About Gastric Banding

Gastric banding is a non-invasive procedure with very few small abdominal cuts. A surgeon will insert a band around the upper portion of the stomach to create a small pouch which holds food. After two years, more than half of patients in the gastric band group (52%) had a lowered blood sugar concentration to be considered in remission from their Type II Diabetes. Only two participants in the non-gastric banding surgery group had the same results.

According to O’Brien, gastric banding is a simple and safe day surgery option that can lead to remission in more than half of a group studied with Type II Diabetes. Careful consideration should be made whether or not overweight patients should undergo this procedure, but with these results, it seems like a viable option.

The research of this study was published in the April issue of The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. Funding for this study came from the Monash University Centre for Obesity and Research and Education as well as Allergan, a pharmaceutical company in Canada.

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Lap-Band Surgery in Mexico Fri, 04 Dec 2015 23:23:13 +0000 Gastric Banding Surgery is the largest type of bariatric surgeries performed today. With over 500,000 surgeries done worldwide, gastric banding is the most prevalent bariatric surgery being practiced. Gastric banding surgeryis a general term to describe when an implant is used to restrict the upper portion of the stomach. The implant themselves are often more recognizable than the term gastric banding.

The implants include Lap-Band system and the Realize system, both of them are FDA approved. But since United States requires FDA approval, and Mexico doesn’t – Mexico was practicing Lap-Band surgery for years before American surgeons. Thus, some bariatric surgeons in Mexico have more experience with gastric banding than North American physicians.

Why have Gastric Banding Surgery in Mexico?

There are a lot of advantages to having gastric banding procedure done in Mexico. First was highlighted early, that some physicians may actually have more experience with Lap-Band or Realize surgeries than American bariatric surgeons. Another major draw for Mexico Medical Tourism is the cost. Having bariatric surgery done in Mexico will save you thousands of dollars.

For instance, Gastric Banding can cost up to $30,000 in the United States, a pretty hefty bill especially if you don’t have insurance. But having the surgery done in Mexico will save you thousands upon thousands of dollars. Our cost for Lap-Band surgery is presently less than $6,000. Procedures in Mexico typically cost a third of what they would cost in the United States.

Why is Mexico so Inexpensive?

Why are prices in Tijuana, Mexicali, Guadalajara and Monterrey so inexpensive? This can be answered in two parts: cost of living and generally health-care costs.

The cost of living in Mexico is significantly less than in North America which puts a downward pressure on prices. Because physicians, nurses and other staff earn less than their American counterparts – it follows, that they can charge less than their American counterparts too.

Another pressure is the cost of health-care between the United States and Mexico. For example, one study found that in 2006 United States spends $6,657 per capita while Mexico spends $474 per capita. One of reasons for the big difference between American’s spending and the rest of world’s is that America tends to spend almost twice on physicians than do other countries.

Should I have Gastric Banding Surgery in Mexico? Is it Safe?

By now, you already know that gastric banding surgery is a straightforward procedure. The procedure itself is being performed thousands of times a year, and some physicians in Mexico have performed Lap-Band in Mexico several thousand times.

Mexico Medical Tourism

Mexico is a prominent medical tourism spot, especially for bariatric surgery. Every year thousands of people travel to Mexico to perform a lap band, gastric bypass, and other surgeries. Lap Band Surgery is especially popular in Mexico, as Mexico has been practicing Lap-Band surgery years before their American counterparts.

Lap-Band surgery was FDA approved after bariatric surgeons in Mexico were performing the surgery, which suggests that some bariatric surgeons have more experience with Lap-Band surgery than American counterparts.

Some bariatric surgeons in Mexico have thousands of bariatric surgeries under their belt, performing hundreds of surgeries a year. This kind of experience isn’t common, but that’s why choosing a the right surgeon is important.

Choosing Lap Band Surgeon in Mexico

Cost should not be the only factor in traveling to Mexico for lap band surgery. Finding the right bariatric surgeon is recommend before you find the appropriate package. To find a qualified and respected bariatric surgeon, start by browsing surgeon reviews, and ratings from previous patients.

First start to verifying his credentials, skills, experience and reputation. Understand that not all bariatric surgeons have the same qualifications, and knowing what their reputation is vital.

Next, consider the hospital in Mexico. There are many hospitals in Mexico, and not all of them are American-accredited. Choose a hospital that has the proper medical technology, accreditation, and qualified staff to make things happen.

Cost of Lap Band Surgery in Mexico

Having lap band surgery in Mexico can cost up to 70% off according to one study.

Having Lap Band Surgery in Mexico is less costly than American prices, costs can range from $4,000 to $10,000 on average. Having in gastric banding surgery in Mexico doesn’t mean sub-par patient quality. Monterrey, Mexico offers four great American-Accredited hospitals.

Other cities offering Lap-Band Surgery in Mexico include Cancun, Tijuana, Monterrey, Mexicali, and others. Yet, Cancun is quickly becoming a leader in Medical Tourism.

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Urinary Incontinence Improved by Bariatric Surgery by 3 Years Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:45:56 +0000 Overweight GroupAt the American Urogynecologic Society and International Urogynecological Association 2014 Scientific Meeting it was discussed that there had been an improvement of urinary incontinence in obese women for as many as three years after bariatric surgery. Most of the women reporting urinary incontinence are obese and are reported to be at a 4-fold increased risk over others. Severe incontinence becomes more prevalent the more overweight the woman is. This means that the more weight gains, the worse the incontinence will become with most women.

Studies and Statistics

In a study that was conducted with 1565 women participants, approximately 7% had been involved in urinary incontinence surgery, and 8% had been previously medicated for the problem. The average age of the participants was 46 years, and the majority (86%) was white. The body mass index for most of the participants was 46 m/kg2, which is an indication of severe obesity. Out of the women participating, 22% reported having weekly urinary incontinence issues during the three months prior, while 27% reported daily problems.

After the bariatric surgery, which was either laparoscopic adjustable band or roux-en-y gastric bypass, the average weight loss was 30% at one and two years with 29% at three years. The one year mark also showed a decrease in weekly urinary incontinence episodes from 11 down to 3. These events increased to 4 per week by year two but then stayed at that same level through year three. These findings were statistically significant and similar results were reported about urgency and stress incontinence.

Less than weekly urinary incontinence is referred to as remission status. This remission was pinpointed by approximately 67% of the women at year one, 60% of them at year two and 59% of them at year three. The remission rate was slightly more for stress incontinence than it was for the urgency incontinence. There were also some complete remissions with no reports of incontinence at follow-up in 29% at year one, 27% at year two and 27% at year three.

The bottom line appears to be that for every 5% of weight loss that is achieved, the chances of improved incontinence issues raises to 30%. The women in the test lost approximately six times more equating to odds of improvement that was 8-fold greater. The older women in the study seemed to have less improvement showing an odds ratio of only 0.76 for each of the progressive decades. These studies appear to show that the smallest in weight loss can make major improvements in the incontinence of patients.

When it comes to weight loss and incontinence increase, the connection seems to be clear. Individuals that have been through a bariatric surgery and recovered well seem to have found their urinary incontinence issues to be improved or resolved within the first few years after the surgery. The type of surgery does not appear to be a major factor in the resulting improvement of incontinence. There is a direct relation between the amount of weight that is lost and the resulting incontinence condition improvement.

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Reoperative, Revisional Bariatric Surgery Risks are Low Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:41:03 +0000 Surgery RoomWhen it comes to reoperative bariatric surgery, there has been a long-standing concern that the procedure is hazardous for patients. Studies now show that reoperative bariatric surgery does not increase the morbidity or the mortality rates for patients as was initially suspected. In fact, the differences between the first surgery and the reoperative bariatric surgery with relation to risk barely exist. Dr. Ranjan Sudan, a digestive disorders specialist and vice chair of education for Duke University’s department of surgery, believes this new information should be brought to the attention of those that have a stake in the situation.

These findings are important because they may change the way that insurance companies handle coverage of reoperative bariatric surgery. Typically the operation is not accepted and covered due to the proposed risk factors involved. The data collected could change this line of thinking and make a reoperative surgery for those that need to give it another try, more accessible. It will also substantially improve how surgeons feel about performing the surgery. Until now, the reoperative bariatric surgery was primarily only considered if the individual had a complete fail of the first surgery. This information could change this line of thinking.

Over 450,000 surgeries were entered into the database. These included 1,000 surgeons doing the work and 700 hospitals hosting. The researchers used the information to compare the rates of serious incidences that occurred over a 30 day period. These included leaks, pulmonary embolism or bleeding and were to compare from the first surgery to the reoperative surgery. The results of the findings showed that 1.61 percent of the first procedure had these incidents while the reoperative surgery followed by a slim 1.66 percent of the complications. The difference is barely noticeable between the two surgeries.

Mortality Rates

The mortality rates for individuals from the first surgery where compared to the second surgery patients as well. This rate was 0.1 percent during surgery and 0.17 percent following one year after surgery during the initial operation. During the second surgery, the rates were .014 percent during surgery and 0.26 percent one year later. These are also small numbers comparatively and show that there is little more risk involved in the second surgery than in the first. These figures are low and do not warrant any thoughts that an additional surgery poses any more threat than the first.

With the information that has been retrieved from the research, it is evident to see that the second surgery is barely more risky than a first surgery. This could change the thinking for many of the insurance companies and the overall approach to the medical community and patients toward a preoperative bariatric surgery as optional. This change could mean that more individuals can access the second surgery for improved results over the first bariatric surgery that they might have had. The benefits of the second surgery are not conclusive, but with the stigma of being a bad risk removed, it is open to more individuals and allows for more research to answer these questions.

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