Many people travel to other countries for medical procedures because they cost much less than in their home country. This is known as “medical tourism.” One of the most common procedures people seek abroad is obesity surgery, also called bariatric or metabolic surgery.
It helps people lose weight by changing how their stomach and digestive system work. However, this kind of surgery can sometimes go wrong, leading to serious health problems, infections, or even death.
In Europe, there has been no official research on how to make obesity surgery abroad safer. This is a major concern, especially for people in the UK and Ireland, where long waiting lists make it difficult to get surgery at home. Some patients wait for years, so many decide to travel elsewhere to get treated sooner.
But because this kind of medical tourism is unregulated, it is hard to track how many people do it or what happens to them after the surgery. Many UK doctors do not receive full medical records from the clinics where their patients had surgery, making follow-up care difficult.
To address these problems, three major organizations—The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders European Chapter (IFSO-EC), and the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO)—came together to create guidelines for safer obesity surgery abroad. They gathered opinions from experts and patients across Europe to agree on basic safety standards.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers formed two expert groups: one with healthcare professionals, including surgeons, endocrinologists, dietitians, nurses, and psychologists, and another with patient representatives. A total of 119 medical experts and 88 patients from 26 countries participated.
The experts answered 135 questions about the best practices for obesity surgery abroad. If at least 70% of them agreed on a recommendation, it was included in the final guidelines.
Key Recommendations
The guidelines cover several important areas to improve safety for people traveling abroad for obesity surgery.
- Regulation: Only hospitals and clinics accredited by EASO or national surgical societies should perform obesity surgery. New or experimental surgical procedures should not be offered to medical tourists.
- Pre-Surgery Care: Patients must receive clear information about the risks and benefits of the surgery before traveling. Their medical history should be reviewed before surgery to check if they are suitable candidates. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) below 30 should not have this surgery abroad.
- Surgical Procedures and Follow-Up: After surgery, patients should stay in the country for at least five days to monitor any complications. The surgeon must communicate with the patient’s doctor at home to ensure proper follow-up care. Patients must also be informed about how surgery may change the way their body absorbs medications.
- Advertising and Information: Clinics offering discounted rates or special offers may be providing lower-quality care. They should be transparent about costs, surgeon qualifications, and any required payment methods.
- Patient Rights: Patients should know if the surgery being offered is internationally recognized. They must receive all necessary medical documents to continue care at home. If they do not speak the local language, they should have access to a translator.
Expert Reactions
Dr. Laurence Dobbie from King’s College London emphasized that many people in Europe wait years for obesity surgery in their home countries, leading them to seek treatment abroad. Unfortunately, some clinics do not meet proper medical standards, putting patients at risk. These new guidelines aim to prevent serious injuries and deaths by improving safety standards.
Professor Volkan Yumuk, president of EASO, pointed out that too many unsafe obesity surgeries have been performed abroad. He hopes that these guidelines will ensure that no matter where surgery takes place, it meets proper safety standards.
Dr. Ralph Peterli from Switzerland highlighted the importance of working together across different medical fields and patient organizations. He acknowledged that while some people receive excellent care abroad, others suffer from poor-quality treatment. More efforts are needed to reduce risks.
Professor Barbara McGowan stressed that these recommendations help patients understand what to expect when considering surgery abroad. The goal is to prevent complications and improve recovery.
Susie Birney from ECPO shared concerns about many patients suffering from unsafe surgeries abroad. Some feel ashamed to speak about their experiences, but they need support. These guidelines set the minimum standards patients should demand to protect their health.
Final Thoughts
Obesity surgery can be life-changing, but it is also a serious medical procedure that requires proper care before, during, and after surgery. Many people choose to have the surgery abroad to save money or avoid long waiting lists. However, without proper regulations, patients are at risk of complications and poor-quality treatment.
These new guidelines set clear standards to make obesity surgery abroad safer. They emphasize the importance of proper accreditation, informed decision-making, post-surgery care, and transparency from medical providers.
While this is a step forward, continued efforts are needed to ensure all patients receive safe and high-quality care, no matter where they have their surgery.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about orange that could help obesity, and a berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about whole grains are key to managing waist size, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
The research findings can be found in the International Journal of Surgery.
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