Is Bariatric Surgery in Colombia as Safe as in the U.S. or Europe?
What matters isn’t where you have the surgery, but who performs it. An experienced bariatric surgeon has the skill to minimize your risks to the lowest levels, regardless of location. At GUIAVITAL, we have spent over 17 years selecting the most qualified surgeons, providing our patients with the same success rates as in the United States or Europe. Here, we explain how we ensure higher chances of success for our patients.
Ask us how we’ve managed to bring together senior bariatric surgeons and Joint Commission-accredited clinics in a single package. This is the ultimate bariatric surgery package in Colombia, offering you the success rates of surgery in the U.S. or Europe, the safety standards of your home country, and the comfort of recovering in your own home.
It doesn’t matter which country you have surgery in—if you choose your bariatric surgeon carefully, your chances of success are the same.
Your Bariatric Surgery Risks in Colombia or the USA Could Be the Same
At GUIAVITAL, we adhere to a rigorous surgeon selection policy based on the highest level of experience, allowing us to confidently provide a comparable success rate in Colombia.
In conclusion, if a surgeon with thousands of successful cases has the expertise to reduce your risks to a minimum, this is due to their high level of experience—it does not depend on the country where this expert performs your surgery.
Two simple analogies:
- If you bring a highly skilled American bariatric surgeon with their multidisciplinary team to the best clinic in Colombia, would they have a lower chance of success just because they are in Colombia? No.
- If a Colombian bariatric surgeon and their team were to operate on you in the United States, would your chances of success be higher simply because it’s in the U.S.? Again, no.
At GUIAVITAL, we are confident in stating that we have selected surgeons with such extensive experience that we can offer you the same chances of success as you would have with an expert in the United States.
However, if you choose your bariatric surgeon randomly, based on word-of-mouth alone, or by the lowest price without verifying EXPERIENCE, you increase your risk of complications. This can happen in Colombia, Madrid, Berlin, or anywhere in the world. Experience is everything.
What Does a Study Say About the Risks and Complications of Bariatric Surgery in the United States?
A 2017 study titled “Variation in Outcomes at Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence” found that more experienced surgeons achieve lower rates of postoperative complications and better outcomes for patients. The volume of surgeries performed is a key indicator of quality outcomes.
The study analyzed surgical outcomes from 145,527 patients across 165 accredited centers in the U.S., finding a 17-fold variation in serious complication rates between centers, indicating that accreditation alone does not ensure high-quality care. Additionally, it confirmed that surgeons with a higher volume of surgeries (experience) tend to have fewer complications and better patient outcomes.
Note: You’ll be pleased to know that Colombia, as a pioneer and leader in obesity surgery in Latin America and Central America, would not have achieved such immense recognition without adhering to the strictest safety and hospital quality protocols, endorsed by well-known international organizations.
Want to know who has been treating our patients for over 17 years?
What to Do if You Can’t Assess the Level of Experience?
In our experience, few patients understand that a bariatric surgeon with more experience is significantly more likely to minimize surgical risks. Even those who recognize this often feel uncomfortable asking questions or simply don’t know what to ask, lacking the technical knowledge needed to evaluate a surgeon’s experience and qualifications.
That’s why we recommend contacting one of our advisors. They can guide you to a surgeon in your chosen city with the level of experience needed to maximize your chances of success for obesity surgery in Colombia.
Very Common Questions About Bariatric Surgery
This protocol is based on a nutritional biotechnology supplement approved by the FDA and used in the United States and 15 other countries. It strengthens the patient’s immune system through timely nutritional support, which should begin one month before surgery and continue for at least two months post-bariatric surgery.
First, choose your surgeon in the city where you’ll have the procedure, and they will explain the details of the protocol during your consultation.
This scientific article confirms that patients undergoing bariatric surgery can prevent worsening malnutrition. Post-surgical malnutrition is entirely avoidable. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), patients should take lifelong supplements and undergo regular check-ups to monitor their nutritional levels. Ver articulo aquíBariatric Surgery Malnutrition Complications – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
