Weight Loss, Weight Loss, Weight Loss; people who are obese or at the edge of becoming obese experience much of this hullabaloo all the time. However, all of this hasn’t prevented the counting of weight loss surgeries to rise over and over. The number of weight loss surgeries in India is rising, so is the demand for it and the hence the cost. Though India is known for offering most affordable treatment round the globe and that too with the comfort of home, is it still affordable for all the people? Let’s find out.
What is Weight Loss Surgery?
Bodies with excess weight are prone to numerous diseases including but not limited to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and depression. Usually, people aged between 18 to 65 years with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 37 kg/m2 fall in this category. Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, is carried out to loosen the excessive amount of fat from the body. There are different procedures developed for this, which one is used depends on the weight and health of the patient.
Bariatric surgery mainly employs either of the two principles – Restriction or Malabsorption; or a combination of both. In restriction, a portion of the stomach is removed to decrease the overall appetite of the person. For instance, the popular surgery Sleeve Gastrectomy removes a quarter of the stomach from the body.
On the other hand, in malabsorptive procedures, the channel of digestion is re-routed for lesser absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. However, it has been seen that combination of the two i.e. the malabsorptive-restrictive procedure works out to be the one most effective for weight loss.
Treatment & Cost in India
India, undoubtedly is the choice of medical patients around the world. Homely environment, light on budget and the quality of treatment, what else can a patient expect from a medical treatment. The recent case of Eman Ahmed, world’s heaviest woman, is the testimony of the fact. She came to Mumbai all the way from Egypt with a weight of 500 kgs and has reduced more than 150 kgs since her surgery, and is expected to lose even more gradually. The lady was treated in the Saifee Hospital located in Mumbai city. Apart from Mumbai, cities that provide weight loss and metabolic surgeries include Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Nagpur, Kerala, Chandigarh, Goa and Jaipur.
The cost of treatment here ranges from INR 2.5 lacs to 6 lacs and that of course, varying with the city of treatment and level of complication. Here are the three common most surgical treatments along with their costs offered for weight loss in India.
1. Gastric Bypass
Also known as Roux-en-Y surgery, gastric bypass is a procedure in which stomach is divided into two portions and the smaller portion is connected to small intestine. This increases the feeling of fullness and reduces appetite. In India, it comes in the range of INR 2,50,000 to INR 5,50,000.
2. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
In this process, the upper part of the stomach is squeezed together with a silicon band. This makes the person full even after consuming small portions of food. The tightness of the band can be adjusted with a tube also attached to the skin. By injecting saline water through the skin, it passes onto the band and adjusts its width. This procedure costs from INR 3,00,000 to INR 4,50,000.
3. Gastric Sleeve
This is an irreversible surgery but not uncommon. In this, a large portion of stomach is cut out leaving only a portion as small as a banana sleeve. The cost estimate starts from INR 2,75,000 and goes up to INR 5,25,000.
Get more information about Weight Loss Surgery Cost in India from Credihealth website.