During sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve surgery), the surgeon will remove the larger, rounded part of the stomach.
• The remaining stomach looks like a sleeve (or hose or tube) and holds about 15 percent as much food as the original stomach.
• The surgeon will remove the larger, rounded part of the stomach from the body.
• Unlike gastric bypass, which changes the exit pathway of the stomach, sleeve gastrectomy leaves the exit pathway intact intact.
• It may be a safer and more effective option than gastric bypass for patients with very high BMI, those with medical problems like anemia, Crohn’s disease, osteoporosis, extensive prior surgeries and other complex medical conditions.

Advantages
• Sleeve gastrectomy may be safer than gastric bypass for patients who have a number of health risks.
• It lowers the risk of marginal ulcers (ulcers that may occur along the reconstructed exit pathway of the stomach) compared to gastric bypass.
• The surgery cuts away the part of the stomach that produces grehlin, a stomach hormone that stimulates hunger.
• Though the stomach is smaller, the entrance and exit openings are left intact, so digestion can go on as normal (no dumping syndrome).
• The body is free of foreign objects like the LAP-BAND®.

Risks
• Sleeve gastrectomy is more common in Europe, but most American health insurance carriers still consider it an investigational procedure and do not cover the cost.
• Anytime you have anesthesia or surgery, there is a risk of blood clots, other complications or death.
• Do not smoke. Smoking would put you at high risk for infection, blood clots, slow healing and other life-threatening complications.
• Complications can occur with the stapling, such as leaks or bleeding.
• You may need malabsorptive surgery – intestinal bypass or duodenal switch – in addition to your sleeve gastrectomy in order to lose all the weight you need and want to lose.
• The smaller portion of the stomach may stretch.
• Foods that you eat now may cause discomfort, nausea or vomiting after your surgery.
• Gastric surgery puts you at higher than normal risk of developing gallstones and gallbladder disease.
• You will not lose weight or maintain your weight loss unless you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. This is the reason we stress long-term follow-up with our center and your doctor.

It is suggested that surgeons performing sleeve gastrectomy inform patients regarding the lack of published evidence for sustained weight loss beyond 3 years and provide them with information regarding alternative procedures with published long-term (greater than or equal to 5 years) data confirming sustained weight loss and comorbidity resolution based upon available literature at this time.

Our physicians and health care coordinators have extensive, hands on experience working with doctors and hospitals throughout Mexico. We began developing our network of Mexico’s finest doctors and hospitals in 2000 by conducting personal interviews and educational background checks on more than 700 Mexican doctors and inspecting over 80 private hospitals. We spent 6 years researching the Mexican healthcare system before we referred our first patient for surgery in February of 2006. As a result, if you decide to let MedToGo coordinate your surgery or medical service in Mexico, you can be assured that you will be working with the country’s finest doctors and institutions.

You will have also hired a team of U.S. physicians and health care and coordinators that will oversee your care and serve as your advocate while you are in Mexico. You will not be alone. Your safety and peace of mind are our primary concern. Furthermore, we can offer you complete healthcare packages with up to 75% off the price of a comparable experience in the U.S.-without a compromise in quality.

• Our physicians meet and hold personal interviews with all Mexican physicians.
• We verify the doctor’s educational experience and credentials, including board certification and licensing.
• We request and check professional references and assess a doctor’s local reputation through various professional and personal resources. Doctors must be in good standing with their community and hospitals. There must be no history of current or repeated legal malpractice.
• We review physician resumés and give preference to physicians who have been consistent with continuing medical education, who are active in their medical societies and who have been entrusted with leadership roles within their institutions.
• We examine evidence of their surgical success rates.
• Prior to including a surgeon or physician into our program, we attend his/her operations to evaluate competence and skill.

But if you hire MedToGo we will not only provide you with a selection of Mexico’s finest health care providers and coordinate your procedure, we will also be your advocates while you are abroad and not rest until have returned home.

Your Mexican hospital and doctor compensates MedToGo for marketing services, and MedToGo does not add additional fees to the cost of your package. MedToGo does not accept cash incentives or alterations in compensation from physicians or hospitals. This ensures that our recommendations are unbiased and based solely on our experience and quality assessment.

The medical tourism service was great, especially for someone like me who was going on my own. Because I felt comfortable that MedToGo International would be there by my side, and to further minimize the expense, I opted to travel to Mexico without my husband. It gave me great comfort knowing that MedToGo stood behind me. From the moment I was picked up at the airport and taken to the hospital I had someone there with me the whole time.

Everyone at the hospital was extremely warm and friendly. I feared that not knowing Spanish would make matters difficult, but almost everyone spoke English. Only once did I encounter someone that didn’t speak English.

Dr. Joya and his dietician, Nathalie, were very kind. I’d never gone to a hospital where everyone took the time to discuss with me everything that was going to happen. I certainly wasn’t used to this, so it was a nice surprise.

I’ve learned that in life when things appear to be too good to be true, it’s because they are. I feared that the considerable reduction in price, when compared to the United States, would be due to less quality. That was certainly not the case with Dr. Joya and MedToGo International.

ELENA VYKHOVANETS – PROCEDURE DATE: 10/31/08

As a Russian-born citizen who has been living in the US for 20 years, I know that the United States is not the only country with quality health care. So, when I was faced with the high cost for Gastric Sleeve surgery in the US, I decided to research my options to have it done outside of the country.

After speaking with 9-10 companies, there was no company that made me feel more comfortable and confident than MedToTo International. Their knowledge of Mexican health care and experience with patients is like nothing else I experienced when speaking with other medical tourism companies.

Several friends were very negative, warning me against Mexico saying it would be dirty and dangerous. Ironically, one of my friends, who warned me against surgery in Mexico, had gastric surgery in America and ended up getting a bad infection. I, on the other hand, had no complications and no infections and was very impressed with the cleanliness of the hospital and the care provided by the surgical team and hospital staff. Everyone was extremely nice and sincere. 6 months have now passed and I’ve lost 70 pounds. I’ve had no problems and would have no reservations to recommend MedToGo International to anyone considering gastric surgery.

Please provide my email,lena_vykhovanets@yahoo.com, to anyone that needs help with their decision.

Thank you,
Elena Vykhovanets
Vancouver, WA

FRANCES KOONCE – PROCEDURE DATE: 11/05/08
My name is Frances Koonce and, thanks to MedToGo International, I have dropped 110 lbs. in 7 months. Like everyone else when you think about traveling abroad for a major surgery fear steps in.

MedToGo’s health care coordinator was available anytime to answer all concerns. Even now after all is said and done I can say it was too easy. My hospital stay in Angeles was unbelievable. The US could learn a lot from them about medical care. The staff spoke little English but somehow knew your every need. (there are translators). One staff member even let us use his laptop. Like I said, “unbelievable”. My surgery went very well. Honestly, If I did not have the scars I would tell you I did not go through this surgery. I had not trouble whatsoever. I did not even require pain medication after leaving.

My life is still changing daily. I now walk 5 miles a day and have energy like I was a teenager again. My only wish is that I had not waited so long to live. I still have about 50 more pounds to go, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank You MedToGo.