Bariatric Surgery in Los Angeles

Bariatric surgery is a group of weight-loss surgeries that involves making changes to the digestive system, some of which are non-reversible. The idea behind these types of surgeries is to help patients lose weight by either limiting the amount of food they can consume/digest at any one time or reducing their body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Some procedures do both. 

Bariatric surgeries should only ever be the final option when diet and exercise have proved inadequate and there are now serious health concerns caused by a person's weight. In general, these surgeries can only be an option for patients whose body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher (extreme obesity). In certain cases, patients whose BMI is 30 to 39.9 may qualify for certain types of bariatric surgery if they have serious weight-related problems, such as type 2 diabetes.

The three most common types of Bariatric Surgeries are as follows:

1. Gastric Sleeve – The most common surgery, in which about 80% of the stomach is irreversibly removed, resulting in a sleeve or tube-like structure. This smaller stomach will not be able to hold as much food and produces less of the hormone that regulates appetite (ghrelin), which can lessen the patient’s desire to eat. 
2. Gastric Bypass – A more complicated procedure in which the stomach is divided into two parts; a small upper pouch and a large lower ‘remnant’ pouch. The small intestine is rearranged to bypass the large pouch. As a result, the volume of the stomach is significantly reduced. This causes food to go into the small upper pouch of the stomach and then directly into the small intestine. The small upper pouch can only hold around an ounce of food. Gastric Bypass is typically not reversible. 
3. Gastric Band – Involves an inflatable silicone device that is fitted around the top portion of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. This procedure causes the patient to feel fuller with less food but still allows the body to digest food as usual, without malabsorption. The device can be removed when the patient reaches their desired weight.

The bariatric surgeries mentioned above are typically performed laparoscopically, in which the surgeon creates around one to five small incisions in the abdomen to insert a laparoscope (a long narrow tube with a camera) and surgical tools. The patients are usually given a general anesthetic, so they will not feel anything throughout the surgery.

How Long Should I Stay in Los Angeles?

After bariatric surgery, an overnight stay in the hospital is usually required. In some cases, you may need to stay longer (around 3 to 5 days). However, it is not advisable to leave Los Angeles as soon as you are discharged from the hospital. Stay at least 10 to 14 days following your surgery for initial recovery and follow-up checkups. During the follow-up checkups, your surgeon will remove your stitches and check your overall condition.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

The recovery time may take around 3 to 6 weeks until you are allowed to go back to your normal activities, including work, with some restrictions. You must avoid heavy work and strenuous activities, such as lifting, pushing, or carrying heavy loads for at least the first three months after surgery. You should also avoid sitting and standing without moving for long periods to avoid blood clots forming in your legs.

What Aftercare is Required?

You will be given a special diet plan immediately after your surgery, as well as detailed post-operative instructions. Make sure to follow the diet plan and instructions to avoid complications and speed up your recovery. In order to maximize and maintain weight loss, it is important that you commit to healthy eating and regular exercise. There may be restrictions on how much food you can consume. You may also need to change your eating habits, such as eating 6 small meals instead of 3 large meals each day. You should take vitamins and mineral supplements to ensure proper nutrition. 

What's the Success Rate?

The success rates vary for each of the different types of bariatric surgery. In general, within the first six months following the surgery, most patients lose around 30% to 55% of their excess weight. Then, as early as 12 months after surgery, most patients lose over 70% of their excess weight. Patients could also maintain a 50% to 60% loss of excess weight for 10 to 14 years after their bariatric surgery. Although the success rates are high, there are risks associated with bariatric surgery, such as bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, infections, spleen injury, stenosis, and infections.

Are there Alternatives?

There is a non-surgical Bariatric procedure, known as the Gastric Balloon. This involves an inflatable device that is temporarily inserted into the stomach via endoscopic placement. A sizable area of the stomach is obstructed by the balloon or balloons, thus reducing the amount of food it can contain at any one time, leading to eventual weight loss. The balloons are usually removed after 6 or 12 months. 

If you cannot or do not want to undergo any surgery or medical procedure, you may be able to work with a doctor who is experienced in treating extreme obesity and a dietician as the alternative. They may recommend you to change your diet, adding physical activity, and prescribe medications.

Bariatric Surgery in and around Los Angeles

About Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles, often called by its initials L.A., is the second-most populous city in the United States. It is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California. This sprawling metropolis is best known as home to Hollywood, natural beauty, and its Mediterranean climate. Near-perfect weather, clear blue skies, mountains, and sunny beaches beckon tourists from all around the globe to visit. In 2018, 50 million people visited this city, and among those visitors were medical tourists. The cost of medical treatment in the US may be rising, but with well-trained medical professionals, cutting-edge technology, world-class medical centers, and a wide range of procedures, people from all over the world still seek to get treated in Los Angeles. The city is widely known to have some of the best surgeons as well as some of the best medical centers in the world. 

Popular Areas in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a lot to offer, and there is something to suit everyone in this beautiful city. Many people will start their travel by seeing the infamous Hollywood sign and visiting Hollywood Boulevard to enjoy the Walk of Fame. However, there is so much more in the city than Hollywood. The following are some of the top sites to see in Los Angeles.

• Venice Beach comprises a variety of artistic venues, exclusive boutiques, and surfers. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun. The much-admired Venice Breakwater is a famous local surfer spot where the waves break on both sides. Take a stroll at the Venice Boardwalk to discover the most diverse ocean front walk in the world. Here, tourists will find numerous restaurants, spas, street entertainers, artists magicians, and skaters.
• Disneyland in Anaheim is less than 30 miles from Los Angeles. It is called the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Take a day trip here and enjoy the rides, such as the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. In the park, tourists are encouraged to immerse themselves in the enchanting worlds of Disney stories and feel like a kid.
• Getty Center has a stellar art collection of photographs, drawings, manuscripts, and pre-20th-century European paintings. Tourists can see famous paintings such as Wheatstacks by Monet, Irises by Van Gogh, and The Abduction of Europa by Rembrandt from up-close. Besides the art, the architecture of this museum is fascinating, which was designed by Richard Meier. On clear days, tourists are able to get spectacular views of the city and ocean.
• Griffith Park is the second-largest park in the United States. It is a great place for picnics and to hang around with friends. For an incredible view of the city, follow the hiking trails that lead up to Mulholland Drive. Tourists can also enjoy the LA Zoo, The Space Observatory, and the Autry Western Museum.

Weather and Climate in Los Angeles

Los Angeles enjoys a Mediterranean climate and has plenty of sunshine throughout the year. 

• Spring months from March to May is known to be the best time to visit the city since the weather is pleasant. There will be loads of sunshine and minimal rain during this season. The average temperature is around 21 °C, but it can be much cooler near the ocean. 
• Summer comes in June and ends in August. It is also the peak tourist season, so expect the tourist areas to be crowded. Gray fog overruns the city in June, particularly in the early mornings. Generally, the weather is warm and sunny during this season, which allows tourists to enjoy the beaches. Note that the temperature can get unbearably hot inland.
• Autumn is from September to November. The weather starts to cool down, and the summer heat subsides, with the average temperature hovering around 23 °C. However, November is the start of Los Angeles’ rainy season.
• Winter is from December to February, and rain is prevalent during these months. The weather is still pleasantly mild, but it will be rainier than usual in February. 

Getting Around in Los Angeles

Los Angeles International Airport or mostly referred to as LAX is the primary international airport in the city. It serves a number of domestic and international flights to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Both major and budget airlines operate flights from the airport. JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines are some of the low-cost carries tourists can choose for budget travel. From the airport, FlyAway bus, taxi, or car hire are available to get to the city center.

The best way to travel around Los Angeles is to hire a car, but if you want to avoid the hassle of driving, you can always hire a car and driver. Nevertheless, using public transportation is a lot more cost-effective. The city has a Metro Rail subway system, but the routes are still limited. You can purchase a pass at the self-service machines at each station. The pass is also valid for the city buses. The best alternative is to ride a public bus. The public bus travels to the entire city and charges the same fares as the metro. If you want to visit several attractions, there are a variety of sightseeing bus tours that can save you from the trouble of figuring out the public bus routes.

Taxis are available, but they can be expensive since LA is big and has bad traffic. The fares are metered and can be organized over the phone. Uber, UberX, and Lyft are popular in Los Angeles.    

Tourists Visas in Los Angeles

Visa exemption and visa waiver program are available for 42 countries, including Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Canada. Holders of passports that are not listed in the visa exemption or visa waiver agreement need to apply and obtain a visa before entering the country. The visa is generally valid for 90 days. It is advisable to visit the nearest United States Embassy to learn about the visa policy.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the US dollar ($). It is the world’s primary reserve currency and used in most international transactions.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, hotels, and shops. Cards are required for reservations. Tipping is not optional, tip 18% to 20% in restaurants.
3. Local Language: English is the most widely spoken language, but since Los Angeles is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, there are 223 other languages spoken. These languages include Korean, Filipino, Chinese, Armenian, and Persian.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The largest religion in Los Angeles in Roman Catholicism, followed by Judaism. Smaller groups of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and several other religions.
5. Public Holidays: Some of the largest holidays in Los Angeles are New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.