When it comes to the lifechanging decision to have weight loss surgery, many more important decisions will follow that initial first step. Should I have bariatric surgery in a hospital? What about a surgery center? Or should I travel abroad? The most important thing is to keep your safety and well-being at the forefront when making these calls.
If you’re considering a bariatric surgery procedure, we’re here to help you make the safest choice when it comes to where to have it done and why.
What Is a Surgery Center?
Surgery centers, also known as ambulatory surgery centers, are licensed, freestanding outpatient facilities. Surgery centers are often physician-owned, may specialize in specific procedures, such as bariatric surgery, and are typically smaller than hospitals.
Surgery centers have become more widespread, and more surgeries are being performed at them because of advances in anesthesia that have increased the provision of ambulatory anesthesia services.
Are Surgery Centers Safe?
In contrast to hospitals, surgery centers lack crucial support departments such as MRI suites and ICUs. There are also concerns about their ability to handle major complications during surgery. Hospitals have more resources to manage complications, and patients are often transferred from a surgery center to the nearest hospital facility should they arise during a procedure.
Not all patients are candidates for outpatient surgery. The procedure, personnel involved, your medical status and surgical setting all affect the patient selection process. Anesthesia also plays a key role, since the requirement of anesthesia and the type of anesthesia provider, be it an anesthesiologist, a CRNA or a surgeon and nurse, are key factors in patient candidacy.
A hospital is the better, safer choice for higher-risk patients and procedures.
What Is Medical Tourism?
Medical tourism, when a patient travels to another country for a medical procedure, is on the rise for various reasons, including not having health insurance, specialist-driven procedures, and the opportunity to travel. While it’s successful for many people each year, medical tourism has health risks for travelers seeking care.
Medical tourism can be dangerous. The risk of complications depends on your destination, the facility where the procedure is performed and your overall health.
According to the CDC, other issues that can increase a traveler’s risk of complications include infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, quality of care, communication challenges, air travel, continuity of care and legal issues.
Choose Quality and Experience
When it comes to any surgery, your doctor should be trained in the specific area of medicine that is appropriate for your procedure. For example, you shouldn’t have bariatric surgery by a surgeon who was trained to be a gynecologist or internist.
Before agreeing to have weight loss surgery, you should also find out your surgeon’s credentials, including where they studied and trained, and in what specialty they are board-certified. Don’t rely on patient testimonials. These can be easily made up for a website, and even if they are true, one good surgery doesn’t mean they all will be.
While your surgeon’s credentials are extremely important, it’s equally important to vet the facility they operate in. All our AdventHealth bariatric surgery programs are accredited by the American College of Surgeons and the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) as Centers of Excellence. This means they’ve met stringent criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure, and protocols for care, ensuring our ability to support patients with severe obesity safely.
Safe, High-Quality Weight Loss Surgery is Right Here
There are still safe surgery centers and ways to travel for quality care. Just be sure to do your research ahead of time. At AdventHealth, we offer weight loss surgery options at some of the nation’s best hospitals. We’ll help you look and feel your best with your whole health and quality of life in mind. All our bariatric surgeons are board-certified, exceptionally skilled and can help you achieve the weight loss results you desire.
You’ve come to the right place for specialized, personalized, safe bariatric care. Request an appointment today. You deserve to feel whole.
