Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Tijuana, Mexico

What to Expect

This procedure is performed laparoscopically under general anesthesia, using 3-5 small incisions in the abdomen. You can expect to stay in the hospital for two days.

Patients can expect to lose an average of 70% of their excess weight in the first year.  The gastric sleeve has a variety of health benefits – including improving or curing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and joint problems. Mexico Bariatric Center (MBC) patients who have had this procedure have experienced impressive results that helped resolve many diseases and illnesses associated with obesity.

Check out our patient’s incredible Gastric Sleeve Before and After Photos!

Why Choose Gastric Sleeve?

Gastric sleeve patients report successful weight loss with minimal digestion problems compared to other types of weight loss surgeries. Other advantages include:

• There are no foreign objects placed within the body, like with the gastric band.
• Since it is a purely restrictive procedure, it avoids an occurrence of malabsorption problems present in other types of surgeries like gastric bypass.
• Since the remaining part of the stomach is composed of less elastic tissue, the likelihood of stretching and failing in the ensuing years is minimal.
• Gastric sleeve surgery can be easily revised into another surgery, such as the re-sleeve, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch.

This procedure usually takes about 1.5 hours (start to end) with 30 min to 60 min for the actual surgery, depending on the anatomic variation of the patient as well as the skills and experience of the surgeon. The patient is required to stay in the hospital for one night – but to ensure fewer complications and fast recovery we keep our patients for two nights. Healing is relatively fast, in fact, patients who have had sleeve gastrectomy usually return to work after only two to three weeks following their surgery.

Gastric sleeve weight loss depends strongly on following the post-op diet and living a healthy lifestyle after surgery. Other variables that impact losing weight are age, physical activity, diabetes, medication (e.g. bipolar disorder), smoking, and genetics. Some patients are extremely respondent; weight loss comes to them effortlessly and they are able to reach ideal body weight. For other patients, the weight loss is harder and patients do not lose as much.

• 3 months: 25-35% excess weight loss*
• 6 months: 45-55% excess weight loss*
• 12 months: 65-70% excess weight loss*
• 18 months: 70-75% excess weight loss*

Mexico Bariatric Center surgeons performing gastric sleeve surgery adhere to specific techniques for the highest patient outcomes. They are board certified by both Mexican College of General Surgeons as well as Mexican College of Bariatric & Metabolic Surgeons (CMCOEM & CMCG). Meet MBC’s Renowned & Board-Certified Surgical Teams!

1. First, three lines of brand name, like Johnson & Johnson or Covidien, Titanium staples (Tri-Staple) to close the new smaller stomach pouch.
2. Second, a suture line after the staples is performed along the staple line (Inverted Gastric Sleeve or Double-Butress Gastric Sleeve), to make sure no stomach leakage takes place.
3. We perform three leak tests per patient. Two leak tests are performed the day of your surgery with blue dye and air. The next day we perform the last leak test, called a Fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy is much like an X-ray movie that traces a special colored dye through the new stomach to detect any possible leak.
4. MBC surgeons leave a drain in the abdominal cavity as a precaution for early detection of a leak.

The benefits of sleeve gastrectomy go beyond simply having better looks and fast weight loss. For patients having trouble with weight, sleeve gastrectomy offers an opportunity to feel better as well as live longer and be more productive due to significantly reduced risks of acquiring any obesity-related conditions as a result of surgery.

The health benefits of gastric sleeve surgery are diverse and substantial. Obesity-related issues are resolved, along with a number of health problems. The comorbidities that are improved along with the affordable price make gastric sleeve surgery in Tijuana, Mexico a viable option for everyone.

Non-health benefits of gastric sleeve surgery are almost as substantial and incredible as the health benefits are. Non-Scale Victories, known as NSV, are moments of inspiring confidence, happiness, and life changes that patients get to live out after gastric sleeve surgery. Check out our patients best NSV’s of 2018!

Fear of unsafe trip to Mexico, risky hospitals, and unqualified surgeons should NOT keep people from looking into this viable option for weight loss surgery. Safe gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico is something we pride ourselves at Mexico Bariatric Center. We use a closed network of drivers to ensure patient safety at all times. We pride ourselves on providing a qualified, certified company where patients can feel relaxed and safe.

Here at Mexico Bariatric Center, we reduce the risks of gastric sleeve surgery in Tijuana, Mexico by always striving to follow these guidelines:

1. We use top quality surgical equipment, and modern medical techniques.
2. We represent only the best gastric sleeve surgeons in Mexico.
3. We use a high-volume hospital, Hospital Mi Doctor, which has been shown to reduce complication rates and increase patient outcomes for bariatric patients.

Mexico Bariatric Center has the patient safety, security and peace of mind as a priority. MBC has teamed up with a medical tourism insurance company to offer affordable Medical Tourism Insurance.

The reduction in stomach size creates a reduced production of a stomach-produced hormone called Ghrelin (Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor) which induces hunger. Thus, the individual is less hungry throughout the day and gets full quickly.

Recent set point theory states that gastric sleeve procedure changes body’s metabolic thermostat; as a result, the patient’s metabolism goes up and hunger goes down – the weight loss is achieved by “physiologic” mechanism and not by “restriction.”

Although Gastric Sleeve Surgery was FDA approved in the United States in 2001, Mexico had performed sleeve surgery many years before that. In fact, the experience of this procedure started in Mexico after the Duodenal Switch Surgery originated in 1986.

Just like every other surgery, there are possible short-term, near-term, and long-term complications associated with gastric sleeve surgery. Here at MBC, the complication rate is a fraction of the published complication rate data in United States and is close to zero.

* Stricture is a narrowing section that may develop as a result of scar tissue in the mid-body of the sleeve. It interferes with the normal movement of food and can cause pain after eating and vomiting. See gastric sleeve complications and risks.

Recent studies show that people with a weight problem have a higher chance of having the hernia. For a successful surgery, the surgeon needs to look closely to repair a hernia to avoid reflux symptoms. Our bariatric surgeons examine the patient during gastric sleeve surgery for the presence of Hiatal Hernia (HH) and repair it if it is needed.

Gastric Sleeve in Mexico, is just one of several surgical options we offer in Mexico. We also offer these popular bariatric surgeries in Mexico. For the difference between expected weight loss, possible risks, and more detailed data, please visit these following guides to learn more:

* Prices are subject to change. Not valid on blackout dates. Prices depend on the surgeon, surgery, additional fees, and schedule. Prices may rise because of BMI level and previous abdominal surgeries.

** All of the testimonials are covered in our disclaimers. Individuals results will vary; there is no guarantee stated nor implied.

Last Updated: September 6, 2018 by Ron Elli, Ph.D.

Reviewed by Dr. Kimberly Langdon, M.D. August 2018

For additional questions please don’t hesitate to contact us using the below contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.