Weight Loss Surgery in India
Are you looking for weight loss surgery and are open to travel? Bariatric surgery in India could be a great option! Why? It is safe and affordable! Compared to the US & UK, you can save up to 60-70% in surgery costs in India.
Video Courtesy: NIDDK
India is a popular medical tourism destination. It has access to high-quality healthcare, qualified medical professionals, and advanced aftercare support systems. Want to know more? Let's find out!
Why Choose India for Bariatric Surgery?
India has a robust state-of-the-art infrastructure and a first-class private healthcare ecosystem, making it a popular medical destination. Moreover, there is no waiting period for surgeries![1]
Key medical tourism destinations favored by foreign patients include hospitals in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities. It includes New Delhi, the Near Capital Region (NCR), Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.
The following features make India a prime destination for bariatric surgery:
1. High-Quality Medical Care
India has over 40 JCI Accredited hospitals[2] with world-class technologies.
Over 847 hospitals[3] in India enjoy NABH accreditation.
2. State-of-the-art Hospitals
Access to advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Robotics aids in greater accuracy in medical care.
3. Infrastructure
Comfortable aesthetics like private suites, luxurious rooms, and spacious settings. Presence of trained workforce in respective areas of specialization and clinical expertise.
4. Ease of Communication
English is the second language in most Metro cities, ensuring seamless communications. For other languages, quality interpreters are readily available.
5. Popular Tourist Destination
India is a unique medical tourism getaway with government-backed medical tourism[4] and world-class treatment facilities.
6. Ease of Travel
India has simplified medical VISA norms for hassle-free medical visits. It includes multiple visits to the host country (3 times) and long-term stays for medical care.[5]
The usual period on a medical visa is one year. You can apply for an extension if required. There is also a provision for each patient to bring two adult attendants.
On top of this, many doctors and surgeons in India have undergone training overseas. You can find them practicing in top medical hospitals like Apollo and Max healthcare. Thus they are more empathic to the needs of foreign clients.
Even the uninsured can afford a self-paying WLS in India, with all benefits included. Unbelievable, right? You will love our cost comparison table in the next section.
Weight Loss Surgery Cost in India
Gastric bypass surgery can cost between $3,200 - $9,500 in India. Similarly, a gastric sleeve surgery can cost between $3,500 - $6,000. It is cheap, compared to the US!
In the US, the average cost of gastric bypass surgery can range between $15,000 - $24,000. Similarly, a sleeve gastrectomy can cost you between $17,000 - $26,000.
In the UK the costs are high too. The average price of a WLS can range between $10,900 - $20,500 for gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgeries.
| Location | Gastric Bypass Surgery* | Gastric Sleeve** | |
| Delhi | $5,150 - $9,500 | $3,500 - $5,120 | |
| Bangalore | $3,400 - $6,700 | $4,200 - $5,200 | |
| Chennai | $3,200 - $6,500 | $4,000 - $4,950 | |
| Chandigarh | $5,000 - $9,000 | $3,800 - $5,000 | |
| Mumbai | $3,800 - $7,500 | $5,730 - $6,000 | |
| United States | $15,000 - $24,000 | $17,000 - $26,000 | |
| Hospital stay: *4 days; **3 days | |||
*Prices are subject to change.
Prices may also change depending on the location.
Package price includes:
- Pre-operative tests
- Consultations
- All surgical fees & medicines
- Visa & passport assistance
- Travel support (Airport to hotel/hospital)
Other charges may include:
- Room rent
- Meals & room service
- Nursing charges
- Accompanying guest expenses
- Any emergency out-of-pocket expenses
Some of the most accessible cities for patients looking for Bariatric surgery are Delhi, NCR, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Gurgaon.
Best Hospitals in India for Bariatric Surgery
Max Hospital
Max Healthcare is one of India's largest private healthcare organizations. With 3000+ doctors and a network of 16 hospitals, they provide the highest standards of medical excellence.
Their facilities are in the NCR, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra regions.
Equipped with 256 Slice CT Angio, 3.0 Tesla MRI, and Cath Labs, it offers Cardiac Sciences, Orthopaedics, Urology, Neurology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology.
With 300+ specialists and advanced technology, it provides comprehens
- NABH Accredited
- 300+ Doctors
- 22+ Departments
Highlights:
- State-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that are first in Asia and India
- Accreditations: JCI, NABL, and NABH
- Certification: ISO 9001:2000
- 300+ specialist doctors
- 38+ specialities
Apollo Hospitals
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited is an Indian multinational hospital chain with a prominent presence (70 locations) in all major cities of India.
They have served more than 120 million lives from over 120 countries across the globe. They are the first in South Asia to revolutionize brain tumor surgery with the help of ZAP-X.
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Delhi, w
- 1995 Established
- 5,000+ Pharmacies
- 11,000+ Care Providers
Highlights:
- First hospital in India to introduce Robotic technique for Bariatrics
- Specialized center for Bariatric surgeries
- Accreditations: JCI, NABL, and NABH
- Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 2200 HACCP
Both Max and Apollo hospitals provide premium services specifically for international patients. This includes:
Best Bariatric Surgeons
Dr. Pradeep Chowbey
45+ years
MBBS, MS
Expertise
Bariatric Surgery
Education
Jabalpur Medical College
- Chairman - Max Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
- Trained more than 20,000 surgeons from around the world in minimally invasive surgeries
- Performed over 98,300 surgeries
- Authored 300+ original scientific papers in international and national indexed journals
Dr. Manish Baijal
26+ years
DNB (Gen Surg)
Expertise
Obesity Surgery, Gallbladder Stones, hernia
Education
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
- Specialization in Bariatric Surgery - Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA
- FALS - Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
- FIAGES- Fellowship of Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons
- Member of Society of endoscopic & laparoscopic surgeons of Asia (ELSA).
- Member of Asia Pacific Hernia Society (APHS)
Dr. Aloy J Mukherjee
25+ years
MBBS, MS (Surgery), MAMS, Fellow IAGESl
Expertise
Bariatric surgery, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Sleep Apnea
- Practices at Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha in Delhi
- Member of IAGES,OSSI,IFSO and Association of Surgeons of India (ASI)
Dr. Neel Shah
36+ years
MBBS, DNB, FRCS
Expertise
Laparoscopic advanced surgery, thyroid & endocrine General Surgery
- Practices at Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha in Delhi
- Member of Royal College of surgeons, IAGES
- Member of Upper GI Association of England
What Is Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight loss surgery is a variety of procedures performed on people who are obese. It involves surgical procedures on the stomach.
The surgeon uses laparoscopic techniques, which are safe and minimally invasive. Weight loss surgery includes three basic procedures, which are as follows:
Gastric Bypass
It is also known as the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery. The surgeon divides the stomach into two parts (a small upper pouch and a much larger lower pouch).
The new tummy is smaller in size, which reduces food intake. Since the food consumption is small, it substantially aids in weight reduction.
Gastric bypass is a major surgery and is for seriously obese people.
It is designed for people who have a BMI of more than 40 or 100 lbs overweight.
The procedure usually takes 90 to 180 minutes. Patients can get to their feet by the end of the day and leave the hospital in 3-4 days.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
It is also known as Gastric sleeve surgery. The surgeon removes about 15% of the stomach through surgery.
Post-surgery, the remaining stomach looks like a banana or a shirt sleeve, so the term "Gastric sleeve."
The procedure is irreversible. It can lead to decreased hunger and blood glucose control.
Duration of surgery: 1-3 hours
Post-surgery recovery: 2-4 days of hospital rest after surgery.
Pre-Surgery Steps
Your surgeon may advise you to do a couple of pre-operative tests. These Pre-operative tests may include:
- GI x-ray
- Psychology evaluation
- Liver function tests
- Blood test for bacteria in the stomach, blood count, and blood urea
Recovery Post Surgery
After surgery, your surgeon may advise you to follow a diet plan and workout regimen to aid in faster healing and recovery.
Patients are advised not to eat regular foods for 2-3 days post-surgery. You can start a liquid diet after the 3rd day and shift to a soft diet after a couple of days.
Other steps to follow:
- Eat small meals
- Exercise regularly
- Consume nutritious food
- Follow a balanced diet
- Regular follow up
- Routine health checkups
How to Reach India
The air connectivity to India from major countries like the US, UK, or Australia is very fluid. Travel access is easy and fast, with 24 international and 103 domestic airports.[6]
| City | Number of Hours |
| New York City | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 18 |
| London | 7 |
| Toronto | 13 |
Medical Tourism in India
The traditional knowledge in health care (Ayurveda & Homeopathy) and India's reputation in modern, western approaches fuel the country's rise in medical tourism.
In addition, the Indian government actively promotes traditional health care systems such as Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
Yoga
Herbal medicines
Ayurvedic treatment
India is also famous as a tourism destination because of its vibrant culture, food, and weather. In a nutshell, India trumps both as a tourism destination and as a cheaper alternative for weight loss surgery.
The availability of experienced surgeons, competitive prices, and world-class medical facilities gives India an edge over other countries in the Asia Pacific region.
FAQs About Obesity Surgery in India
Surgery time: 90-180 minutes
Post-surgery departure may take around 1-3 days or more for patient release. One may take approximately 2-5 weeks to recover completely.
It is advisable to ensure regular checkups with your surgeon and follow diet instructions without an error.
There are possible short-term and long-term effects of bariatric surgery. In most cases, these problems get corrected naturally with time. Constipation is a common short-term effect.
The long-term benefits include :
- 65% weight loss in 2-4 years from Gastric bypass surgery
- 56% of weight loss within 2-4 years from Gastric sleeve surgery
- 49% of weight loss in 2-3 years from Gastric banding surgery
Yes. Indian hospitals like Max Healthcare and Apollo Hospitals are considered highly certified healthcare providers. You can safely access these private health care facilities for safe bariatric surgeries.
References
- IJAHR: Dynamics of medical tourism in India
- JCI: Joint Commission International Accredited Hospitals in India
- NABH: NABH Accredited Hospitals
- Ministry of Tourism Government of India: Medical and Wellness Tourism
- e-Visa India: India Medical Visa
- Airports Authority of India: About us