+1-800-661-2126 
Gastric Bypass in Tijuana
Playas de Tijuana, beach in Tijuana, Mexico
Gastric Bypass in Tijuana is a popular option with weight loss patients. It is easy to access from the US and only a 20-minute drive from the San Diego International Airport. You can also save 70% of the cost of RnY (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass) with our Tijuana packages from $5,495.
Patients looking for Gastric Bypass in San-Diego could prefer Tijuana too. This city is also the best option for people looking for Gastric Bypass in Mexico.
Tijuana has a beautiful beach, Playas de Tijuana, which is close to our facility Oasis of Hope Hospital.
How Much Does Gastric Bypass in Tijuana Cost?
The cost of gastric bypass in Tijuana is $5,495. You can save up to 70% of the cost compared to the USA and Canada.
This price of gastric bypass in Tijuana includes all medical, hotel and logistics. It does not include airfare. For more details on what is included in gastric RNY weight loss surgery is below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Terms and conditions apply
Mexico Bariatric Services also gives you the option of Gastric Bypass in Cancun. Patients who are on the east coast of the US may prefer to go to Cancun for the shorter flying time.
Americans and Canadians have expensive healthcare even with insurance. It is cheaper to get Gastric Bypass in Mexico even after transport and overhead expenses.
In this case, getting weight loss surgery in Tijuana is the best option.
What is the Gastric Bypass Procedure?
- This procedure is also known as the “gold standard” weight loss surgery.
- Gastric bypass rearranges your digestive system and limits the number of calories your body can absorb.
- It involves cutting the stomach into two parts 5-6 incisions – a pouch which is 10% of the original stomach and the remaining part which is not going to be used.
- The pouch is then connected to the small intestine.
- The food is rerouted from the pouch to the small intestine without going to the bottom of the stomach.
- The intestine is rerouted as well in this procedure and digestion begins in the intestine.
- The patient recovers for 2-3 days in the hospital.
Traveling to Tijuana
Tijuana is based on the Californian San Ysidro US-Mexican border, on the coast of the Mexican state of Baja California. It is easily accessible by a 30-minute drive on Interstate 5, from the San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN). You can even fly down to its own Tijuana International Airport (IATA: TIJ).
San Diego International Airport > Twin Tower (Grand Hotel) > Oasis of Hope
Mexico Bariatric Services has partnered with Twin Tower (Grand Hotel) and Oasis of Hope Hospital. Both these facilities are in the safest parts of Tijuana. This map shows that the total time it would take to get from San Diego International Airport to all our facilities in Tijuana is about 1 hour. Each of our facilities is about 30 minutes from the San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN).
Documents needed for Tijuana, Mexico
Passport: If you’re driving down to Mexico, you may not need a passport. Flying down to Mexico requires you to carry your passport. Ensure that your passport has at least 2 blank pages. Though you can enter and exit Mexico without a passport, it is safer to carry one.
Visa: People traveling from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not need visas for their stays up to 180 days. You can get a tourist card (Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM)) from their flights or on arrival from the airport. You can get it at the airport before you get your passports stamped.
US citizens: Can cross the border with just their driver’s licenses and birth certificates, though it is advisable to carry passports too.
Australians and New Zealanders: Need to carry valid proof of residence with them like payment slips and paperwork from their respective institutions.
It is not recommended to take your own vehicle into Mexico because US car insurance isn’t valid in Mexico. You’ll have to get Mexican car insurance.
Gastric Bypass Cost Comparison
Tijuana is much cheaper than other countries for the Gastric Bypass procedure. A Gastric Bypass cost comparison on Google would give you approximate prices as in this table below.
This table shows that the most affordable cost of Gastric Bypass is in Tijuana, Mexico.
Cost Comparison with Other Countries
| Countries | Gastric Bypass |
|---|---|
| Tijuana, Mexico | $5,495 |
| Czech | $7,300 |
| India | $8,000 |
| Costa Rica | $15,000 |
| Thailand | $17,000 |
| Canada | $18,000 |
| USA | $23,000 |
| New Zealand | $23,530 |
Are You a Candidate for RnY?
In general, gastric bypass in Tijuana could be an option for you if:
- Your efforts to lose weight with diet and exercise have been unproductive
- Your BMI is 40 or higher
- Your BMI is 35 to 40 and you have severe weight-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea.
- In rare cases, our doctors may approve a BMI of 30 and higher.
- Gastric Balloon may be approved for a BMI of 27 and above.
Advantages of Roux-en-Y Bypass
Weight Loss: Patients see a dramatic weight loss and continue to lose weight for up to 24 months.
A study conducted by Bandar Albeladi, Céline Bourbao-Tournois, and Noel Huten states BMI reduced from 46 to 30 in 18 months[2]“Bandar Albeladi, Céline Bourbao-Tournois, and Noel Huten, “Short- and Midterm Results between Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity,” Journal of Obesity, vol. 2013, Article ID 934653, 6 pages, 2013. doi:10.1155 / 2013/ 934653”View in Article.
Improved quality of life: As patients start to lose weight, they get more confident, increase their physical activities, fall sick less often and boost their happiness levels. This leads to a positive personal attitude and decreases stress levels.
Reduction in Comorbidities: Weight loss surgery improves many related conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea and high cholesterol.
Returning to Work After Surgery
Before you proceed for surgery, plan your trip from the hospital back home.
You would want to keep yourself comfortable on the way. Put your feet up if your journey requires you to sit for long hours. Keep your circulation going by walking after regular intervals especially during flights. Take short breaks if you’re driving and stretch your legs.
Most people are able to go back to work after 2-4 weeks after the surgery.
Your surgeon will advise you about the time it would take to return to work after bariatric surgery.
If you have a desk job, you could start work 1- 2 weeks after surgery. Patients who have more physically demanding jobs would need more time.
It is most important to keep yourself hydrated with at least 64 oz of water. Apart from the water, you could opt for low calorie, sugar-free and decaffeinated fluids.
Keep a tab on the nutrients that you’re getting per day. Since your stomach can’t tolerate food, your liquid diet needs to fulfil nutritional needs.
Gastric Bypass Surgeons in Tijuana
Mexico Bariatric Services works with the best bariatric surgeons in Tijuana. We have partnered with Dr. Guillermo Lopez and Dr. Luis Cazares.
He practices in our partner facility, Twin Tower, which has its hospital and hotel on the same premises. The hotel has an entire floor dedicated to bariatric care and serves bariatric friendly meals. It is near Avenida Revolucion which is a tourist hot-spot.
He works at Oasis of Hope Hospital which is located near the Tijuana beach, Playas de Tijuana. This hospital houses its lab work, ultrasounds, CT scans, pharmacy and x-rays on the same premises. In the rare case that Oasis of Hope Hospital isn’t free on the desired date, Dr. Cazares performs surgeries in Guadalajara Hospital in Tijuana too.
We have a free shuttle service from the San Diego Airport to our facilities.
Which is Better: Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve?
While choosing surgeries, patients may be undecided about the best surgery for them. Dr. Anna Ibele, M.D., University of Utah, who also is an assistant professor, talks about the major differences between the gastric bypass and gastric sleeve.
Gastric Bypass is older and has more studies to its name. However, it has its share of positives and negatives. While Roux-en-Y patients lose more weight and have lesser acid reflux, there is a greater chance of dumping syndrome. Gastric Sleeve, on the other hand, is not recommended to those who are susceptible to acid reflux
Gastric Sleeve in Tijuana is rapidly becoming the more preferred surgery.
FAQ for Gastric Bypass in Tijuana
Gastric Bypass surgery offers benefits beyond weight loss. Improved self-esteem and elimination of weight-related health issues allow an individual to live a healthier life.
Tijuana is the biggest city in the Mexican state of Baja California. It is on the Californian San Ysidro US-Mexico border.
One can access the city by road or flight. It is a 20-minute drive from the San Diego International Airport.
Tijuana also has its own international airport, Tijuana International Airport (IATA: TIJ).
Bariatric surgery is safe in Tijuana if the surgeon and the facility you choose are safe. Mexico Bariatric Services has facilities in the safest parts of the city and only partners with surgeons who have years of experience in performing bariatric surgeries. Tijuana is safe and unsafe like all big cities. Stay away from the troubled areas and you’ll be safe.
For US and Canadian patients, the best option is to fly into San Diego (San Diego International Airport IATA: SAN) and cross the border because-
- It is more expensive to fly into Mexico.
- There aren’t regular flights.
- More paperwork for flying as compared to driving.
- It is only a 30-minute drive (20 km) from the San Diego airport to our facilities in Tijuana.
You can tour Tijuana through our special packages which include city tours and hotel stays.
Our drivers and hotel/hospital staff are bilingual.
Though, if you’d like to tour independently, Uber cabs are a pocket-friendly way to zip through the city.
Learn some basic words in Spanish for easy communication. It is advisable not to drive yourself in Mexico.
It is recommended to carry small bills with you for tipping purposes. Tipping in Mexico can be anywhere from $2 to $20.
Tip your driver from the airport to the hotel $10 to 20. $5 for your hotel driver is excellent. Your bellhop, doorman, and housekeeping could get $2.
It is customary to tip your waiters/waitresses in Tijuana 10 – 20% of the bill. If you’re at a bar tip the bartender either 10 – 20 pesos per drink or 10 – 15% of the bill.
Yes! Some medicines are cheaper in Mexico, in comparison to the United States. However, it is important to declare such prescription medicines while crossing the US-Mexico border to avoid any problems
Medicines in Mexico may not be in compliance with the US standard even though the medicine is the same as prescribed, so be careful if you’re buying.
Always have the doctor’s prescription handy, if you’re bringing medications in bulk from Mexico to the US. It may be illegal to carry medicines in bulk to the US.
After surgery, the hospital stay is anywhere from 1 to 5 days.
Some of the risks of RYGB enlisted by Johns Hopkins Medicine are:
- Infections
- Bleeding
- Blood clots which could enter the heart and lungs
- Breathing problems
- Leaks at the surgical site
- Malnutrition (which can be taken care of with prescribed nutritional supplements)
- Internal hernia
- Pouch stretching
No, it is not reversible. However, a failed bypass can be revised by winding a gastric band around the stomach pouch.
Weight loss after gastric bypass can be up to 80% of the excess weight. The weight loss rate decreases as you lose more weight. So you’ll lose weight rapidly in the first few months as compared to the later months.
From 6 months to 18 months post-op an individual can lose up to 78% weight. [2]“Bandar Albeladi, Céline Bourbao-Tournois, and Noel Huten, “Short- and Midterm Results between Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity,”Journal of Obesity, vol. 5013, Article ID 934653, 6 pages, 5013. doi:10.1155 / 5013/ 934653”View in Article
Research shows improvement in co-morbidities after gastric bypass surgery[3]” Resolution of comorbidities following LRYGB. A Prospective Analysis of 434 patients.” Piotr Gorecki MD, Kevin Cho MD, James Rucinski, from Department of Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York”View in Article. Piotr Gorecki MD, Kevin Cho MD, and James Rucinski from the Department of Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York studied the effects of gastric bypass on 434 patients and concluded that co-morbidities resolved by more than 90% in some patients.
This research study by Surowska et al. published on February 25, 2016 shows that “postprandial lipid concentrations were markedly decreased in subjects having had RYGB surgery.”[4]“Surowska, A., De Giorgi, S., Theytaz, F., Campos, V., Hodson, L., Stefanoni, N., Rey, V., Schneiter, P., Laville, M., Giusti, V., Gabert, L. and Tappy, L. (2016), Effects of roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on postprandial fructose metabolism. Obesity, 24: 589–596. doi: 10.1002 / oby.21410View in Article
After you make the life-changing decision to get a gastric bypass, you would also need to make lifestyle and diet changes.
Lifestyle Changes
You can go back to work after 2-4 weeks after gastric bypass. For nutritional requirements, you would have to be prepared to take supplements all your life. Gastric Bypass bypasses a portion of the intestine that also absorbs nutrients, so to make up for this, you can take supplements that you can tolerate. Get your labs done regularly especially after gastric bypass. Keep your PCP in the loop so they can help you in case of emergencies.
Dietary Changes
In the beginning, you’ll be able to tolerate only clear liquids, then pureed foods. Gradually you can move on to solid foods. Gastric Bypass diet is not very different from the other bariatric diets, you just need to be careful about your nutrient intake.
It is recommended you follow the 30-minute rule and eat small meals with dime-sized bites every few hours.
Emotional Stress
The drastic changes in your lifestyle could cause you to feel disoriented and hopeless. But you’ve made a good decision for yourself! Before you go for the surgery, take a couple of months to ease yourself into the ways of gastric bypass. This will help you to cope better. Do keep in touch with a mental health professional to help you cope with your lifestyle and body changes. The drastic diet changes, as well as weight loss, can cause some patients to develop temporary mental issues. Insulate yourself against these.
Keep your PCP in the loop so they can help you through your weight loss journey after surgery.
Nutrition:
- Always include a minimum of 60 gm of lean protein in your diet. Lean protein can be obtained from chicken, fish, pork, cottage cheese and eggs.
- Do not skip meals. Instead, have 6-8 mini-meals with small portions to prevent your pouch from filling up too fast.
- Drink 6-8 cups of caffeine-free, non-carbonated beverages in a day. Include skim milk and juices in your diet.
- Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies can occur in gastric bypass patients’ post-op. A daily multivitamin and calcium supplement is a must.
Exercise maximizes weight loss and helps to maintain a healthy body. Some reasons to exercise include:
- Increases the metabolic rate and burns fat easily
- Improves mood and feeling of well-being by secreting endorphins (pleasure-chemicals) into your body
- Builds and maintains healthy bones, muscles and joints
- Decreases muscle breakdown while losing weight
- Helps alleviate constipation
- Helps reduce the feeling of depression and anxiety
Patients who undergo gastric bypass require close monitoring of their nutritional status and well-being for the rest of their life. Follow-up visits regularly for the first year and then yearly after that is important.
Adherence to an appropriate diet high in protein and taking nutritional supplements is an effective way to avoid complications of any sort.
Avoid:
- Carbonated beverages
- Very sweet beverages
- Sugar
- Caffeine
- Starchy foods like pasta, rice and bread
- Sodas
- Fried foods
- Sugary drinks
- Candy
References:
- Everybody’s Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Travel, Joseph Woodman, Third Edition, Patients Beyond Borders
- Bandar Albeladi, Céline Bourbao-Tournois, and Noel Huten, “Short- and Midterm Results between Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity,”Journal of Obesity, vol. 2013, Article ID 934653, 6 pages, 2013. doi:10.1155 / 2013/ 934653
- “Resolution of comorbidities following LRYGB. A Prospective Analysis of 434 patients.” Piotr Gorecki MD, Kevin Cho MD, James Rucinski, from Department of Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York
- Surowska, A., De Giorgi, S., Theytaz, F., Campos, V., Hodson, L., Stefanoni, N., Rey, V., Schneiter, P., Laville, M., Giusti, V., Gabert, L. and Tappy, L. (2016), Effects of roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on postprandial fructose metabolism. Obesity, 24: 589–596. doi: 10.1002 / oby.21410
