Gastric Banding & Gastric Bypass 

Thailand can provide some of the best healthcare available anywhere in the world at a price that will pleasantly surprise you. And the friendliness and caring support provided by the doctors and nurses is world renowned. However, just as in your home Country, you must do the research to make sure you select the top doctor’s and hospitals for your particular medical procedure. Who would the local medical professionals select for their own treatment?  

And that is where our Company can help because we have done the research for you and continually check and update our database of fine doctors and medical facilities. Not only by peer review, but also by recommendations and testimonials from patients that we stay with and support during the whole experience here in Thailand. 

So if you or someone you know is interested in a weight loss surgery, or indeed, any medical or cosmetic procedure, in the friendly Country of Thailand, just let us know the particular procedure and we will provide you with our recommendation, including full details on the doctor or doctors, the medical facilities, the procedure and the price. 

And here’s an important consideration – all surgery is performed in world class facilities with all of the back up support of a major hospital. These are hospitals where they do the most advanced cardiac and brain surgery etc., so you know you are in good hands even for a relatively simple procedure. So if anything does go wrong, instant care is available.  

It costs you nothing extra to book your appointment through Thailand4Healthcare, but it does give you the advantage of an independent assessment of the wide choice of doctors and hospitals. Don't make the mistake of relying on the hospital to select your surgeon from their duty list. We also provide friendly assistance during your complete stay in Thailand, making sure that you have a wonderful experience here and providing any liaison with the doctors, hospitals and hotels.
 
You pay the hospitals and hotels directly at their normal rates (although our company does review the hospital charges to make sure you are not being overcharged). 

Gastric Banding (lap-band):

Approximately 420,000 Thai Baht or AUD 15,578 or CAD 14,343 or £6,403 or US$12,590 (€9,574) or NZD$17,284

Please log on to www.xe.com for other currencies and to check current exchange rates                                   

Gastric Bypass: 

Approximately 528,800 Thai Baht or AUD 19,608 or CAD 18,060 or £8,083 or US$14,689 (€11,883) or NZD$21,761

Please log on to www.xe.com for other currencies and to check current exchange rates 

Please note that these prices are reasonably accurate estimates and may increase or decrease slightly upon the patient’s condition and the exchange rate.   

These prices include :

This price excludes :

Notice :

Gastric banding includes 2 days of hospitalization and requires you to stay in Thailand for a minimum of 7 days after your surgery.  

Gastric bypass includes 5-6 days of hospitalization and requires you to stay in Thailand for 14 days after your surgery.

About obesity surgery (don’t you just hate that name?)

Being severely obese puts you at a higher risk for developing or worsening many serious medical conditions. There are more than 30 obesity-related medical conditions that can damage your quality of life and cause early death. Some obesity-related medical conditions include arthritis, several cancers, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, gallbladder disease, gout, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, infertility, liver disease, low back pain, obstetric and gynecologic complications, respiratory problems, sleep apnea, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and urinary stress incontinence. Weight loss is recommended for persons with obesity or severe obesity. Losing excess weight can improve your health by lowering risks from obesity-related medical conditions. For morbidly obese persons obesity surgery is generally considered the only effective treatment. Obesity surgery can result in significant weight loss. 

Benefits of obesity surgery
 

Obesity surgery helps you lose weight by changing the way your body digests and absorbs food. Generally following obesity surgery you will feel full faster and eat less. Below find a list of some of the most important benefits of obesity surgery:

Weight loss.

With gastric banding weight loss of 50-60% of excess weight can be expected. For gastric bypass weight loss of 70-80% of excess can be expected. Most patients regain some over time, however few regain it all.  

Improvements in obesity-related medical conditions that were present before surgery 

Enhanced quality of life, improved mobility and stamina, and improved self-esteem

The surgery has been found to be effective in improving and controlling many obesity-related health conditions.

Improvements in surgical techniques have resulted in considerable progress in safety and effectiveness. However, it is important to be aware that the effectiveness of obesity surgery depends on a number of factors such as your age, weight before surgery, general health, surgical procedure, commitment to lifestyle changes, and support of friends and family. 

Who is candidate for obesity surgery? 

Obesity surgery is recommended for persons who are morbidly obese. Obesity is generally measured by means of Body Mass Index (BMI), and a person is considered morbidly obese, and thus a candidate for obesity surgery, if he/she has a BMI of 40 or more. Obesity surgery is also recommended for obese persons that have a BMI of 35 to 40 with serious medical conditions. Below see how you can calculate your BMI:  

BMI = Weight (kg) / height (m)  or

BMI = [Weight (lbs) / height (in)] x 703 

However, it is not just about BMI. It is important to consider the health risks of being severely obese, and the benefits you can expect to achieve from losing excess weight (weight loss surgery). If you are unable to perform routine work or domestic activities and this significantly affects your quality of life you may also be a candidate for obesity surgery. To be a candidate for obesity surgery you must know about the risks and benefits of the surgery and be prepared to commit to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. In addition, you should have attempted other means of achieving weight loss prior to considering obesity surgery such as changes in eating behavior, physical exercise and/or prescription drugs. Please note that you need to be evaluated by a physician in order to finally determine whether you are a candidate for obesity surgery. For an initial screening please fill out the attached Hygeia Healthcare Questionnaire. 

Types of obesity surgery 

Thailand4Healthcare  offers two types of obesity, or bariatric, surgical procedures: 

Gastric Banding

Gastric banding is referred to as a restrictive surgery, because its objective is to reduce the size of the stomach by putting an adjustable, restrictive band around the stomach. Gastric banding achieves weight loss by limiting the food intake and making the patient feel full faster. In gastric banding a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch. A narrow passage to the lower part of the stomach is left at the bottom of the stomach pouch. The small size of the passage means that the food passes through slowly. This means that that the patient will feel full faster and for a longer time. 

Gastric Bypass 

Gastric bypass is a combination of restrictive surgery with malabsorptive surgery. Malabsorptive surgery refers to alteration of the digestion by bypassing part of the small intestine. In gastric bypass food from the stomach is thus redirected to a lower segment of the intestine resulting in absorption of fewer calories. As opposed to gastric banding, gastric bypass cannot be reversed.

After the surgery 

Immediately after your surgery you may be restricted to a liquid diet and it can take several weeks before you can tolerate solid food. To achieve a successful long-term result of obesity surgery you must commit to significantly change your lifestyle. This includes daily exercise and adherence to a number of dietary guidelines. After your surgery, the surgeon will discuss with you the post-surgery guidelines you must follow to ensure a long-term weight loss. You are able to return to your normal level of activity within a few weeks to 6 weeks after your surgery depending on the type of procedure, your physical condition, and the nature of the activity. It is of the utmost importance that woman use the most effective form of birth control during the first 16 to 24 months following obesity surgery, as pregnancy can have potentially severe consequences. 

Risks and complications

Below you can see a list of some possible risks and complications of obesity surgery. As you can see, this is serious surgery and your decision should not be take lightly.

Infection during surgery

Leaking of stomach juices 

Bleeding and blockage of the small intestine. 

Breathing difficulties

Wound infections

Spleen injury

Stomach pouch stretching (from overeating)

Gallstones may develop as a result of losing a large amount of weight or from losing weight quickly. Gallstones can be prevented by taking medication. 

Anemia, osteoporosis and other bone disease are nutritional deficiencies that develop after the surgery due to long-term loss of absorptive function. Nutritional deficiencies can be prevented with proper attention to vitamin and mineral intake.  

Women of childbearing age should be aware that quick weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can harm a developing fetus.

Complications due to anesthesia and medications  

Eating too much at once or not chewing the food enough can cause nausea, stomach discomfort and vomiting. 

A condition called “dumping syndrome” can occur which means food moves too quickly through the small intestine. This is generally not considered a serious health risk but can result in nausea, weakness, faintness and sometimes diarrhea after eating.   

Pre-surgery guidelines

Please stop taking any blood-thinning agents such as Aspirin, Gingko-Biloba, Vitamin A & E, etc. at least one week before your scheduled. Also please stop smoking and alcohol consumption 2 weeks prior to surgery. 

Selection of Hospital and Doctor 

Make no mistake about it; gastric banding and particularly gastric bypass is major surgery, and our firm recommendation for either of these two procedures is the Bangkok International Hospital or Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. We will help you select the best doctors for this procedure.

Bumrungrad: 

The most famous of Bangkok Hospitals offers a full range of medical services and probably needs no introduction. It is a 5 Billion baht operation with a strong focus on international clients. In their annual report they claim that close to 50% of their revenue comes from foreigners. They are listed on the Thai stock exchange and claim to be the biggest private hospital in South-East Asia.

The Bumrungrad prides itself on being the first Asian hospital accredited by the JCIA, and, in fact, it was the first hospital outside the United States to be accredited by JCIA. The Hospital has specialty stores and a food court with Japanese and Thai restaurants, a Starbucks, an Italian restaurant and a McDonalds.

Bangkok International Hospital

The seasoned physicians (many of them trained overseas), cutting edge technology and excellent nursing staff provide all patients with the highest level of medical care at Bangkok International Hospital. Bangkok Hospital is recognized as the leader in private medical healthcare in Thailand and the South East Asian region, and the hospital’s outstanding facilities, leading expertise and latest advancements in medical technology place them among the world’s premier global healthcare providers. 

As proof of the outstanding quality and safety, Bangkok International Hospital has been ISO 9001:2000 certified. Furthermore, the hospital is in the process of achieving the very prestigious JCI hospital accreditation – probably in June 2007.  

Bangkok International Hospital aims to create a comfortable ambience for people of all cultures. The dedicated international team gives full attention to the understanding and needs of each individual patient. With 26 languages spoken, a welcoming experience is ensured for everyone.