Leaving the United States in order to have medical procedures done is becoming increasingly common as the cost of health care in America continues to rise up to astronomical levels. An increasing popular solution for those lacking health insurance is to travel to Mexico to have the procedures done.
The Lap Band procedure is surgery that assists very obese individuals to regain a healthier weight. The Lap Band is a silicone ring which is placed between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach. The operation lasts about 25 minutes and general anesthesia is used. The Lap Band is adjustable, meaning that there is no cause for cutting, stapling of rerouting of a patient’s intestinal tract. The recovery time is usually 3-7 days and patients are given an extensive post op instruction manual which includes pain management, surgical site care and customized diet instructions. The only FDA-approved, reversible, tweakable, surgical weight-loss procedure is the Lap Band Surgery.
In Mexico one of the many procedures that has become very popular is the Lap Band Surgery. For people with no insurance, Mexico offers this medical procedure at a fraction of the cost of the United States. Lap Band Surgeons in Mexico have also been in the field of gastrointestinal surgery far longer than American surgeons.
A desire for secrecy is another motivating factor in Lap Band surgeries performed abroad. Once you’ve had the procedure you can rest and recuperate in an exotic atmosphere without friends or family members knowing about your procedure.
Throughout the world there have been almost 500,000 Lap Band Surgeries. Mexico is one of the few countries that work with the patient to assure easy transportation in and out of the country and at many of the facilities there are packages which include round trip airfare, cross border transportation, transportation to and from the hospital and a two or three night stay at a nearby hotel for two. The follow up fill procedures can either be done in Mexico at the medical facility where the initial surgical procedure was performed or your surgeon will work with you to find a surgeon in your area that will work with you at a reasonable cost.
The tax benefit may also make this surgery beneficial. The good news is that medical expenses and the travel associated with it qualify as tax deductions and so much of the money you spend may be coming back to you.
