Most types of obesity or bariatric surgeries in the United States are extremely expensive, which prevents many individuals from taking advantage of life-saving techniques and procedures. Obesity surgeries, which reign from lap banding to gastric bypass to gastroplasty or sleeve gastrectomy cost tens of thousands of dollars and involve multiple presurgical examinations, consultations, and long waiting lists.

An increasingly popular method of obtaining obesity & bariatric surgeries is to venture abroad to a multitude of high quality, accredited, and available facilities and destinations throughout the globe, such as Thailand, Mexico, South America, India and Southeast Asia.

For example, a laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure in the United States costs roughly (and a minimum) of $30,000. In India, the cost averages about $16,500. In Mexico and South American destinations, costs may average between $9,800 and $13,000.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because surgeries and procedures cost so much less in foreign destinations that surgeons or facilities are under-educated or under funded. Quite the contrary. In many locations, the Joint Commission International, the global arm of the Joint Commission in the United States, accredits many foreign destination medical facilities to ensure that high quality facility standards, medical care, and surgical training and experience are maintained.

An obesity surgery center found in destinations such as Amman, Jordan, Bangkok, Thailand, Mumbai, India, or closer to home in Mexico offers medical travelers not only the opportunity to see another part of the world, but to enjoy the best of compassionate, experienced and high-tech care without long waiting lists or dealing with the high cost of medical malpractice insurance that has driven American healthcare costs way beyond the ability of most Americans to pay.