Is it safe to get weight loss surgery in Mexico?
Weight loss surgery is a major procedure that should only be performed by a fully trained and certified bariatric surgeon. Thousands of women and men from the US and Canada undergo weight loss surgery in Mexico every year with successful results.
Mexico has emerged as one of the safest and most reputable medical tourism destinations for bariatric surgery.
The government of Mexico as well as the private healthcare industry in the country has invested heavily over the last two decades to build an outstanding medical infrastructure in Mexico. The country today has state of the art hospitals and bariatric clinics offering safe and advanced weight loss surgery in Mexico.
Standards of Care at Mexico Hospitals
A number of hospitals offering weight loss surgery in Mexico today are JCI accredited. JCI accreditation in the US is considered as the gold standard for high quality hospitals worldwide. Many other leading hospitals and bariatric clinics in Mexico are also accredited, licensed and are full-service centers offering the latest weight loss procedures.
Whether you are seeking gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, duodenal switch surgery, or other types of bariatric and metabolic procedures, Mexico hospitals have best in class surgical technology, equipment, and facilities to offer. Government supervision over these healthcare institutions is stringent because medical tourism is critical to the local economy of Mexico.
If you require a stay at the hospital in Mexico for one or more nights, you can be assured of excellent amenities, accommodation and nursing care during your stay. However, it’s vital to choose an impressive and well-equipped hospital for your weight loss surgery in Mexico. You can ensure that by working with a trusted medical tourism provider in your home country.
Professional Credentials of Mexico Surgeons
Weight loss surgeons in Mexico are among the most skilled, qualified and experienced anywhere in the world. The country is home to a number of world-class medical colleges and universities where these surgeons have usually obtained their medical degrees, followed by specialized training in bariatric surgery. Some of the Mexico weight loss surgeons have also received training at top medical colleges in the United States.
As Mexico has emerged as the world’s leading bariatric surgery tourism destination, it receives thousands of patients every year from different countries.
This has enabled surgeons in Mexico to hone their skills through actual hands-on experience in the operating room. These surgeons are well-versed with all types of weight loss surgery techniques today, and can provide a choice of the appropriate procedure for a patient.
Some surgeons have performed thousands of weight loss surgeries in Mexico and command an outstanding track record of success. They are capable of handling any unexpected emergencies in the operating room because of their vast experience. Most of them are able to converse in English, which is helpful for patients from the US or Canada.
Board Certification in Bariatric Surgery
When choosing weight loss surgery in Mexico, it may be preferable to work with a surgeon who is board certified in bariatric surgery. Some of the leading surgeons in the country have obtained certification from the Mexican Board of Bariatric Surgery, while a few have even been certified by the relevant medical boards in the US or other countries.
A board certified in bariatric surgery is only awarded to a select number of surgeons every year after they go through rigorous selection process. As a new patient, when you work with a highly credentialed weight loss surgeon in Mexico, you have an assurance that you are in safe hands. These surgeons would have undergone a certain minimum number of years of training in general surgery as well as bariatric surgery.
Board certified weight loss surgeons typically invest in the best medical practices and high standards of care, adopt cutting-edge surgical techniques and technology, pursue continuing education and training, and follow the current safety protocols. These things enable them to deliver exceptionally successful results to their patients, who are usually visitors from the US, Canada, and other countries.
Steps to Ensure a Safe Weight Loss Surgery in Mexico
It is natural to have concerns and apprehensions when you are planning to have your weight loss surgery in Mexico or another destination that is not your home country. But you can take a few simple steps to ensure that your bariatric surgery in Mexico is as safe as what you may expect at some of the best hospitals in the US or Canada.
· Choose the Right Medical Tourism Provider: If you do not have a direct contact with a trusted surgeon or hospital in Mexico, your next best move should be to select a seasoned and reputable medical tourism provider in your home country that specializes in weight loss surgery in Mexico.
· Review the Hospital and Surgeon’s Background: Carefully go through the website of the hospital where you are going to have your bariatric surgery in Mexico. Check the surgeon’s qualifications, experience, patient testimonials and bariatric surgery before and after photographs to gain insights into their surgical skills.
· Ask Questions During Your Virtual Consultation: Probably the first step in your weight loss journey will be an online consultation with the bariatric surgeon in Mexico. Feel free to ask questions, satisfy all your doubts and concerns, and then make a well-informed choice about your surgery.
· Follow the Surgeon’s Pre- and Post-Op Instructions: At the end of the day, your own commitment to your health and safety is going to play a pivotal role. Make sure you abide by the pre- and post-surgical instructions and advice of your bariatric surgeon and achieve safe and predictable results.
The Bottom Line
Whether you choose your weight loss surgery in Mexico or the US or Canada, any surgical procedure ultimately involves some risks. That is why you are required to sign consent forms before a surgery. However, if the risk of not having a surgery is higher, it is always better to go ahead with the surgery.
By making judicious choices about your medical tourism company, bariatric surgeon, and hospital in Mexico, you can minimize your risks and ensure that you receive safety standards that are at par with the best standards of care anywhere in the world.
Good Luck!
