Have you been thinking about having weight loss surgery?
Get in touch
enquiries@thedietologist.co.uk
01213300828
Thinking About Weight Loss Surgery Abroad?
enquiries@thedietologist.co.uk
Weight Loss Surgery Abroad!
I've been thinking about a weight loss surgery abroad post for some time but I wasn't sure if I should post about it or not. The fact is people are travelling abroad to have weight loss and cosmetic procedures, I believe it's purely price driven otherwise UK residents wouldn't travel abroad. IF you choose to have surgery abroad be SAFE! As more and more people travel abroad to have surgery I felt it was important to put a post together about it.
Contact Me
Why Do People Have Weight Loss Surgery Abroad?
There is a growing number of people choosing to have surgery abroad. It’s a trend that’s become so popular it’s earned its own term: “medical tourism”. It is predicted that the medical tourism industry will grow year-on-year by at least 20% however, we do not have access to accurate data as it is not always declared by patients.
There are many reasons why people choose to have their weight loss surgery abroad e.g. more affordable, avoid NHS waiting lists and criteria for surgery. With limited resources and growing demands on the NHS, many patients fail to even qualify for the procedure. Those that do then often face months of waiting before the process of weight loss surgery is even started.
This leaves many individuals with no choice but to use private weight loss surgery clinics
to access weight loss surgery. Surgery in the UK can be expensive for some, leading people to look to countries outside of the UK to have the procedure, where prices are more affordable. Before you consider having surgery abroad speak to a UK Bariatric Surgeon or your GP to get some professional advice.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of weight loss surgery in the UK can range from £3,500 to over £13,000, depending on the type of surgery you have and your BMI. Gastric balloon surgery tends to be the cheapest, whilst gastric bypass surgery is often the most expensive. Many overseas countries often do charge significantly less for the same procedure, meaning you can save thousands of pounds on your weight loss surgery by travelling abroad.
Countries such as Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey and Egypt typically offer cheaper prices for weight loss surgery than in the UK. Some destinations outside of Europe also provide affordable treatments, including Mexico and India however they’re longer distance to travel. I do know of and have supported UK patients travelling to these countries. There are some overseas countries where the cost of weight loss surgery is in fact more expensive such as Spain so going abroad doesn't always mean a better deal!
What Other Costs Are There?
While the actual cost of weight loss surgery can be cheaper in destinations outside of the UK. Other costs that you might encounter include:
- Flights, most hospitals provide transfers to and from the hospital in the price you pay but you must check.
- Accommodation, food and drink for a partner/friend. Once you leave hospital it is likely you will need a hotel. Some hospitals let you stay for the duration of your recovery.
- Aftercare support once you return home.
What Destination?
Your choice of destination for weight loss surgery shouldn’t solely rely on the most affordable prices - other considerations should be made too:
- How far away is the country?
- How long is the flight?
- Are you happy to fly alone?
- Will you feel comfortable travelling this distance before and after your surgery?
- What is the country’s healthcare standards like?
- Do doctors need a certain level of training to practice?
- Is the patient care of a high quality?
- Is the country safe?
What Clinic?
Choosing a clinic is just as vital as choosing the destination - they will be responsible for your health and wellbeing after all! You should carefully consider these questions when deciding on a clinic:
- How close is the airport to the hospital destination?
- How close are hotel facilities to the hospital?
- Clinic Reputation?
- How frequently does the clinic perform weight loss surgery?
- What have previous patients said about the clinic?
- Are there before and after pictures of its weight loss patients?
- Where did the surgeon train and have they undergone training recently?
- Does the clinic’s staff have the appropriate medical training/qualifications?
- Has the clinic received any awards or accreditation for its work?
- How often do complications arise?
- Has it received any complaints?
- Do the staff speak good English?
- Is the clinic clean?
- Does the clinic have emergency treatment facilities should something go wrong?
- What pre-op investigations are completed prior to surgery and when?
- Does the clinic offer a chauffeur service to its patients?
Is Weight Loss Surgery Abroad Covered With Insurance?
If you plan to have weight loss surgery while in an overseas destination, your typical holiday travel insurance isn’t going to cut it. You will need to take out specialist medical travel insurance to ensure you’re fully covered for all eventualities. Taking out the correct type of insurance can give you peace of mind that should anything go wrong, or you need additional treatment, you’re covered and won’t have to pay out any extra unexpected costs.
Points to consider when looking for medical travel insurance:
- Your procedure being cancelled
- Costs associated with an unexpectedly long recovery period
- Treatment for complications
Make sure you read your policy carefully to ensure you know exactly what your insurance covers. You should never take out standard holiday travel insurance when going abroad for weight loss surgery. Regardless if your treatment goes well, should you run into difficulties when travelling (e.g. your flight is cancelled or your luggage gets lost), your insurance provider will refuse to cover the costs since you have breached the terms and conditions of the policy.
If you are considering weight loss surgery abroad, please do your research and be safe.
Investigate all options in the UK and get advice from UK Bariatric Surgeons and your GP.
Aftercare
Remember Surgery whether it’s done in the UK or abroad is not a silver bullet to weight loss. Aftercare is in fact the most important part of your journey to weight and health success.
You'll need help once you return home and your GP is not the expert in Bariatric surgery.
What will you do if you're in pain, unsure about what to eat, start to vomit or struggle to keep food down? Book a discovery call to find out how The Dietologist can help YOU!
