Medical tourism, also known as health tourism or medical travel or health travel or medical value travel or overseas medical or medical outsourcing, is a term coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly growing practice of traveling to other countries for medical treatment and health care. It is not a new concept as we have instances in history where Greek pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean used to travel to a small territory in the sardonic gulf called epidauria.
Medical tourists are different from normal tourists opting for medical or cosmetic treatment just because it is available, but they are patients with significant health concerns for whom their health care is the min concern and the vacation aspect a secondary one. Many people are choosing medical tourism for complex medical situations like joint replacement, cardiac surgery or even cosmetic surgery
Medical tourism aims at rejuvenating a person mentally, physically and emotionally, drawing him away from his daily routine to a relaxed environment in an exotic location.
The primary reasons of medical tourism is high medical cost in one’s own country, long wait time procedures, the ease and affordability of international travel and improvement in both technology and standards of care in many countries. The popular destinations for medical tourism are Agentina, Cuba, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and New Zealand.
Mexico is one the most sought after destinations for medical tourism. It’s proximity to the US and Canada makes it easy for patients from these countries to travel there. Some people are even able to drive to Mexico to obtain low cost surgery. No passport or visa is required for US citizens. Along with this Mexico offers great beaches, vibrant culture, beautiful scenery, diving, golf course and delicious cuisines. Not only Mexico boasts of high quality doctors and hospitals, but also the medical savings in Mexico are tremendous. The savings can be around 50% of what is spend in the US and Mexico for the same treatments. Patients have reported of being treated with warmth, respect and a smile. They received a lot of attention in Mexico and felt that people went out of their way for them. Although people are very efficient there is no feeling of being rushed. Doctors spend a lot of time with the patients.
Dental work is one of the most common procedures patients go to have done, but knee and hip surgeries and cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries are popular as well. Mexico is also popular for savings on prescription medications. Though the same international companies supply in US and Mexico but in Mexico the medicines can be bought for a fraction of the amount spend in the US. This cuts the post operative costs drastically.
The Gastric Bypass Surgery (GBS) combines both restrictive and malabsorption processes. The creation of a small stomach pouch causes restricted food intake and construction of bypasses of the duodenum and other segment of the small intestine causes malabsorption, which decreases ability to absorb calories and nutrients from food.
There are two types of GBS.
The first type is known as Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RGB).This surgery was the first performed in US and today it is most popular Gastric bypass surgery all over the world. A small stomach pouch is created by stapling part of the stomach together or by vertical branching. Thereafter, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the duodenum as well as the first portion of the jejunum. Now it is possible to perform this surgery by laparoscopic technology.
Another type of GBS is called extensive gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion. This type is more complicated than RGB. The lower portion of the stomach is surgically removed. The remaining pouch is connected directly to the final segment of the small intestine .As a result both duodenum and jejunum are bypassed. This type is not very popular as it has a risk for nutritional deficiencies.
People who undergo gastric bypass surgery are at risk for Pouch stretching. The stomach may stretch back to its original size before surgery. Sometimes the breaking of staples can reverse the procedure. Leakage of stomach contents into the abdomen can cause acid eat other organs.
Some people complain of Dumping Syndrome. It occurs when stomach contents move too rapidly through small intestine. It causes nausea, vomiting, weakness, sweating, faintness and diarrhea after eating. Gallstone can occur in response to rapid weight loss. The limited absorption of vitamin B-12 and iron can cause anemia. The lack of calcium absorption causes osteoporosis.
But, the benefits of the surgery definitely outweigh the risks. More than 75% of the patients are expected to lose 75-80% of their excess body weight .About 70-80% of the patients stop taking medication for hypertension. Other conditions such as sleep apnea, asthma, joint pain, arthiritis, fatigue, shortness of breath are drastically improved if not completely resolved.
Although Mexico is more popular for specialties of plastic surgery and dentistry, bariatric surgeries done here too many takers.Many Americans simply cannot afford the expensive weight loss surgery cost, so they travel to Mexico, where the cost of bariatric surgery is half of that in the U.S . . . . Some people do not have health insurance or their health insurance will not pay for bariatric surgeries, traveling to Mexico is an attractive option.
Low cost is a major consideration while choosing Mexico for bariatic surgery, but it is not the only reason. It is important to invest time to research and choose correct bariatric surgeon and medical facility. Consideration should be given to the experience, credentials and reputation of the surgeon.
Some of the new hospitals have an entire section of doctor’s work especially for foreign nation patients or medical tourists. The efficiency and hospitality at these hospitals is legendary. They are clean and well maintained. You can have the operation the same day you reach there and after two days you may return to your home.
Lap Band or Adjustable Gastric Banding is preferred in Mexico .Lap Band surgery has many advantages over other weight loss surgeries because it is less drastic, adjustable and recovery is quick. It is highly flexible and the diameter of the band can be changed as required by the patient. For example pregnant women may expand their band to accommodate the growing fetus.
Los Cabos in Mexico is one of the cities offering many specialty treatments to tourists such as briatric surgeries, cosmetic dentistry including crowns, dentures and implants. In Cabo one can party all night in one of many famous clubs such as squid Roe or the Giggling Marlin where you can get hung upside down by your heels on a giant fish scale. The city has beautiful beaches where you can relax with beach margarita or even a bottle of water if your doctor has forbidden alchohol for a while.
The new Hospitals built in Mexico are not inferior to the best hospitals in the world.In many of these hospitals the majority are from medical tourism.Many surgeons here have more experience in bariatic surgery than the surgeons in the US in terms of number of operations done.
One of the most famous and largest hospitals in Mexico is Hospital Angeles. The most recently ones have been opened in towns of Ciudad and Tijuana.Tijuana is a beautiful city in northwestern Mexico in Baja California State, near the Pacific Coast. The Hospital is a multi-specialty one with state-of-art technology in operating rooms, as well as in diagnostic services in al medical fields.T here are many website and agents who can arrange affordable medical tourism trips to this Hospital.Many medical tourists throng the hospital for low cost high quality weight loss treatment all round the year.It has been located strategically located just 25 minutes from San Dieagoto attract patients form US and Canada.
Star Medical Hospital is another fast growing hospital chains in Mexico. One of these hospitals located in Jurarez is located about 20 minutes from El Paso. It will cater to patients from west part of US who are looking for affordable medical treatments.
