In the surge of the new COVID-19 variants all over the world, many prospective patients wonder if it’s still safe to travel to Tijuana Bariatric Center for weight loss surgery. In this article, we help our future bariatric patients to rest assured knowing that they are in the best of hands and to understand the importance of not putting off a bariatric procedure.
COVID-19 and Your Health
At the beginning of the pandemic, it was well know that those with obesity and comorbidities were part of the most vulnerable population group. Is that fact still true today? Indeed, it is. Several studies and reports by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed that overweight and obese adults are at greater risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19 and its variants. Moreover, numerous studies in the US and other countries have seen clear evidence that obesity may increase the risk of death by up to 50%. The following are other risk factors that could lead to severe cases, and which are also related to overweight and obesity are:
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes
- Liver and kidney disease
- Hypertension
- Asthma
- Heart disease
- Cerebrovascular disease
What can be done to reduce such risks?
Long before COVID 19, obesity had become an epidemic of sorts in the US and much of the developed world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) --obesity is defined by having a BMI equal to or higher than 30. Therefore, if you are ready to do something about your weight and reduce the risks of developing severe cases of COVID-19, you should schedule your weight loss surgery through Tijuana Bariatric Center as soon as possible. That leads us to our next question.
Is It Safe to Have Bariatric Surgery During the Current Surge of COVID-19 Variants?
Only a few months ago, life seemed to be coming back to normal. People were able to go out and about and even be indoors without a mask! Unfortunately, as in the case with any virus, it started mutating and producing variations at various places all around the world. As a result, there was a surge of cases that threatened the 'normality' that we were able to rediscover. The good news is that the past year or so allowed us to learn how to stay safe and prevent any transmission so we could go on with our everyday lives, including improving our health.
Bariatric surgery has been compared to receiving essential treatments such as chemotherapy and urgent surgery. The reason? As stated earlier, the longer a person puts off losing weight, the higher the risks of developing severe cases of COVID-19 and other adverse effects, including uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. Thus, thanks to state-of-the-art bariatric procedures such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass operations, numerous
patients have been able to lose weight quickly and safely. As a result, not only have they dramatically reduced their risk of developing various conditions, but they have also significantly increased their quality of life.
Strategies at Tijuana Bariatric Center to Keep you Safe
During the pandemic, we at Tijuana Bariatric Center, we have been highly successful in keeping our patients safe and providing them with wonderful bariatric solutions to their obesity problems. Of course, it is the result of the diligent work of our bariatric experts and supporting staff that follow the highest prevention protocols provided by the CDC and our medical specialists.
For example, one such protocol is the requirement for all bariatric patients to provide a negative COVID-19 test, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not. Such a requirement ensures the safety of the bariatric patient and the entire staff who will involve with that patient. On the other hand, recent studies have proven that vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases of COVID-19 and significantly reduce the risk of transmitting it to others, including the current circulating variants.
A recent study from Monash University found strong evidence that vaccines against COVID-19 are highly effective for extended periods thanks to their introduction of “memory B cells.” Such cells work to remember how the virus operates, and if exposed, they trigger a protective response from the immune system that subsequently releases antibodies. Fortunately, a high percentage of bariatric patients who come to Tijuana for a weight loss procedure have been fully vaccinated. Moreover, the city of Tijuana, Mexico, has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. All of which contribute to the high rate of successful bariatric surgeries each day.
What You Can Do to Stay Safe
Undoubtedly, when the strategies mentioned above are coupled with practical actions from our bariatric patients, it reduces the risk of any infection and increases the successful results. Most of them you have heard repeatedly. Yet, we must not let our guard down so you can enjoy the fantastic health results that come after bariatric surgery. The most important include the following:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Various studies have found that washing our hands for at least 20 seconds can reduce respiratory illness in the population by up to 21%. In fact, during the SARS epidemic in 2003, these actions reduced the risk of transmission by up to 50%.
- Wear a mask. Indeed, it can be exhausting and even frustrating to keep using a mask. However, it has been demonstrated that it significantly helps others from catching the disease and reduces the viral load of the person wearing it. When coming to Tijuana, you only have to wear it in closed-door areas. Once at the hospital, you won’t have to wear it for your comfort, thanks to the adherence to the highest sanitary measures.
- Do not shake hands and avoid being around sick people.
- Use hand sanitizers. Have at hand one that contains between 60 to 75% alcohol. Read the bottle labels carefully to ensure this. There are outlets where you can purchase hand sanitizer should you forget to pack some.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Stay at home as much as possible, especially if you feel sick or under the weather, and boost your immune system by staying hydrated, eating healthy, and exercising.
Will You Experience the Benefits of Bariatric Surgery?
Clearly, now is not the time to put off losing weight through one of the best-proven methods to lose weight, namely, bariatric surgery. The health benefits and improved quality of life surpass by far any possible challenges or risks, particularly during the current pandemic. Take the first step to experience the full benefits of bariatric surgery today!
Reach out to our Tijuana Bariatric Center experts at 800- 970-0577 or by emailing [email protected] to schedule your free virtual consultation.
