Bariatric Surgery
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery encompasses procedures that promote weight loss by modifying the stomach and/or intestines, typically for individuals with severe obesity who have not achieved success with diet and exercise. Common types include gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and adjustable gastric banding. In India, bariatric surgery is performed in specialized bariatric or general surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why you need Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is indicated for:
- Severe obesity:
- BMI ≥40, or BMI ≥35 with obesity-related conditions (e.g., type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea).
- Symptoms: Difficulty with daily activities, joint pain, diabetes, cardiovascular risks.
- Prevalence in India: 5–10% of adults are obese (BMI ≥30); higher in urban areas and women (2023 data).
- Other indications:
- Failed non-surgical weight loss: Diet, exercise, or medications (e.g., 6–12 months without significant loss).
- Obesity-related comorbidities: Diabetes (50–70% remission post-surgery), hypertension (40–60% improvement).
- Types:
- Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y): Small stomach pouch created, rerouted to small intestine (40–50% of cases).
- Sleeve gastrectomy: 80% of stomach removed, reducing capacity (40–50% of cases).
- Adjustable gastric banding: Band placed around stomach to restrict intake (5–10%, less common now).
- Associated treatments:
- Pre-op: Nutritional counseling, psychological evaluation, medical optimization (e.g., diabetes control).
- Post-op: Multivitamins (lifelong), dietary changes (small, frequent meals), regular exercise.
- Timing:
- Performed in adults (average age 30–50 years); elective, scheduled after multidisciplinary evaluation.
The procedure aims to achieve significant weight loss, improve comorbidities, and enhance quality of life, with high success rates for sustained weight loss when paired with lifestyle changes.
Why Do Bariatric Surgery Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh:
- Procedure Type: Sleeve gastrectomy (₹2.5–4 lakh); gastric bypass (₹3–5 lakh, more complex).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹3.5–5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹1–2.5 lakh, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced bariatric surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹20,000–₹40,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), pre-op tests (₹10,000–₹20,000), medications (₹5,000–₹10,000), follow-up (₹5,000–₹10,000).
- Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity, e.g., BMI ≥40); confirm with your provider.
Bariatric Surgery Procedure
- Before Procedure Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Blood tests: Diabetes (HbA1c), liver/kidney function, nutritional status (e.g., vitamin D, iron).
- Imaging: Ultrasound to check for gallstones (common in obesity); ECG for cardiac health.
- Psychological evaluation: Assess readiness for lifestyle changes (required in 80–90% of programs).
- Preparation: Low-calorie diet (2–4 weeks pre-op to shrink liver), fasting 6–8 hours, stop smoking.
- Consent: Risks, including nutritional deficiencies, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Procedure Technique:
- Sleeve Gastrectomy (Laparoscopic):
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–2 hours.
- Process:
- Incisions: 4–5 small incisions (0.5–1 cm) in abdomen.
- Laparoscope inserted; 80% of stomach removed using stapling device, leaving a sleeve-shaped stomach.
- Stomach capacity reduced to 100–150 mL (from 1–1.5 L); no intestinal rerouting.
- Closure: Incisions closed with sutures or Steri-Strips; no drains typically needed.
- Gastric Bypass:
- Similar approach; small stomach pouch (30 mL) created, rerouted to small intestine; 2–3 hours.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Laparoscope: Camera for visualization.
- Endoscopic stapler: Divides stomach tissue.
- Bougie: Guides stomach sizing (sleeve gastrectomy).
- Sleeve Gastrectomy (Laparoscopic):
- After Procedure:
- Hospital stay: 2–4 days.
- Care: Start with liquids (day 1–2), progress to pureed foods (weeks 1–4); monitor for dehydration or leaks.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 1–3 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., paracetamol).
- Instructions: Avoid heavy lifting for 4–6 weeks; follow strict diet; attend nutritional counseling.
Recovery After Bariatric Surgery
- Hospital Stay: 2–4 days.
- Post-Procedure Care:
- Pain: Mild to moderate for 1–3 days; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; light walking encouraged (day 1–2) to prevent clots.
- Diet: Liquids (weeks 1–2), pureed foods (weeks 3–4), soft foods (weeks 5–6), solids by 2–3 months; small portions.
- Weight loss: 60–80% excess weight loss in 1–2 years (e.g., 50–70 kg if 100 kg overweight).
- Comorbidities: Diabetes remission in 50–70%, hypertension improvement in 40–60% within 6–12 months.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check wounds), 1 month, and every 3–6 months (monitor weight, nutrition).
- Blood tests: At 3–6 months to check for deficiencies (e.g., vitamin B12, iron); 80–90% maintain weight loss at 5 years with adherence.
Most resume normal activities in 2–4 weeks; full recovery takes 1–2 months, with lifestyle changes ongoing. Success rate: 60–80% excess weight loss; 80–90% comorbidity improvement; 10–20% weight regain at 5 years if non-compliant.
Risks and Complications
- Procedure Risks:
- Bleeding (1–2%): At staple line; may need transfusion or reoperation.
- Infection (1–3%): At incision site; treated with antibiotics.
- Leak (1–2%): From staple line; may need emergency surgery (serious).
- Post-Procedure:
- Nutritional deficiencies (20–30%): Vitamin B12, iron, calcium; managed with supplements.
- Dumping syndrome (10–20%, gastric bypass): Rapid food passage causing nausea, diarrhea; managed with dietary changes.
- Gallstones (10–15%): Due to rapid weight loss; may need cholecystectomy.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, 0.5–1%): Minimized by early walking (links to your thrombectomy query).
- Long-Term:
- Weight regain (10–20% at 5 years): If dietary/exercise adherence poor; needs lifestyle counseling.
- Sagging skin (20–30%): May need body contouring surgery (e.g., tummy tuck).
Report fever, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or swelling promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for bariatric surgery?
Severe obesity (BMI ≥40 or ≥35 with comorbidities) causing health issues, after failed non-surgical weight loss.
Can I avoid bariatric surgery?
Yes, if less severe: Diet, exercise, medications (30–50% success); surgery needed for significant, sustained weight loss.
Is bariatric surgery painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 1–3 days; managed with medication; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 1–2 weeks; full recovery: 1–2 months; avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks.
Is bariatric surgery covered by insurance in India?
Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or swelling.
How effective is bariatric surgery?
60–80% excess weight loss in 1–2 years; 80–90% comorbidity improvement; 10–20% regain at 5 years.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Follow strict diet (small, frequent meals), take multivitamins, exercise regularly, avoid alcohol, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Bariatric surgery is an effective option for managing severe obesity, offering significant weight loss and comorbidity improvement with proper adherence to lifestyle changes. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach treatment confidently. Consult a bariatric surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Ahmedabad |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Ajmer |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Aligarh |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Allahabad |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Amritsar |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Aurangabad |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Bangalore |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Bareilly |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Belgaum |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Bhopal |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Bikaner |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Chandigarh |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Chennai |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Dehradun |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Delhi |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Durgapur |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Faridabad |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Guntur |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Gurgaon |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Guwahati |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Gwalior |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Hyderabad |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Indore |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Jabalpur |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Jaipur |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Jamshedpur |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Jodhpur |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Kanpur |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Kochi |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Kolkata |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Kollam |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Lucknow |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Ludhiana |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Madurai |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Mangalore |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Meerut |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Moradabad |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Mumbai |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Mysore |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Nagpur |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Nashik |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Noida |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Patna |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Pune |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Raipur |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Rajkot |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Ranchi |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Surat |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Thane |
2,50,000 |
6,00,000 |
Vadodara |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Varanasi |
2,00,000 |
5,50,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
2,25,000 |
5,75,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.