What you need to know about Gastric Sleeve in United Arab Emirates

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 12 facilities in United Arab Emirates 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 United Arab Emirates?

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 United Arab Emirates 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 the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates and they are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm al-Quwain. Abu Dhabi is the richest Emirates due to its oil fields. The UAE population is close to 10 million people.

Shopping is often considered to be the most popular tourist activity in the UAE, certainly for Dubai and Abu Dhabi. there is no denying that going to a mall or souk is a great way of soaking up the local culture, Low prices are often due to the low rate of 5% VAT. There are various shopping festivals throughout the year, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The UAE has become a worldwide destination for medical tourists due to its wide range of state-of-the-art technology, affordable treatments, and highly specialized doctors. UAE has already witnessed a sizeable increase in medical tourists who are drawn to the country for treatments ranging from major surgeries to rehabilitation and cosmetic corrections. The country has been focusing on increasing its healthcare infrastructure in terms of quality as well as quantity, in line with its global aspirations for medical tourism According to Medical Tourism statistics, UAE ranks in 5th place, The country has close to 40 hospitals when compared to only having 7 in 1970. The Government has mandated all companies to provide all their employees with health insurance

In the United Arab Emirates medical education and research foundations such as Al Jalila Foundation, Centre of Arab Genomic Studies, Red Crescent Society of UAE and Sahi School Health Programme aim to provide the best hospitals and create the best-skilled professionals in the country. With high-quality hospitals such as American Hospital Dubai, Lifeline Hospital, Emirates Hospital, Rashid Hospital, and others, Dubai caters to ailments such as Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic, Rheumatology, Dermatology, Cosmetic and Plastic surgery.

Here are three good reasons why the UAE is the best place to go for medical tourism.

The UAE has over 200 JCI-Accredited Hospitals and Clinics.
The treatment modules, both surgical and non-surgical are cutting edge and certified.
UAE has the best post-operative care in this part of the world.

Popular parts of the UAE

The country is an eclectic mix of modernity and Islamic traditions and there are many landmark buildings to visit, interesting tours to take, botanical gardens, amusement parks, beautiful mosques, and amazing shopping malls.

Burj Khalifa- Is the tallest building in the world at over 800 meters, and is one of the most impressive sights in Dubai. Tourists can go up to the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa. These floors have a circular observation deck and the panoramic view from here is a sight to behold and the view stretches from sea to desert.
Burj Al Arab is best known for being the only 7-star hotel in Dubai and is located in the Burj Khalifa building
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the most beautiful attractions in Abu Dhabi and is an architectural masterpiece. The mosque is made of marble, and the walls and floors are embedded with colorful stones depicting flowers.
Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi is a must-visit attraction. The Ferrari-themed park is home to the fastest roller coaster in the world, Formula Rossa, which accelerates to 240km/hr in as short as five seconds.
The Palm Jumeirah is the biggest artificial island in the world and ensures that you visit one of its high-end restaurants and bars or stay in one of its 5-star hotels,

Weather and Climate in the UAE

Winter, from December to February, is very mild and pleasantly warm: the maximum temperatures range from 24 °C to 26 °C. Sometimes, especially in January, cool air masses from the north can bring some cool and windy days,
Summer is very hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures ranging from 38 °C to 42 °C between May and September, and with the wind from the Persian Gulf that brings moist air from the sea, April and October are also hot months, with highs around 33/36 °C During the hottest days, the temperature can reach 47/48 °C on the coast,

All year round, but especially in spring, the UAE may be affected by strong winds, which can bring dust and sand storms.

Getting around in UAE

The UAE has some of the busiest airports in the world with flights taking off every five minutes. Terminal four of the Dubai International Airport is the busiest amongst all the other airports.

The five metro line service in Dubai is one of the best ways to explore the city as it comprehensively covers most of the landmarks and popular areas of Dubai

Tourists can even rent a luxury car to drive, provided you have an international license to drive and the requisite insurance papers as per the UAE rules and regulations. Taxis are by far the safest way to get around in the UAE. You can flag them on the road or book them via a taxi app on your smartphone.

Tourist visas in the UAE

You can get a non-extendable visit visa or a tourist visa for 30 days or 90 days. Many job seekers use visitor visas to find work and convert their visitor visa to a work visa during their stay. Citizens of GCC countries and the European Union, USA and the UK, Canada, Russia, China, Australia, and many other countries can get a visa on arrival. However, all passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Additional Information

Local Currency: The currency of the UAE is the Dirhams, abbreviated as DH or Dh. Each dirham is further simplified into 100 fils. There are currency notes of various denominations ranging from Dh 5 to Dh 1000. The currency features Arabic on the front and English on the back. One US dollar will fetch you 0.272 dirhams and the rate does fluctuate.
Money and Payment: All retail business and restaurants accept credit cards and cash. ATMs and currency exchanges are conveniently located across the country. There are bank counters in various malls that will readily exchange your currency. Tipping is only at ten percent of the Service or good charges and is optional.
Local Language: UAE is very cosmopolitan and therefore the local population understands a lot of languages including English. There are also translator services available everywhere at cheap rates. Arabic is a widely spoken language throughout the UAE.
Local culture and religion: Islam is the state religion. However, society is very diverse and it is one of those countries in the world where the migrant population is 80% plus which far exceeds the local nationals. Any person of any nationality, whether based overseas or a resident of Dubai, can purchase in Dubai's freehold property market in designated areas
Public holidays: Ramadhan is the biggest festival and Shops and malls are beautifully decorated all through the thirty days of fasting. The other public holidays is the Islamic New Year, the Prophet’s Birthday and the King’s Coronation day. People also celebrate other festivals like the Hindu festival of Diwali and the Chinese New Year in the spirit of humanity and brotherhood.

Gastric Sleeve in United Arab Emirates

Compare Prices, Costs & Reviews for Gastric Sleeve in United Arab Emirates

Prices starting from $9,267

6 Before and After Photos

12 clinics available in United Arab Emirates

2-4 weeks of recovery time

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