Gastric Band Abroad

The main advantage of going abroad to have a Gastric Band fitted is the reduced price. Having a Gastric band fitted in the UK can cost up to £10,000 privately, and funding is restricted on the NHS meaning it’s quite difficult to be put on a waiting list. So people often go down the route of surgery abroad, there are various clinics which offer numerous costs, which all include various packages.

Prices

Prices are marginally cheaper than surgery within the United Kingdom, there are numerous clinics which offer this type of surgery and the cost of the surgery itself can be as little as £3,000 this would exclude air fare to the country the surgery is to take place as well as accommodation, so you would have to allocate a budget for that too. However there are some clinics which offer packages inclusive of accommodation and surgery, one clinic offers a price of £3,400 inclusive of an overnight stay in a hotel prior to your operation, other clinics also offer packages inclusive of airfare, surgery and accommodation, and even extended 5 day hotel stays for prices as low as £4,900. There is however much more to consider when you consider surgery abroad.


Consultations For Surgery Abroad

Many people feel comfortable just having a free consultation the day prior to their surgery; most clinics abroad offer this type of consultation. However it is possible to get a consultation in the U.K Surgeons often visit areas of the country on a weekly basis for numerous reasons which include consultations and the after care of patients. If you do wish t have a consultation with a surgeon prior to flying out to Europe, it is normally a chargeable appointment, and the average cost of the appointment is around £100.

Payment To Clinic

The most common method of payment is to put down a deposit usually costing around £500, it is then required that your full balance be paid 28 days prior to your arrival in the country. You need to be wary of this however as some surgeons have the right to refuse your procedure; this could occur if you haven’t previously had a consultation, or if you are wary of the idea that you may not be a suitable candidate for the Gastric Band procedure.

Suitability For The Procedure Abroad

The guidelines are similar to those set out on the NHS or in private U.K clinics. The international guidelines set out that you must have a BMI of over 40, or between 35 and 40 with a health problem which can be improved with weight loss surgery, cases as low as BMI’s of 30 may also be considered. The minimum BMI is likely to vary from clinic to clinic, similar to UK clinics. The guidelines are more lenient abroad, and there is no specific institute which dictates to the NHS or private clinics as there is in the U.K.  This could be an advantage to those people who feel they are suitable for the procedure, but who do not meet such guidelines.

Caution When Finding A Surgery Abroad

It is necessary to express more caution when seeking out a clinic abroad, as to some it will be unknown territory. You will need to ensure that there is some kind of after care in place, as most clinics will offer a weekly check –up if needed as a surgeon will travel to the U.K.  Research has shown that some surgeons have been breaking the international guidelines and operating on individuals with BMI’s lower than 30, thus causing life threatening problems. It is necessary therefore to research thoroughly into the clinic, and its past patients as well as the surgeons and their qualifications.

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