Compared to Canada, UK, & USA, the gastric sleeve surgery (also referred as “sleeve gastrectomy”) cost abroad can be about 50 to 60 percent cheaper. Popular destinations are, Mexico, Costa Rica and India. This article discusses what gastric sleeve surgery is and what are the things to keep in mind on deciding on a trip to Mexico, India or Costa Rica for this bariatric medical procedure. Also, discussed here is the price of this surgery at these overseas locations.

In the gastric sleeve surgery the surgeon removes about 60 percent of the stomach resulting in its shape like a “sleeve” (Banana or tube shape). This is performed usually on individuals having a BMI of 60 or more. The Gastric Sleeve is many times used as the first of the two stage weight loss surgeries. The second stage being gastric bypass, after 80 to 100 pounds have been lost by the patient due to the gastric sleeve.Some surgeons overseas have started offering gastric sleeve surgery to low BMI patients as an alternative to laproscopic gastric banding (”LAP BAND”). Majority of the patients lose about 50 percent of their excess weight in the first 6 to 12 months after the sleeve Gastrectomy.

Advantages or Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- Does not involve cutting & rejoining of intestines
- Simpler than gastric bypass
- No fills or adjustments.
- Safer even for high BMI patients (60 BMI or more)
- Does not have the side effects experienced by bypass patients because the digestion system is unaltered.
- Preferred by patients who are reluctant to have a device implanted in their body.

Mexico is the most preferred destination for Canadian & US patients due to the geographic proximity. Costa Rica is also popular among North Americans as along with having one of the most low cost high quality hospitals & surgeons, it also is a great tourist attraction and has plenty of direct flights from most major cities. From Europe there are no direct flights to Costa Rica, a stop over(plane change) in the USA would be required. India also has recently started attracting a fair number of obesity surgery patients from North America, this is primarily due to the low price of the medical treatment, high quality medical professionals and internationally accredited hospitals. For UK patients looking for overseas gastric sleeve surgery India is one of the best option due to a number of cheap direct flights & smaller travel times. Example, price quotes from some leading hospitals in these countries are:

Mexico $ 11,990
Costa Rica $ 8,900
India $ 7,500

Weight loss surgeries are popular medical tourism procedure. With most of the insurance considering this as an elective medical procedure patients have to self pay for it. Going abroad is a good alternative. Mexico, Costa Rica & India provide a high quality low cost alternative to patients who in their home country cannot afford the procedure because the cost of gastric sleeve surgery very high or the other reason in some countries is the long waiting lines this bariatric treatment.

Related: American College of Surgeons Report - Comparison of Gastric Sleeve, Lap Band & Gastric Bypass