Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery
Deciding to undergo bariatric surgery is a life-changing choice. As with any surgery, you want to ensure that your team is using the latest techniques and technology available to promote your safety and well-being.
The Tijuana Bariatrics network of physicians in Tijuana, Mexico, utilizes specialized tools to perform laparoscopic bariatric surgery with smaller incisions, which can promote a faster, safer recovery and minimize scarring.
Why is laparoscopic surgery the preferred method for many patients?
An Improved Patient Experience*
Laparoscopic surgery can be performed through three to six tiny incisions on the abdomen rather than one large incision.
Because the procedure is minimally invasive, patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery can complete their recovery within one week.
Patients who undergo a laparoscopic procedure typically experience less discomfort and a lower risk of complications.
A Safer Alternative
According to a study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and released by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, there have been "significant improvements" in bariatric surgery. The risk of major complications is a low 4 percent, and this improvement can be largely attributed to advancements in laparoscopic techniques.
The doctors working through Tijuana Bariatrics use the laparoscopic procedure to perform:
- LAP-BAND® – During this procedure, your surgeon will place a band around the top portion of your stomach. By reducing your stomach size, the amount of food you can consume is severely restricted.
- Gastric Sleeve – Like the LAP-BAND® procedure, the purpose of this operation is to decrease the holding capacity of your stomach. Your surgeon can achieve this by removing part of your stomach and forming the remainder into the shape of a tube or sleeve.
- Gastric Sleeve Plication – This procedure is a variation on the gastric sleeve surgery, but instead of removing stomach tissue, an internal fold is sewn within the organ.
- Gastric Bypass – Also known as Roux-en-Y, this bariatric procedure divides your stomach into two pouches. The small upper pouch, where food will pass, is attached directly to a lower portion of your small intestine. This effectively decreases the amount of food your stomach can hold, as well as your caloric absorption.
- Mini Gastric Bypass – This procedure is very similar to a traditional gastric bypass. The main difference is that with the traditional bypass, there are two connections from the upper pouch to the stomach (anastomosis). With a mini bypass, only one anastomosis is needed.
- Duodenal Switch – During this procedure, a large portion of your stomach will be removed. Your small intestine will also be rerouted into two separate pathways with one common channel. In addition to reducing food intake, the surgery can also reduce the absorption of calories.
Our experienced doctors in Tijuana will discuss your unique health condition and physical requirements to help determine which type of weight-loss surgery is best for you.
Worried About Pain?
Laparoscopic Surgery Can Reduce Post-Operative Discomfort
Many patients who are considering bariatric surgery are concerned about the pain or discomfort caused by surgery.
However, most patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery experience less discomfort after the procedure than those who undergo traditional procedures. Because the incisions made during laparoscopic surgery are so small, they are also easier to care for than wide abdominal incisions.
Comparing Laparoscopic vs. Traditional Surgery
A Closer Look at Laparoscopic Technology
Traditional bariatric surgery typically involves a single incision in the midsection, which allows the surgeon access to the abdominal cavity. This incision can vary from three to six inches, or more in some cases.
Alternatively, a laparoscopic procedure requires one to six very small incisions. Several surgical instruments, including a tiny camera called a laparoscope, can be inserted using this method. This allows the surgeon to manipulate the surgical tools based on images that are projected onto a video monitor, protecting the treatment site from unnecessary trauma.
What to Expect during Treatment
Laparoscopic techniques allow bariatric surgeons to perform weight loss surgery more efficiently and more safely than ever before. When undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, or another type of bariatric procedure, you can generally expect:
To help you remain comfortably asleep during surgery, your bariatric surgeon will administer anesthesia.
Your bariatric surgeon will then create three to six very small incisions in the abdominal area.
Using laparoscopic tools, your surgeon will complete your weight loss surgery over a period of one to two hours.
Recovering from Laparoscopic Surgery
In general, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery offers a quicker, safer, and more comfortable recovery compared to traditional open surgery. Because the technique uses smaller incisions, patients can expect to experience less post-operative discomfort and a reduced risk of complications. Most patients will remain at Blue Medical Tower under close monitoring for only one or two days after the procedure.
Another benefit of laparoscopic bariatric surgery is the fact it produces minimal scarring. After treatment, scarring is very discreet and most scars fade over time.
More Information
Laparoscopic surgery allows doctors to operate using very small incisions. Compared to traditional, open surgeries, this minimally invasive technique is less traumatic to the treatment area, which provides a number of advantages to patients. Overall, laparoscopic surgery will provide patients with quicker recovery, less post-operative pain, and fewer side effects. Tijuana Bariatrics is proud that the doctors working through us use laparoscopic bariatric surgery to local and traveling patients in Tijuana, Mexico. Find out how our experienced surgeons can use a laparoscopic approach to help you safely lose weight. Contact Tijuana Bariatrics today to learn more about our low-cost laparoscopic surgery.
Low-Cost Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery
Tijuana Bariatrics believes everyone should have the opportunity to achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle. Our Tijuana, Mexico, bariatric surgery office is committed to providing low-cost laparoscopic bariatric surgery that can fit into any budget.
In addition to making your health and safety a priority, your minimally invasive procedure with Tijuana Bariatrics is also designed to be affordable.
Laparoscopic weight-loss surgeries in the U.S. are often prohibitively expensive, and can cost much as $30,000 or more for a single procedure. We offer safe, effective laparoscopic procedures at about a fifth of what you can expect to pay in the U.S.
