Gastric bypass surgery and stomach stapling are more complex than the lap band procedure. In lap band, no part of the digestive tract would be removed and the procedure is reversible. This is why it is popular among patients who are unwilling to undergo permanent changes under surgery.

What is basically done in a lap band surgery is that a silicon band is placed around the upper part of the patient’s stomach. The band would be inflated and shrink the capacity of the stomach to store food. It acts like a stomach girdle, so to speak. The feeling of this constrictive device would make the patient feel less hungry and easily satiated by smaller meal portions. This is actually going to make the patient go on a diet without the discomfort of the pangs of hunger.

This treatment is considered to be safer than other procedures that have lasting and irreversible effects. To date, over 200,000 procedures of this kind are performed annually across the globe. Over the years, seeking the treatment overseas is growing popular because the costs are less compared to the ones offered in the U.S. Neighboring countries such as Lap Band Mexico would offer the procedure for far less the amount it would cost in the U.S. ( see Mexico Gastric Lap band Costs compared to the USA) This is economical yet one has to study this option carefully since it is related to one’s health. There are other things to look for such as post-surgery consultations and the availability of the doctor to attend to any arising complications.

There is ample protection for patients within the United States but the same could not be said for those overseas. There simply is no guaranteed recourse should anything in the treatment go wrong. Despite the procedure being simple, the recovery period is important and crucial for this procedure to successfully contribute to one’s weight goals. You would be secure seeking this treatment from a well-equipped medical facility with experienced doctors. This could not be said with certainty about the options overseas.

Not all doctors could be qualified enough to use such a procedure. The surgeon must have the necessary training and license to practice this procedure on any patient. Surgeons in Asia and Latin America may or may not be qualified to do so.

Alternative places to visit is Private Gastric Banding in UK, Gastric Lap Band Surgery in Belgium,

Mexico: $ 6,500 ~ $ 8,000
USA: $ 13,000 ~ $ 35,000

Except the actual costs, there are some other financial considerations to look into. For example, US health plans, such as Medicare and Medicaid, will only cover the cost of the lap band surgery if the patient can prove that their BMI (body mass index) is higher than 40. Futhermore you will have to able to demonstrate a history of previous attempts at weight loss.

Therefore any patient who does not meet the above requirements does not qualify for health plan coverage for the gastric banding surgery. This effectively puts gastric lap band surgery out of reach for many people in the USA. You will have find your own money or get funding for gastric band through bank loans to finance a lap band surgery in Mexico.

Taking into all these factors Mexico as a medical destination for gastric lap band surgery is quite attractive. Even after will include travel and hotel expenses related to a gastric surgery trip to Mexico, a 50% to 60% cost savings can quite easily be achieved.

Countries such as Mexico and India are able to provide low cost lap band surgery because the general cost of living is much lower than in USA, having less overhead expences for the hospital & medical professionals.

Low cost lap band surgery in Mexico does not mean the quality is substandard. As Mexico has some of the most experienced and qualified lap band surgeons around. Hundreds of Americans visit Mexico for gastric lap band surgery every month.

Many Mexican surgeons are certified by lap band manufacturer INAMED Health (now Allergan) to train (proctor) other doctors in America (including in United States).

History of Gastric Lap Band Surgery in Mexico

Mexico had an early start over USA when it comes to gastric banding surgery and has been doing successful surgeries since the 1980′s compared to USA who got FDA (food and drug administration) to approve the process of lap band surgery in the USA in 2001.

The good news for all people seeking gastric banding surgery in Mexico is that the cost of the surgery has been going down steadily over the years but at the same time the standards of the medical facilities has been steadily going up.

Now many facilities in Mexico meet or exceed U.S. standards, and boast of state of the art medical equipment. This is again attributed not only to the lower “operating costs” in Mexico but also to the fact that gastric lap band surgery has had a head start in Mexico over U.S.

Mexican Hospitals – Where to go for Gastric Lap Banding Surgery?

When choosing a suitable hospital for your lap band surgery in Mexico costs should not be the only criteria. There are certain factors the patient needs to take into account besides costing.

Here are some of them:

Decide on which type of facilities would be better for your personal needs: a hospital and a clinic (surgery center)? Doctors would advise going for a fully integrated hospital. The reason is in rare cases of unexpected surgical emergency or medical complication a hospitals will have better means to handle it. Also important that patients select a hospital with ICU, Blood Bank, MRI, Pharmacy, Cafeteria, X-Ray, and doctor offices at the same premises. Other thing to consider is the geographic location of the facility.

Whats the past record & reputation of the hospital? The hospital staff should know English. IF you bring along a friend while your in Mexico does your friend have a place to stay. Certain hospitals in Mexico do provide boarding arrangements.

Important is the credentials & experience of the surgeon. Things to look for here are successful surgeries the doctors have carried out in the past. More the surgeries generally the better the doctor. Check if the surgeons are certified by the medical board. Do they speak good English?