Frequently asked questions about Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is the area of surgery that focuses on operations to reduce weight and treat obesity. Seeking to reduce body weight and as an alternative to treatment with other non-surgical means. The name comes from the Greek words baros, meaning weight, and iatrike, meaning treatment.

Weight Loss Surgery is a major surgery involving the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach and intestines are modified so that less food can be consumed or absorbed, which leads to a substantial loss of weight that can be maintained for years. A liposuction is a form of cosmetic surgery in which areas of the body are reshaped or resculpt by removing excess amounts of fat in those areas. The purpose of liposuction is not to produce weight loss.

Weight-loss surgery might be an option for an adult with a BMI of 40 or higher. The surgery may also be an option for an adult who meets these three conditions: BMI must be higher than 35, or you must be at least 100 lbs above your ideal body weight

Body mass index is a value derived from the mass and height of a person. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height and is expressed in units of kg/m², resulting from mass in kilograms and height in meters.

Yes. Morbid obesity is an independent risk factor for premature death, with the risk rising as the BMI increases. People with a BMI of 30 have a relative risk of dying early which is 1.3 times greater than normal-weight individuals. By the time the BMI is 40, the risk is nearly 3 times as great.

No, obesity tends to run in families. Identification of several genes and their corresponding hormones (leptin) have been found to be at least partially responsible for obesity. Therefore, there is evidence that obesity is at least partially biological, helping to reduce the misconception that it is a behavioral or psychological disorder.

Because it works! Surgical treatment for obesity is the ONLY treatment that reliably produces significant and sustained weight loss. People with clinically severe obesity are at great risk for developing many associated medical conditions. Research has shown that surgical treatment results in significant weight loss and improvement in most problems associated with obesity.

The study found that gastric bypass appeared to be most effective for weight loss this surgery resulted in an average 31 percent loss of total body weight in the first year and 25 percent of total body weight after five years. You should consult your bariatric doctor to assess your health status and help you choose the best surgery for you according to different factors such as weight, age, health status, etc.

At least we can tell you that at Hidalgo Bariatrics you have different options for weight loss surgery, it will depend on several factors to know which one is the most suitable for you, which is why we ask you to consult the Hidalgo Bariatrics team for personalized attention and thus be able to make a more accurate diagnosis.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty leads to significant weight loss due to the limitation of being able to eat large amounts of food. And the procedure is minimally invasive, which reduces the risk of surgical complications and allows a quick return to daily activities, however, it is important to assess the patient in order to determine which bariatric surgery is the best option for him.

Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or have a BMI between 35 and 40, and an obesity-related condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea. Weigh less than 450 pounds, the maximum weight that a hospital radiology team can support, however at Hidalgo Bariatrics we like to assess our patients personally to prepare them for their health improvement process through bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery costs may vary on the type of procedure you´re getting and what country you choose for the procedure,
but it will be around $4,800 USD to $7,000 USD, at Hidalgo Bariatrics all our packages are all-inclusive with staying, spa, surgeon, anesthesiologist, nutritional and lifestyle guidance and transport from and border-airport-hospital-hotel pickup.

If you can lose the necessary amount of weight (and keep it off) through diet and exercise – more power to you! Ninety-five percent of the people considering WLS have tried (sometimes numerous times) and failed.

Drug treatment does produce limited success (usually weight loss of about 35 to 40 pounds). However, concerns about the safety of long-term treatment have limited the drugs available and the length of time people can take them. This, in turn, limits their effectiveness because, as with any chronic disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, the drug is only effective as long as it is taken.

Operations for the treatment of obesity usually induce weight loss by limiting the amount of food consumed, altering the normal absorption of nutrients, and/or altering the way the body utilizes energy. A Gastric Sleeve Surgery or Gastric bypass does all three. They actually boost your metabolism for the first 18 months, which is one reason patients lose weight so quickly.

Laparoscopic surgery is a good choice for most people. People who have had previous bariatric surgery or surgery on the stomach are probably better candidates for the open approach. People with BMI > 60 (more than 200-250 pounds overweight) may be better candidates for open surgery.

You should be aware that there is no easy way out. Surgery makes the discipline of exercise and dietary control effective when it would not otherwise be effective. Obviously, surgery also entails risk and the courage to take that risk.

Dr. Hidalgo likes to answer this question by asking another question: “Is it healthy to be 100 pounds overweight?” The rapid weight loss experienced after WLS is extremely gratifying psychologically and physically. If you eat properly, making sure you get enough protein, there should be no ill effects from it.

No. Successfully operations have been done on patients who weighed 750lbs., and had a BMI of 100. The operative risks are higher the more you weigh, but they still don’t approach the risk of remaining at such a high weight. Dr. Hidalgo personally has operated on patients weighing well over 500 pounds with great success, yes the risks are higher, but so are these patients’ health risks without surgery.

Regular, follow-ups are needed to monitor weight loss, provide dietary counseling, and monitor for the occurrence of nutritional deficiencies or complications. We recommend visiting your local doctor once a year for a checkup and getting a full blood panel drawn to make sure there are no deficiencies.

Yes. People can be too young. You need to have stopped growing and you need to have a mature bone age. In addition, you must understand the surgery and want it. You can’t have an operation because your friends or your parents want you to. You need to be able to give “informed consent”, which means you make an educated decision and then give your permission for the procedure.

Age is one factor that needs to be considered together with all other aspects of a person’s health. I would not give an arbitrary or absolute cut-off. Surgeries have been done on several patients in their late 60s and early 70s, with excellent results.

Not guaranteed, but it is a common experience.

The depends on your eating habits. If you are a sweet eater, then maybe you are a Bypass Candidate, if you are a large quantity and non-sweet eater, the band or Sleeve is perfect.

Dr. Hidalgo provides support and experience. We have staff members that have been working in the medical tourism industry for the last 15+ years. Dr. Hidalgo provides top-quality care and service to patients both before and after surgery.

The experience of Dr. Juan F. Hidalgo is something very important to consider in your weight loss surgery when you come to Tijuana Mexico, in addition to his technique of minimally invasive procedures, you will be attended by one of the best surgeons in Tijuana Mexico who has been awarded for his high academic performance helping each and everyone achieve the best possible result and goal weight including on patients who are not considered candidates at other practices, due to extremely high BMIs (up to 80), revision surgery type, or many other reasons that lesser qualified bariatric doctors choose not to help these patients in need.

Dr. Juan F. Hidalgo uses one of the most modern and advanced hospitals in Tijuana Mexico for weight loss surgeries, Blue Medical Tower Hospital, and provides all the necessary comforts to his patients with the support of a great team of specialists and professionals from bariatrics.

A great bariatric surgeon in Tijuana like Dr. Juan F. Hidalgo can change the shape and function of your digestive system. Using different procedures and surgeries may help you lose weight and manage medical conditions related to obesity. These conditions include diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and risk factors for heart disease and stroke. 

Dr. Juan F. Hidalgo is characterized by his empathy and great attention to his patients, in addition to having extensive experience in bariatric surgeries, he considers good care for patients to be of the utmost importance, making them feel in a safe environment and offering them necessary care to improve your health and overweight problems before and after surgery.