Here’s a few question you will need to ask to check whether the private surgery will cover:

• Does the private surgery cover the pre–op assessment blood tests and ECG? Surgeon, physician and dietitian fees?
• Are all hospital costs and operation costs included? Fees for surgeon and anaesthetist? What happens if there’s complications and you need to stay in hospital or need more specialised care?
• Is Follow up treatment included? What period of care is covered? How many visits to the surgeon (and how many band fills is incurred?) What about the dietitian? Does it include blood tests for RNY/BPD/DS patients? What if you need additional care?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions regarding your private surgery for gastric banding and what it entails. Many gastric band surgery packages will offer two band fills which normally is not enough. As many patients require several more adjustments over the next two years after the surgery to reach their weight loss goals. If possible get a package with slightly more of surgeon appointments and dietitians follow–up after surgery than to be faced with the dilemma of not doing as well as you had hoped and having to find the money for additional appointments.

Its a pity but most of the UK private health insurance companies will not reimburse the costs of the gastric band surgery as they see obesity is a chronic condition. BOSPA is lobbying the private insurers to adopt a more enlightened approach – treating the obesity will more than likely reduce the likelihood of the insurer having to pay out for many other treatments over subsequent years.

Some patients chose to travel to France or other countries like Belgium for gastric lap band surgery which will be done privately because the basic costs of the operation are considerably lower. However, you may miss out on the follow up care services that UK surgery will provide. Many surgeons may actually refuse to see you even privately if you have had your gastric surgery done abroad.

Whichever route you choose to follow for your surgery, the most important aspect is the follow up care and typically that provided at specialist UK obesity surgery centres will undoubtedly be the best. Multidisciplinary teams of doctors will ensure that the correct attention is given to all aspects of follow up such as weight loss progress, diet, exercise and social aspects, as well as the correct functioning of the alterations made to your anatomy by the surgery. This quality of care should not be compromised by your seeking treatment privately.

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?

Gastric Banding in Belgium

Having your Gastric Lap Banding Surgery in Belgium has become very common, and Belgium has become one of the medical tourism destinations in Europe for Weight Loss Surgery and especially laparoscopic gastric band surgery.

Why is Belgium a popular Gastric Lap Band Surgery destination in Europe?

1. Huge cost savings: In the UK for example, you may have to pay a whopping £ 9,000 – £ 12,000 for the gastric lap band, whereas the same procedure in Belgium will cost around £ 4,000. Surpisingly with this savings the quality of the gastric banding surgery is not less.
2. Quality of surgery: Belgium has a long been known for an affordable and high quality weight loss surgery medical centers. Laparoscopy, in fact is one of the areas of expertise of Belgian medical tourism for a long time. Gastric Lap Band or Gastric bypass is done by laparoscopy where possible and as this means a reduced stay in hospital, the patients too find this a great choice.

Belgian hospitals have very high standards of hygiene standards and always uses the latest technology. Recently, The World Markets Research Centre put Belgium on top of a list of 175 countries on ratings done for medical purposes, one of the ratings being secondary infection or Staph rates. Belgium’s secondary infection rate was found to be on an average less than 0.5% compared with 10% in the UK.

Belgium has achieved  a very high surgical expertise mainly due to the quality of training given to its doctors. Typically their Belgian doctors are trained for a minimum of seven years; for specialists it is 12 years.

3.  Follow-up feature: Quite often patients are scared off by this part when it comes to oveseas treatment. However, as with Belgium,  many doctors do offer follow-up checks through their network in the UK and Ireland.

4.  No need to wait for the surgery: As UK is famous for its waiting on the NHS. In Belgium, you set the date for the surgery, after initial tests are done, surgery is next.

5.  Belgium is just around the corner: You can fly, drive down or take a train. With Eurostar offering you quick and convenient train service from London. Major European highways pass through Belgium where Eurolines coaches can easily access from anywhere in Europe.

6. Climate and language: The climate is much about the same as the UK with warmer summers and colder winters. Dutch, French, and German are the official languages but a lot of young people do speak English, too. Hence, there is usually no communication problem.

Laparoscopic gastric lap band surgery in Belgium is one of the popular choices with medical tourists from the UK not only because it is affordable but also because it is very convenient.

Preparing for Surgery

Before you have the surgery, your gastric banding surgeon will discuss your procedure in detail with you. It is also very important for you to discuss your overall health and your health history with him. You need to let your surgeon know if you are allergic to any drugs, have any current/past health conditions, or have ever had a bad reaction to anesthesia. In addition to this, make a list of all the medications that you take how ever small it is, including aspirin, injections, all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, vitamins, and recreational drugs, and give it to your surgeon.

Your doctor/surgeon may also want you to meet with other medical experts, such as a dietitian and/or psychologist, to help you understand what will happen during and after the gastric banding surgery process. They will help you make certain that you are emotionally and mentally prepared for the up coming surgery and your new life afterwards. You will be required to have a number of tests before your surgery to evaluate your general state of health.

On the day before your gastric procedure, you will need to listen and follow the specific instructions to ensure a smooth surgery the next day. Your surgeon or medical team will provide you with a complete list of the do’s and dont’s on how to prepare for the surgery.

Here are two general guidelines:

1. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before surgery this way your stomach will be empty for surgery to minimize risks during the gastric banding operation.
2. Ask a friend or a family member to be at the hospital with you for comfort and support and to drive you home after the surgery.

What to Expect on Surgery Day

The routine at your healthcare/hospital facility may be different form country to country. You will be admitted to the hospital either the day before, or on the actual morning of your surgery. You may be in the operating room for the morning but the actual procedure typically takes about one hour. Then you will spend a few hours in the recovery room. Once the anesthesia has worn off, you may feel some pain or discomfort from the operation which can usually be treated with pain killers.

On the day after the surgery, you will likely have an X-ray. This allows your health team to see that the gastric banding System is in the right place and that the new stomach outlet is open. You may be asked to swallow a liquid that can be seen on X-ray.

Typically for gastric banding surgery, hospitalization is usually less than 24 hours. However the hospital stay may have you stay longer if there are complications or if the surgeon has to change to an “open” surgical procedure.

1. Will I be sick a lot after the gastric banding operation?
2. Will I feel hungry or deprived after the gastric banding surgery?
3. Can I eat anything in moderation?
4. Can I drink alcohol?
5. Can I go out to eat?
6. Am I allowed to have my gastric lap band opened for a special occasion?
7. Does the gastric lap band limit any physical activity?
8. Do I have to be careful with the access port just underneath my skin?

1. Will I be sick a lot after the gastric banding operation?
The gastric banding will limit the amount of food you can eat at one time. If you always feeling nauseated on a regular basis, it probably means that you aren’t chewing your food well enough or that you aren’t following the gastric banding post-surgical diet properly, other reason could be that the placement of the gastrc band have a problem, so contact your doctor if you continue to get sick. You must avoid vomiting as much as possible because it can cause your small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also lead to slippage of the band which will offsetting the effectiveness of your surgery. In some severe cases, damage due to vomiting can mean another operation.

2. Will I feel hungry or deprived after the gastric banding surgery?
The gastric lap band makes you eat less and feel full in two ways:

• By reducing how much your stomach can hold at one time
• By increasing the time it takes food to get through your digestive system.

After a small meal, the amount of which varies from person to person, you should feel full and satisfied for some time. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose your food and then chew it well, you shouldn’t feel hungry or deprived at all.
3. Can I eat anything in moderation?
After your stomach has healed, generally you may eat most foods that don’t cause you discomfort. Since you can only eat a small amount of food at a time, it is important that you choose nutritious, vitamin-rich foods. You may click here to find out some problem foods after you avoid after gastric banding.

4. Can I drink alcohol?
Alcohol has a lot of calories and breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage is not considered harmful to weight loss.

5. Can I go out to eat?
Order only a small portion, such as an appetizer and try to eat slowly. It may help if you stop eating at the same time as your dinner companions too. Best to explain to your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.
6. Am I allowed to have my gastric lap band opened for a special occasion?
While it is tempting and easy, your gastric lap band should not be opened to eat a big meal at a special occasion. However the gastric lap band can be opened for medical reasons such as pregnancy, when you will need to increase your nutritional intake.

7. Does the gastric lap band limit any physical activity?
It should not hamper any type of physical activity. You should be free to do aerobics, stretches, and any strenuous exercise you enjoy once you’ve completely recovered.

8. Do I have to be careful with the access port just underneath my skin?
The access port is placed under the skin in the abdominal wall, it should not cause discomfort or limit any physical exercise at all. The only sensation you may experience from the port occurs when you go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent discomfort in the port area, see your doctor.

Your own personal cost of living with obesity can also be significant. Consider what you might spend on the following items:

• Out of pocket healthcare expenses
• Over-the-counter medication costs
• Co-pays for doctor office visits
• Co-pays for lab work
• Co-pays for specialists
• Co-pays for physical therapists/allied health professionals
• Prescription co-pays
• Employment inactivity costs (days of missed work)
• Non-surgical weight loss programs (such as WeightWatchers® or Jenny Craig®)
• Grocery and dining costs

These expenditures can quickly add up and you will find a dramatic reduction in your costs with reduction in your weight.

For the actual cost of Gastric Banding procedure varies from state to state and even from city to city, it’s difficult to predict actual costs and the differences can be summarized into three areas:

• The type of health plan you have
• If your surgeon/hospital you choose is an in-network provider
• If your procedure is done on an in-patient (overnight) or out-patient (same day discharge) basis.

Generally, the cost of the Gastric Banding procedure (facility, surgeon, and anesthesiologist) in the USA can range from $12,000 to $25,000 and will typically include the costs of adjustments for the first year after surgery. After the first year, follow-up visits will range from $35 to $200 each, depending on what is involved. Please keep in mind, post-surgical follow-up is crucial to achieving your best possible results.

Insurance and Health Plans

Today, many health plans in the USA will (including Medicare and, in some states, Medicaid) cover the cost of Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery, therefore some if not all of the costs may be covered.

Each health plan will have certain criteria that need to be met before you can actually have the surgery.

In certain cases, your insurance plan might not cover the cost of Gastric Banding Surgery. They may issue a “denial” to your “prior authorization request”. Depending on the reason, you and your doctor may still be able to reverse the denial.

Payment Options

Potential Tax Savings

In the year you finance or pay cash for your gastric banding surgery, you may be eligible to receive thousands of dollars back in potential tax savings. IRS Publication 502 states you can deduct your medical and dental expenses when they total more than 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income (see IRS publication 502, page 2). Check with your accountant or tax advisor for further information.

Remember, tax and financial circumstances are different for each person and the laws are constantly changing. This information should be not be considered financial advice or used as a substitute for the advice of an accountant or tax advisor. Seek financial advice from a professional for any questions you have.

Hope this has given you an insight into Costs of Gastric Banding Surgery.

Adjustments or fills to the gastric band are painless and take just a few minutes to perform. Some people are actually able to make it to their goal weight with no adjustments but they far and few. Most patients require 3 to 5 adjustments before they are losing weight at an expected pace. So again don’t worry if you require 6 adjustments to get it right. Gastric banding is unique for this reason that we can adjust the band to our requirements against other surgeries wheres there is no option.

How are the adjustments performed?
The area on top of the port is cleaned with betadine and then lidocaine is injected into the skin using a small needle to numb the skin. After this a larger needle is then placed through the skin and into the port. Fluid is then injected into the port at amounts decided on by the surgeon.

How Do I Know If I Need An Adjustment?
You will know if your weight loss is not averaging 1-2 pounds a week. We all want immediate results now but gastric banding doesn’t work in this way. Graph out your weight loss so you can actually chart your weight on a weekly basis, but don’t weigh yourself more than once a week. Remember they are just numbers, guidelines of how you are doing but not definitive of success.

Rules for Adjustments
No matter how much fluid you have in your band there are only three kinds of fills, too little, too much and just right, the actual number of cc’s is totally irrelevant.

If you are following the rules stated below and still are feeling very hungry or not losing weight, perhaps it is time to consult your surgeon for an adjustment.

Are you drinking a minimum of 2 liters of water per day?
Actually the recommendation is to take your body weight, divide in half and that is how many ounces of water you need to drink per day to keep your cells flushed and everything in working order.  Please remember to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes prior to a meal and no drinking during the meal as you will wash food though the gastric band and end up eating more than you should.

Are you engaging in some type of exercise or physical activity on a daily basis?
Raking your yard, walking your dog, weeding the garden all count as do walking to shops nstead of driving.  Swimming is also a great form of physical activity for those with joint problems, and it is something one can do with children or families. Exercise after gastric surgery is important and is cumulative and it all adds up so every little bit counts!

Are you eating 60 grams of protein per day?
60 grams is not so much really, thats approx 3 ounces servings each meal what works out to be around 21 grams of chicken. Protein is an essential building block for tissues and cells and protein helps turn off hunger and carbohydrates seem to turn it on. Try fitday they will help you track your diet. You may want look at healthy eating after gastric banding surgery.

Now you have greater understanding on Adjusting your Gastric Banding.

Vegetables and fruits that contain stringy fibres are particularly problematic.

• Asparagus – cut up very small or blend into soup
• Broccoli – the stalks may be problematic
• Dried fruits – will swell inside you and should be avoided
• Pineapple – juice is ok, fruit may be difficult to digest
• Rhubarb – cut up very small or puree
• Oranges – juice ok, flesh may be problematic
• Meat – needs to chopped very small and chewed thoroughly

Some food are sticky and difficult to digest such as coconut, crisps and soft white bread. Nuts (such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts) and popcorn may also cause obstruction unless they are well chewed to a paste, and are probably best avoided for this reason.

For the best diet results after your Gastric Banding Surgery you should limit the following foods where possible:

• High calorie drinks (full milk, milkshakes, alcohol, fruit squashes, juice
• Fats and fatty foods – butter, oils, snacks foods (crisps, peanuts), chips
• Creamy soups
• Cakes, biscuits and desserts
• Cereals with added sugar

From time to time you will get food stuck in your stomach which can be quite uncomfortable especially if you have not followed your eating plan. Firstly don’t panic as it should dislodge again on its own. To help the food on , try taking tiny sips of hot drink over an hour and some people recommend coke as the gas and bubble encourage you stomach to digest.

If 24hrs has gone by and you still have something stuck and nothing else is going down (or its coming straight back up) you need to attend your hospital for a temporary de-fill of your gastric band to ease the problem.

Slippage
In order for the band to function properly it must be correctly positioned on the stomach. Gastric banding can slip that is twist out of position. Typically the band does not slip but actually the stomach slips above the band. A slip typically occurs in about 2% of all operations.

Slippage can occur for a variety of reasons like over filling resulting in vomiting can be a cause. Slippage can cause reflux and difficultly with foods and weight loss can be affected. You may require a X-ray to obtain if the gastric banding has slipped. Some slippages if caught early enough can be corrected by removing all saline from the band and allowing the stomach to heal and then gradually re-filling. Slippage may require re-operation to reposition the band and in extreme cases gastric band removal. If a band is removed for slippage it generally can be replaced after a healing period.

Band Erosion
Gastric banding has been known to erode into the stomach. Erosion is a rare complication and is typically known in the older types of bands. This occurs again occurs in about 2% percent of patients. It occurs when the stomach tissue over-growing around the band until the band is on the inside of the stomach instead of the outside. Erosion will involves gastric band removal, sometimes surgical, although it rarely is a life-threatening situation.

Infection
With all surgical procedure there is always the slight risk of infection. Infections can usually be treated with antibiotics and in rare cases may necessitate removal. Always make sure you are in top health prior to your surgery or adjustments without colds or drugs that may compromise your immune system. Notify your doctor immediately if you suspect you may have an infection of any type.

Stretched Pouch
This is a complication that can be avoided by simply not overeating. Learn to stop eating the moment you feel satisfied and avoid continuous packing food into your stomach when full. As this willcause it to stretch and food may back up into your esophagus causing you future discomfort and problems.

Gastric Band Hardware Difficulties
Ports have been broken and tubing punctured usually during the filling process and this risk is reduced by using experienced practitioners and using fluoroscope to locate the port before hand. However, broken ports and punctured tubing are relatively simple matters to fix but can be frustrating for the patient. The problem has been addressed with newer port designs.

Reflux
Reflux is associated with a too tight gastric band causing stomach fluids to back up into the esophagus and damage the delicate tissues not strong enough to cater for acidic stomach juices. If you are experiencing mild reflux talk to your doctor about preventative measures such as diets for after gastric banding surgery or medications. If your reflux is a persistent problem speak to him immediately, don’t complicate the issue by waiting hoping it will get better without intervention.

These are the main risks related with Gastric Banding.

Healthy Eating after Gastric Banding Surgery

We have now successfully got to the end of week four of our diet after gastric banding surgery, so we can continue eating much about the same sort of food you were for the last four weeks, but this time the food does not need to be pureed, instead mashing it to the consistency of “toddler food”. It should be still fairly soft though and keep to the same small quantities and eating 4–5 times per day. Make sure you chew each small mouthful well.

Now its been six weeks since we had our Gastric Banding Surgery and we are now ready to continue on your long term eating plan. By this time our gastric band is usually done and you will start to feel the restriction your gastric band is making around the top of your stomach. You are now eating small amounts of food and have reduced your calorie intake and losing weight, but we are aiming for a healthy nutritious eating plan as well. We all have different in the foods we can eat, but we need to follow the eating plan to gain maximum benefit from your gastric banding:

• Eat three meals per day – your new pouch at the top of your stomach empties slowly throughout the day and you should be satisfied eating three meals a day without getting hungry in between meals.
• Eat healthy, solid food – soft food slips down easily and while this is good as it wont bock our stomach, you will tend to eat moe though the day. Choose solid foods without lots of sauce (e.g. small meal of chicken and vegetables) and you will eat less overall and stay full for longer.
• Eat slowly and stop as soon as you feel full – Most obese people are used to rushing their meals and as there is a time lag from stretching the wall of your stomach and telling your brain you are full, you need to be careful with this one or risk blockage, pain or vomiting. Take tiny bites and chew each piece 10–25 times.
• Do not eat between meals – you should not need to eat between meals if you are eating three sensible meals per day.
• Do not drink at meal times – Liquids will speed up the passage of food through the stomach and ruin the beneficial effect of slow emptying of food from your new stomach pouch. If you have a drink immediately before your meal you may also find that your stomach is still full and you can’t eat your meal. So avoid fluids half an hour before your meals, and for one hour afterwards.
• All drinks should be zero calories – As liquids do pass through your stomach so easily, calorie laden drinks, including alcohol, will simply add calories to your daily intake. Women need calcium, and this can be obtained from skimmed milk, but avoid juice, fizzy drinks (the gas can also cause considerable pain), squashes and milkshakes.

For maximum weight loss after gastric banding surgery we suggest limiting the food mentioned below:

• High calorie drinks like full milk, milkshakes, alcohol, fruit squashes, juice
• Cakes, biscuits and desserts
• Cereals with added sugar
• Fats and fatty foods – butter, oils, snacks foods (crisps, peanuts), chips
• Creamy soups

You may be wondering if healthy eating after gastric banding surgery means that you will be required to take multivitamins, generally speaking you do not need to as your healthy diet should be adequate. If you still feel you want too then choose one that can be broken up into smaller pieces to swallow so that it does not become stuck in your gastric band.