Medical Tourism in India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia

Obesity was earlier an issue of vanity, but it has now been linked to a number of health problems and that gives a strong reason for overweight people to consider weight loss seriously. The contributing factors for this condition may be diverse, but it is necessary overcome this problem failing to which, it will take a severe toll over your health. If you have tried everything from crash diets to excessive exercise to lose weight, but all in vain, its time to consider bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery, also known as obesity weight loss surgery involves surgical manipulation of the stomach to reduce food intake, and, in some cases, to reduce the absorption of calories into the body. Any person whose BMI exceeds 40 is considered morbidly obese and needs bariatric surgery. There are different types of bariatric surgery-

• The Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy- This is a laparoscopic procedure in which few incisions are made through which cameras and sophisticated instruments are inserted. In this procedure, most of the stomach is removed and a “vertical sleeve” or tube is fashioned from the remaining stomach. Since the size of the stomach is smaller, intake of food is reduced. The food does not bypass any of the intestines and hence there is no malabsorption.

• Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Divided Gastric Bypass Surgery- In this procedure, the stomach is separated into two sections using titanium staples. The small upper segment is connected to the esophagus and is the functional segment. The larger lower segment is connected to the duodenum and becomes the non-functional portion of the stomach. Next, most of the small intestine is separated from the stomach and brings it up to the small upper segment of the stomach which is still functional. The opening of this stomach is small and this allows the food to pass directly to the intestine where it is digested.

• Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding- In this procedure, small incisions are made and a silicone band is placed around the stomach which creates a small pouch. The stomach holds less food and thus the person is made to lesser need for food. The band is adjustable and needs to be adjusted 6-8 weeks during the first year after surgery in order to restrict the food intake. Your surgeon’s help should be sought to decide the type of procedure that suits you best. Bariatric surgery can be a life changing experience and can be the key to a healthy and cheerful lifestyle. All it takes to go ahead with the surgery is to spare around 3-4 days in the hospital and follow a healthy diet as directed by the doctor post-surgery. While bariatric surgery may be an utter necessity, many patients may not be able to afford the treatment. Others postpone the plans of surgery due to long waiting lists common in UK and US hospitals. For such patients, bariatric surgery through medical tourism is the best option. Hospitals in Asiatic countries like India, Singapore and Thailand are centers of medical excellence that offer quality health care at lower prices. In addition to this, medical tourists also have the opportunity of recuperating with a pleasure trip in the serene locales of the East. Bariatric surgery-Bid goodbye to your overweight woes.