The international team of surgeons and physicians at OCC are among the leading authorities on the gastric bypass procedure in Tijuana, Mexico, having performed this surgery over many years. This bariatric surgery is often recommended for the morbidly obese and, with our exclusive Dual Long Limb (DLL) procedure, it has also cured obesity-related diabetes in many patients. 66-68
About Gastric Bypass Surgery
With extensive experience and expertise in the field, the surgeons and physicians at OCC are renowned authorities in gastric bypass procedures. This procedure is frequently recommended for individuals with severe obesity, and our exclusive Dual Long Limb (DLL) technique has shown promising results in effectively managing diabetes in eligible patients.
- Cost: Starting at $6,395
- Recovery: Patients will have lifting and activity restrictions for about about 6 weeks after surgery
- Included in Cost: Pricing covers pre-op testing, surgery, anesthesia, post-op care, transportation, medications, 5-year follow-up, and 24/7 aftercare. Airfare is not included
- Discomfort: Minimal
Gastric Bypass Before & After Images
What is the OCC difference?
With over a quarter of a century of experience and more than 26,000 patients, Obesity Control Center, located in Tijuana, MX, has proved to be a leader in safe and effective gastric bypass surgery. We are the busiest standalone center of excellence in metabolic and bariatric surgery, giving us a unique advantage. 33, 34
Laparoscopic surgery – smaller incisions, faster recovery.
Gastric bypass surgery is performed laparoscopically at the Obesity Control Center. During the procedure, a small stomach pouch is created and attached to a section of the small intestine. This allows food to bypass a portion of the small intestine, where calories and nutrients are absorbed. The smaller stomach creates a feeling of fullness more quickly, and as a result, less food is consumed. 22, 23
Schedule a Consultation Today
Contact Us
How is the OCC approach better?
Studies conducted on gastric bypass patients show that after one year, weight loss can average more than 75% of excess body weight. One report found that gastric bypass surgery reduced the total number of serious health problems of participating patients by 96%. 22, 23
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
Our goal – a happier, healthier patient, for the long term.
Our goal is a happy, successful, healthier patient that refers their friends and family to OCC and shares their experience with others. There is no greater compliment than when an OCC patient referring their friends, family, or associates to us, and it happens every day. Obesity can be treated with the most advanced surgeries with improved outcomes and a shorter recovery time. 22, 23
Outstanding surgical outcomes
Because the procedure has proven to achieve such noteworthy results, it now accounts for a significant portion of weight loss surgeries performed at Obesity Control Center in Mexico. To learn more about gastric bypass surgery, visit medlineplus.gov. 22, 23, 76
Call or email us here to start your weight loss journey. Call one of our US-based coordinators and learn how you can get the life you’ve always wanted with the help of the Obesity Control Center.
A Look at Our State of the Art Facility | Obesity Control Center
How safe is gastric bypass surgery at our surgical center?
All surgeries pose some level of risk, but OCC’s advancements in surgical techniques and extensive experience have resulted in one of the lowest complication rates in published literature for this procedure. We attribute our low complication rate to several factors:
- No-Touch™ Technique: Our doctors not only perform gastric bypasses laparoscopically, but we minimize contact further with this proprietary technique. We ensure minimal contact between patient and instruments, create just 4-5 small incisions, block the body’s inflammatory response that causes pain and inflammation at incision sites when injured, never cut muscle fibers, and use dermal bonding glue to close.
- Safety Accreditations: We take care to maintain our high safety standards, and our efforts have earned us the Gold Seal of Approval® from Joint Commission International (JCI), designation as a Center of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (COEMBS), and more.
With each successful surgery, our doctors expand their knowledge—and we’ve performed more than 26,000 at our surgical center. Our leak rate is 0%, and our patients rarely experience heartburn after their procedure. 30-32
Gastric Bypass Patient Success Stories
Cameron
-185 lbs
I can never express enough how grateful I am for what OCC has done for me.
I was considered overweight and obese my entire life. At 35, after years of failed diets, therapy, and research, I realized that the only way for me to permanently loose weight was to have bariatric surgery. My doctors in the US wrote letters to my insurance, emphasizing the medical necessity of this surgery. But after a year of back and forth, my insurance turned me down. I thought all hope was lost until I heard about OCC from a friend. I’d never even heard of traveling to Mexico for surgery, but, after researching and talking to the OCC, I was all in. And I’m so glad I made this choice. The amount of guidance and care I received from OCC from the moment I called for information has been better than anything I’ve experienced in the US. The procedure was smooth—I felt safe and in good hands the entire time.
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Tricia
-100 lbs
It’s highly reputable reputation and accreditations.
I was sick of being sick. I suffered from type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. I have two small children and was sick of being tired all the time and sitting on the sidelines. I decided I didn’t want to live this life anymore. That’s when I reached out to OCC and it was the best decision I ever made. I am now actually living and making each day count.
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Celeste
-203 lbs
I needed a drastic change.
I had tried losing weight and failed on my own so many times before that I just knew I could no longer do it on my own. My health insurance benefits excluded weight loss surgery and I felt so defeated! I didn’t want the insurance companies to decide what I knew I needed. It wasn’t until I started searching for cash-pay costs that I ran across the OCC website (and several others). I looked at their testimonials and tried to find some of those people – I reached out to them on social media to get their thoughts. I started doing research on Dr. Ortiz. I researched the accreditations and certifications that the OCC held and was liking what I was learning. I looked into other facilities and Dr.’s, but none of them seemed to have as high of standards as OCC. After doing research and talking with others about their experiences both at OCC and at other facilities, I decided that it was time to get more information directly from OCC.
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Charlie
-155 lbs
OCC, you gave me not only my life back, you gave me my smile back…
I have struggled with my weight my entire life. In the long run it became not only emotionally, but also medically necessary to make a drastic change in my life. I was recommended by a family friend who is also a Nurse Practitioner and she recommended me to OCC, specifically Dr. Ortiz. Of course I was apprehensive of the thought of having surgery in Mexico but she reassured me that she took care of several of OCC’s patients right here in my hometown and that if anyone knew exactly what they were doing it was OCC. I researched OCC as well as others, both domestic and foreign, and came to the conclusion that OCC was without a doubt one of the best, if not the best. From the first call to the coordinator to the moment I left Tijuana headed back home, I was treated with support, kindness, compassion, and empathy.
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Jamie
-73 lbs
I did quite a bit of reading and felt OCC was the best choice and it was!
I have struggled with my weight for all of my adult years, my highest weight was 245 at one time. I maintained my weight loss around 165 lbs until about 2 years ago when my band started not holding any fluid and realized it had a leak. I started regaining weight and put on about 50 lbs. My experience with OCC and Dr. Ortiz was wonderful! I decided to revise to the gastric sleeve and everything was great, we stayed at a very nice hotel , and the staff there was just as good. I had excellent medical care from the start. I would absolutely recommend OCC to anyone who is struggling with their weight. I am now down about 80 lbs and have never felt better. I work out with a personal trainer and run 5ks!
View all Before & After Patient Stories
Elyse
-65 lbs
Safety, professionalism, knowledge, accreditation.
I was tired of being fat, and for most 215 isn’t that bad. But for me I felt disgusting. I’m use to bring the pretty sexy one. Not the chubby funny girl. I didn’t know that out of country surgery was even a possibility. I had a friend have it done in Mexico and I was like I want that. I booked with another company and after research I found that they had a death and complications. They also used drain tubes which did not sound like fun! Then I found OCC and saw all the great reviews, no deaths and no drain tubes. I was so nervous yet excited. My experience was nothing but positive. I even came home early I was doing so well. I have tried every diet, I exercised regularly and I just kept gaining. This tool has helped me so much. I still continue to eat healthy and exercise regularly but now I actually see results or my hard work. This isn’t the easy way out you still have to put the work in.
View all Before & After Patient StoriesWhat sets OCC apart from the rest?
Here are some unique features only found at OCC:
- A quarter-century specialized in the weight loss surgery field. We were some of the first to perform bariatric surgical procedures.
- Three Master Bariatric Surgeons caring for every patient. You’re always in the hands of a world-renowned and highly-trained surgeon. We are the only international team of bariatric surgeons, offering globalized bariatric healthcare and the best of the best to our patients.
- We have been fully accredited by Joint Commission International for two 3-year periods. JCI partners with hospitals, clinics, academic medical centers, health systems and agencies, government ministries, academia, and international advocates in over 100 countries to promote the strictest and highest standards of care.
- Fully accredited as an SRC Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. Read more about our safety record.
- Pioneers in the field, including several registered techniques, patented devices, and many “firsts” in the field like teenage obesity treatments, the IGS Improved Gastric Sleeve®
- Stomach Sparing Gastric Sleeve, the Double-Buttress Sewing Technique and more.
Faster recovery and better outcomes. Shorter times under anesthesia and a less-invasive abdominal wall preservation techniques. - Unique patient pre-surgery education and preparation and 5 years follow-up program, an industry first!
Bariatric Surgery FAQ Videos
Pre-surgery FAQS
What’s the price for a gastric bypass?
How do I prepare for gastric surgery?
How does pre-op weight loss help?
How do you manage nutritional deficiencies?
What is an ideal candidate for gastric bypass surgery?
Gastric sleeve vs. gastric bypass
Does OCC perform less invasive weight loss surgeries?
Why is gastric surgery called “metabolic surgery”?
How does gastric surgery enhance metabolic function?
What’s the price for a gastric bypass?
Depending on the type of gastric surgery requested, the prices can vary from around $6,500 to $9,000 dollars. The cost is important – but ensuring your surgery is performed by a top bariatric surgeon in a state-of-the-art clinic is crucial. Your health and safety matters, above all.
Included in the cost of your gastric bypass surgery:
- 1 night stay at our world-renowned hospital
- 1 night stay at a local 5-star hotel
- Luxury transportation to and from the San Diego International Airport
- Team of three board-certified surgeons, including two anesthesiologists
- All operating room costs and surgical materials
- All pre-op evaluations and follow-up care
How do I prepare for gastric surgery?
Like in life, mental, physical, and emotional preparation is essential for a successful outcome. Additional requirements may be suggested depending on your specific case. 35-37
How does pre-op weight loss help?
Pre-operative weight loss will detox your liver, making it lighter, and resulting in a quicker, safer weight loss procedure with less impact on your overall status. Even 5% of total body weight loss will result in a dramatic improvement in your ability to respond to surgical stress. 35-37
How do you manage nutritional deficiencies?
Nourishment at a cellular level will require you to compensate for the deficiencies you have accumulated over the years and the deficiencies expected after weight loss surgery. Research has proven that the only way to replenish these deficiencies is through bariatric supplementation.
This means that a bariatric multivitamin and a bariatric protein source prior to the gastric bypass will enormously increase your safety profile and a successful outcome. Mental preparation includes looking at the way we relate to food and being proactive about a healthier diet and lifestyle. 35-37
What is an ideal candidate for gastric bypass surgery?
An ideal candidate for gastric bypass surgery in Tijuana, Mexico at OCC is mentally, physically, and nutritionally prepared for this life-changing procedure. If you’re overweight and above a 30 BMI or 30% body fat, you are definitely a candidate. 1-3
Gastric sleeve vs. gastric bypass
The gastric sleeve and gastric bypass are different procedures and work differently. They both have their pros and cons, and this question is the one you will want to discuss with the surgeon doing the procedure. 1-3
Does OCC perform less invasive weight loss surgeries?
We really like the least invasive procedure that can get you the best results. This is why we always recommend a sleeve before the bypass. You can always move up to a bypass from a sleeve but not the other way around. 1-3
Why is gastric surgery called “metabolic surgery”?
In the fight against obesity and excess weight, the only proven method that outlasts common methods is bariatric surgery. Recent advances in the field have proven that these weight loss surgeries not only dramatically influence the excess weight a patient carries, but it also balances out the metabolism of an individual, especially the insulin and blood sugar levels. This is the reason that weight loss surgery is often called “metabolic surgery. 19-21”
How does gastric surgery enhance metabolic function?
It is not completely understood how exactly surgery regulates insulin, blood sugar, diabetes, cholesterol, lipids, and sleep disorder (sleep apnea), but it is a fact that it has a direct impact and has cured these life-threatening diseases many times. 19-21
Gastric surgery safety FAQS
Gastric surgery in Mexico, really?
How safe is gastric bypass surgery?
What is the mortality rate for gastric bypass surgery?
What about gastric bypass complications?
What is the OCC complication rate?
What are the side effects to expect after surgery?
Is gastric bypass surgery painful?
Will I regain weight?
How is the OCC surgical approach different?
Will I have “gas pressure pains?”
Gastric surgery in Mexico, really?
At OCC, we have over 26,000 patients that have traveled to our center with no major security incidents to report. We are at the heart of the commercial district, less than half a mile away from the international border to the U.S.A. Tijuana is now the second busiest medical destination for the traveling patient. At OCC, we are glad to be an essential part of this great reputation. 53-55
How safe is gastric bypass surgery?
OCC’s complication rate is one of the lowest in the published literature, beating out most Canadian and American surgeons. 22, 23
What is the mortality rate for gastric bypass surgery?
We can say very proudly that our mortality rate is 0.0% percent. We value health and wellbeing and will never perform a procedure on someone who is either not well prepared medically or has a risk higher than acceptable. 22, 23
What about gastric bypass complications?
Like any surgical procedure, complications can happen like leaks, bleeding, hernias, and chronic heartburn. At OCC, we have your back, with over 23,000 procedures, we have streamlined not just the technique, but the entire process of weight loss surgery. So, preparation is key to a successful outcome, and we will be holding your hand all the way. 22, 23
What is the OCC complication rate?
Our complication rate is one of the lowest published in the literature. In fact, our leak rate is 0%, and with the implementation of the new techniques designed at OCC, our patients are experiencing substantial and permanent weight loss without the undesirable symptom of heartburn. 77
What are the side effects to expect after surgery?
There are symptoms after having any type of surgery that are related to anesthesia (sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, etc.) and others directly associated with the gastric sleeve itself (cramping, abdominal tenderness, vomiting). Fortunately, these are kept to a minimum and medically treated early so most patients can be up on their feet in a couple of hours and discharged the morning after. ` are out shopping the day after surgery! 69
Is gastric bypass surgery painful?
The Obesity Control Center® performs all gastric procedures laparoscopically, which is minimally invasive. Laparoscopic surgery usually results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open procedures. 22, 23
Will I regain weight?
It is common in any type of weight loss surgery to re-gain weight. The trick is to perform a procedure that limits the amount of weight that can be regained. This is done by design. At OCC, our procedures are performed to be safe and effective, preferably permanent weight loss. Weight loss has to do with a structured bariatric program, it’s not just another surgery! 19-21
How is the OCC surgical approach different?
Our process at OCC includes a gentle but short procedure that results in a quick recovery. The OCC difference includes specialized pencil-thin instruments and bladeless abdominal wall trocars. We use localized abdominal wall blocking agents that diminish the cascade of mediators that cause pain and inflammation. 70
Will I have “gas pressure pains?”
We use half the amount of gas pressure, where others use 20mm/hg, we use 10 to 12mm/hg. This results in less of the dreaded “gas pressure pains” associated with laparoscopic surgery. Our operating time is a fraction of the typical time reported in the literature. We’re in no hurry, we have simply streamlined the process. Less time under anesthesia means quicker recovery times.
Post-Surgery FAQS
Can you have a normal life after surgery?
How long will I take to recover?
What happens if I overeat?
How much weight should I expect to lose?
What do you eat after gastric surgery?
Can you drink alcohol after gastric bypass?
How much can your stomach hold after gastric bypass?
How long does it take for your stomach to heal after gastric bypass?
Can you have a normal life after surgery?
Most patients require several months to adapt to the procedure. This is usually predictable so our nutritionist will always prescribe a nutritional regimen that is easy to follow and will allow the patient to gradually move up to the following stage. First, you start with a totally liquid diet for a few days, moving on to liquids including the Bariatric Protein Meals, then you slowly move into mushy food, and finally, a normal diet. 42, 43
How long will I take to recover?
Daily activities and exercise should also progress at the same rate, but the surprising fact is that most patients recover much quicker than they thought; in fact, energy levels are usually higher than expected when the nutrition plan includes the Bariatric Multivitamin and Bariatric Protein Shakes recommended by our team of experts. 42, 43
What happens if I overeat?
The only thing you can’t do after surgery is overeating without having severe discomfort, nausea, even vomiting. Ideally, most patients will return to three normal meals a day and three snacks between meals. 42, 43
How much weight should I expect to lose?
Studies conducted on gastric bypass patients show that, after one year, weight loss can average more than 75% of excess body weight. One report found that gastric bypass surgery reduced the total number of serious health problems of participating patients by 96%. 42, 43
What do you eat after gastric surgery?
It starts with liquids during the first few days then gradually progresses to mushy food, then semi-solids to full solids. All this happens during the first couple of months. The good news is massive weight loss occurs during this time and all the health indicators dramatically get better during this period. 42, 43
Can you drink alcohol after gastric bypass?
Like any surgery, there is a recovery time, and our nutrition team recommends not drinking for the first trimester. (Although a glass of wine has benefits!) 42, 43
How much can your stomach hold after gastric bypass?
Patients will notice once they are past the liquid phase and eating full solids that the restriction level will result in around a third of the original meal volume. Eating a third of your typical meal will definitely induce weight loss and better overall health. 42, 43
How long does it take for your stomach to heal after gastric bypass?
Recent studies show that the inner lining of the stomach can start healing in as little as 6 hours! It is important to follow all the guidelines that we give our patients prior to surgery which results in an uneventful recovery and a good outcome. 42, 43
Schedule your gastric bypass procedure today.
Call or email us here to start your weight loss journey. Call one of our US-based coordinators and learn how you can get the life you’ve always wanted with the help of the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, MX.
References
Click here to see how OCC compares to other facilities in terms of surgical rates, infection rates, mortality rates, and more.
