Overview

• Medical professionals caution against 'special offers' for bariatric surgeries abroad, citing concerns over quality of care and patient safety.
• New guidelines recommend that patients only undergo procedures at accredited centers and consult their home doctors beforehand.
• Reports reveal cases of botched surgeries, serious injuries, and fatalities linked to unregulated medical tourism for obesity treatment.
• The guidelines emphasize the need for at least two years of post-surgery follow-up and clear communication of risks and benefits to patients.
• Long waiting lists for obesity treatment in the UK are driving more patients to seek care overseas, with an estimated 5,000 Britons traveling annually for bariatric surgery.