Q: I am a US citizen living permanently in Mexico. I am interested in a stomach pacemaker surgery to reduce weight. I am not morbidly obese, but significantly overweight (5 feet, 3 inches tall and weight 190 pounds so need to lose 60-70 pounds). I would like to know sources for surgeons in Mexico, Thailand or India, who might be able to perform this surgery. What is the cost factor for this? I am 57 years old, otherwise in good health.

A:Gastric pacemaker systems are in experimental state. No device is at present available for commercial use. Further the purpose of gastric pacemaker is not for weight reduction. For weight reduction the following are available. 1. Gastric balloon 2. Gastric banding 3. Gastric bariatric surgery for extremely morbid obesity. All these will be done after full medical evaluation to rule out any concomitant pathology and diet and exercise have failed. Presently gastric banding, which is reversible, is the safest option. This is carried out in all Laparoscopic centres in US and in few centres in India.