What you need to know about Gastric Sleeve in Spain

Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a weight loss procedure in which a large part of the stomach is surgically removed, reducing the stomach size by up to 85%, with the remaining portion of the stomach looking like a banana or a sleeve. Given the severely reduced stomach size, patients are unable to consume and digest as much food before quashing their hunger and feeling full - as a result, rapid weight loss can be achieved. This type of surgery is non-reversible and should only be considered as a final option.

A person is termed obese if their body mass index (BMI) is greater than 40 and their weight is 100 lbs / 50 kg more than their ideal weight. For these people, Bariatric Surgery is an available option. There are many associated risks concerned with Obesity that can lead to hypertension, infertility, diabetes, sleep apnea, and much more. When methods, such as dieting and exercising do not work, a Gastric Sleeve procedure can be the final solution, but not everyone is a good candidate and each individual should carefully consider the best options available to them, considering present condition, health history, cost, recovery time, success rate and pros and cons of the surgery. Alternatively, a Gastric Balloon may be preferred instead - see below for more information on this non-invasive procedure.

MyMediTravel currently lists 2 facilities in Spain offering Gastric Sleeve procedures - see above for the complete list, along with estimated prices. The price of a Gastric Sleeve is usually standardized across all patients but a pre-assessment by the surgeon will confirm the price prior to traveling. For a personalized quote Click Here to submit your details

What Does The Procedure Involve?

Surgery is performed under general anesthesia using a laparoscope, with several small incisions being made on the belly, a tube fitted with a camera (laparoscope) is then inserted through these incisions to give a clear picture of the insides. The surgeon will view these images, before beginning the process of surgically removing up to 85% of the stomach's volume using special surgical instruments. The remaining stomach pouch now resembles a dramatically reduced sleeve or banana. All the instruments are removed and the incisions are stitched and bandages applied to the wounds.

How Long Should I Stay in Spain?

Gastric sleeve surgery is an inpatient procedure that lasts about one hour in the operation theatre. After this, you are moved to a recovery room where your vitals are monitored. A two to three days hospital stay is required after surgery and you are discharged when your condition is stable. You should stay in Spain for at least 7-8 days for follow up check-ups. During this period, you are kept under review and the stitches are removed after 5 to 7 days.

What's the Recovery Time?

It will take two to three months to get back to normal meals and the amount of food you will eat is considerably decreased. You will likely suffer from a swollen and sore stomach for several days, with medicines being prescribed to help deal with the pain during this period. After two to four weeks, you can return to some normal activities, however, on average, six weeks of rest is required. As it is laparoscopic surgery, less time is required to recover and scars are small which fade away over time.

What About Aftercare?

The following are some points to consider after leaving the hospital:

Intake only liquids for the first two to three days. After this, you can start taking pureed food and shakes. You will have to continue with this for at least 4 weeks. After which you can start eating solid food items. Do not eat very heavy food items. Avoid drinking water with food, as it fills your small stomach immediately.
Follow a proper diet plan as you will have to fulfill your nutritional requirements with a smaller amount of food.
Take multivitamins and minerals daily. Especially vitamin B12, as pernicious anemia needs to be prevented.
Do not climb up the stairs, also, do not bend. Avoid those activities which can put stress on your abdomen.
Change your bandage regularly and do not let it get wet as this can cause infection.
Ensure you have regular check-ups and your weight loss is recorded during these visits.
Take your painkillers regularly to relieve yourself from the post-surgery pain.

What's the Success Rate Like?

You can expect to lose 60% of your excess weight within 12 to 18 months post-surgery. The Gastric Sleeve is now the most popular form of Bariatric Surgery based on the extremely high success rates seen across the world. Patients can expect a huge decrease in weight, coupled with a vast improvement in health conditions and a reduction in such diseases as diabetes.

Are there Alternative Bariatric Procedures Available?

The following are some non-surgical or minimally invasive alternatives to gastric sleeve surgery:

Weight losing drugs: with this method, some drugs are prescribed which can help with the weight loss process. You can lose 5% to 10% of your excess weight in one year through this and it is known as pharmacotherapy.
VBLOC therapy: with this therapy, a pacemaker device is implanted into the skin of your abdominal wall. The device is connected to electrodes that are placed at the trunk of the vagus nerve through small incisions. Vagus nerve signals can be periodically blocked to reduce your eating desire and it is a minimally invasive procedure.

Are there Other Alternative Bariatric Procedures?

1. Gastric Band - Considered a reversible Bariatric Surgery option, a silicone device is fitted at the top portion of the stomach, cutting off the bottom section and creating a small stomach pouch above. The reduced stomach size now means the volume of food consumed is much smaller before the patient becomes full, thus resulting in rapid weight loss. Once the desired weight is achieved, the band can be surgically removed.

2. Gastric Bypass - The stomach is divided into two parts; a small upper pouch and a large lower ‘remnant’ pouch. The small intestine is rearranged accordingly, bypassing the large pouch and thus significantly reducing the volume of the stomach.

3. Gastric Balloon - This non-invasive procedure does not involve surgery and instead an inflatable balloon-like device is endoscopically placed into the stomach and inflated, thus reducing the capacity of the stomach. with the balloon occupying most of the stomachs volume, the patient becomes full much quicker, leading to rapid weight loss. Once the desired weight is achieved, the balloon is deflated and removed.

About Spain

Historic Spain is home to the third-highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, after Italy and China. Part of the Iberian Peninsula, along with Portugal, Spain also shares borders with France and the less well-known, Andorra. The country itself is made up of several regions, both on the mainland and out at sea, with the Canary Islands closer to Morocco than Spain - they are located in the Atlantic Ocean, whilst the Balearic Islands are a little closer to home, in the Mediterranean Sea. On the mainland there is Central Spain, home to the capital, Madrid, Catalonia in the East, home to the second city, Barcelona and the Basque Country in the North, to name but a few.

Spain sees an estimated 100,000 medical tourists each year, many of which travel for Gastric Sleeve procedures. The biggest target market is from the UK, accounting for one in four of Spain's 60m annual tourists. An excellent healthcare system combined with warm temperatures and competitive prices means that Spain is now one of the more popular destinations in Europe for medical tourism. The most popular procedures tend to be cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, bariatric surgery, cardiac surgery, orthopedics, urology, and bone marrow transplants.

Popular Parts of Spain

Spain has diverse landscapes, dynamic cities, influential art, and delightful food.

Madrid is the capital of Spain. Modern infrastructure and historic neighborhoods blend nicely in the city. Known for its glorious fashion, food, and nightlife, the city has a lively spirit. Rest in El Retiro Park under the sun or take a guided tour in Palacio Real. Tourists who love sports can watch a Real Madrid soccer match.
Barcelona has a plethora of attractive architecture, unique food beautiful beaches, and a vibrant nightlife. It is the most popular tourist’s destinations in the country. Visit Picasso Museum, Enjoy Gaudi’s Architecture the church of the Sagrada Família or visit the Barcelona History Museum and enjoy the beach.
Valencia is Spain’s third-largest city. The city is filled with an array of art nouveau buildings as well as Gothic and Renaissance monuments. Try all the food that the city offers, especially the famous paella. Be inspired by the stunning Cuidad de las Artes y las Ciencias, a massive building in the old Turia riverbed.
Palma de Mallorca is a very welcoming city for international tourists. It has a number of historical attractions, Gothic churches, and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea at its feet. Shopping and gastronomic scenes are two of the best things in the city. Tourists can relax in the seafront cafés after a long day.
Seville is a stunning artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. Being a big university town, it has a very youthful vibe everywhere. Spend a day exploring Parque de Maria Luisa, tour Casa de Pilatos, get lost in the maze of Jewish Quarter’s small streets and discover what the town has to offer on a bike.
Ibiza is known to have some of the best nightclubs in the world. It is a beautiful island with dozens of amazing things to discover.

Weather and Climate in Spain

Spain has wonderful weather all year-round. Summer starts from June to August and tends to be nice. Tourists can expect warm and sunny weather. The temperature can get as high as 30 °C, sometimes even higher. Summer is the peak season for tourism so prices can increase by up to 50%.

Spring (April to May) and Autumn (September to October) are great times to visit. The weather is mild and perfect to do outdoor activities, although sometimes it can be unpredictable. The country is not as crowded as during summertime.

Winter in Spain is cold but the temperature does not drop too low. The average temperature is between 4 °C to 10 °C. Northern Spain and the mountainous areas sometimes experience snowfall and rain showers.

Getting Around in Spain

The main international airport in Spain is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona El Prat Airport. Madrid-Barajas is the largest airport in the country. It operates domestic and international flights. The airport connects Madrid with almost every country in the world. It serves several budget airlines such as Iberia Express, Ryanair, and EasyJet. It is the hub for Air Europa and Iberia.

Barcelona El Prat Airport also serves domestic and international connections with almost every country globally. Budget airlines such as Ryanair and WestJet operate flights from this airport. It is the hub for Level and Vueling.

To get to the city center, both airports provide taxis, buses, and metro. Taxis are the most convenient transportation mode but usually more expensive. Tourists who travel to Madrid are advised to buy the Madrid Tourist Travel Pass which can be used on any Metro, bus, or suburban train for just 5 EUR.

Spain has a well-designed public transportation network. Tourists can get around Spain by train. There are high-speed (AVE) and regular service trains (Talgo) for long-distance or medium distance travel, the fares are based on a 1st and 2nd class system. For short destinations, tourists can use local trains. It offers one class of seats and makes a lot of stops. 60-year-old and older travelers can get a discount between 25 to 40 percent for train tickets. Children under the age of 13 also qualified for discounts. Buses are another excellent option. Intercity buses are affordable, clean, and safe.

Renting a car gives more flexibility for tourists. International car rental agencies are widely available in the country. The highway system is easy for foreigners to follow. Parking can be quite hard in some cities and historic towns because it can get really crowded.

Taxis have a reasonable price. Spanish taxi drivers are usually trustworthy and don’t cheat. The taxi can be hailed on the street or from a taxi stand (parade de taxi). Available taxis have green lights or signs that say “libre” on them. Taxis run on meters, but if you’re traveling a long distance, you will have to agree on the fare in advance.

Tourist Visas in Spain

Citizens of the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland can travel to Spain with their identity cards only. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the United States, and New Zealand are granted visa-free entry and can stay for up to 90 days. Other countries can check with their nearest Spanish embassy or consulate. Spain is a member of the Schengen Convention. If you hold a Schengen visa, you cannot extend it.

Additional Information

Local Currency: the official currency is the euro (EUR). 1 USD converts to 0.85 EUR.
Money & Payments: ATMs are available. Tourists can withdraw money from ATMs that display the relevant symbols such as Visa and MasterCard with a charge of 1.5% to 2%. Credit and debit cards can be used for most purchases, tourists will often be asked to show a passport. Tipping is optional, tourists can leave small change or up to 5% tip in restaurants.
Local Language: the official language is Spanish. People in major tourist’s city speak good English; it is also widely spoken in coastal resorts.
Local Culture and Religion: The largest religion in the country is Catholic Christianity with 67.5% of the population follows the religion. There are small groups of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Taoists, and Bahá'ís.
Public Holidays: Spain celebrates Christian holidays. Known as the country of fiestas and festivals, numerous festivals such as The Holy Week, La Tomatina, and The Fallas of Valencia are hosted annually.

Gastric Sleeve in Spain

Compare Prices, Costs & Reviews for Gastric Sleeve in Spain

Prices starting from $9,283

6 Before and After Photos

2 clinics available in Spain

2-4 weeks of recovery time

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