If you live in a country with universal health care or have good private health insurance, count your blessings. The ‘only’ thing you have to do is decide whether you want to explore bariatric surgery, get approval for the procedure, and start the process of finding the right clinic or surgeon.
The process you’ll go through as a bariatric surgery patient
But if you are not as lucky – or find that waiting times are prohibitive – you might be considering paying for a private clinic’s services. Some people also choose to travel to minimise the expense of bariatric surgery and maximise the speed of treatment.
The pros and cons of travelling to have Bariatric Surgery
Many factors affect total cost
Your bariatric surgery can easily be more or less expensive than your friend’s or neighbour’s. The total cost depends on many factors.
For example, will you receive services such as dietician or psychological support before and/or after the procedure? How many days will you be in hospital after surgery? How long is the facility’s follow-up programme? What is included in your follow-up treatment?
It pays to make sure your expectations and budget are aligned. That way you can focus on what’s most important after surgery: you and your health.
Safety first!
Everyone wants a good deal, but you simply cannot put a price on your health. When considering a clinic for bariatric surgery, you must think about more than the cost. Be sure the facility has a good reputation and that the surgeons and staff have lots of experience. And that’s just for starters.
Information contained herein is not medical advice and should not be used as an alternative to speaking with your doctor.
Discuss indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse events and any further information with your health care professional.