Frequently asked questions

If you want to be seen at Clínica Lo Curro, write to us on WhatsApp at +56 9 7483 5239. Trinidad, one of my assistants, will help you arrange an in-person or online consultation, depending on available times.

If you prefer Clínica MEDS, you can book through my profile at meds.cl, write to +56 9 3405 3961 or call the contact center at 22 499 6400.

We see Fonasa patients through the Health Care Voucher, as well as patients with a private insurer (Isapre), Dipreca and private-pay patients.

If you have private insurance, you can ask your insurer directly about the conditions and requirements for reimbursement of the consultation or surgery.

At Clínica MEDS, care conditions and values may vary depending on the agreement.

These are the usual hours:

• Online consultation: Monday to Friday, from 6:30 pm.
• In person at Clínica Lo Curro: Monday to Wednesday, about 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Ask about available times.
• In person at Clínica MEDS: Mondays, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Hours depend on availability and may change. We recommend checking before booking.

Fonasa’s Bono PAD gives access to certain surgeries at a value known in advance. To know whether you can use it, you must meet the established medical and administrative criteria.

The general requirements include:

• Being between 18 and 65 years old.
• Being a Fonasa beneficiary in tiers B, C or D.
• Meeting the BMI and associated-condition criteria set for the surgery:
• BMI of 40 or higher.
• BMI between 35 and under 40, when the required associated-condition criteria are met.
• BMI between 30 and under 35, in specific cases of hard-to-manage type 2 diabetes.
• Completing the required medical, nutritional and psychological evaluations, with no contraindications for surgery.
• Not having had bariatric surgery before, since revisional surgeries are not covered by this modality.

Meeting these general requirements does not automatically guarantee access to the Bono PAD. The indication must be confirmed through a medical evaluation and a review of your history.

The indication depends on an individual medical evaluation. Your BMI, associated conditions, health history, previous treatments and the possible benefits and risks of surgery are considered.

As a reference, the criteria considered include:

• A BMI of 40 or higher.
• A BMI between 30 and under 35, in patients with obesity-related conditions and hard-to-manage metabolic changes.

The evaluation determines whether surgery is a suitable alternative for you and which one could offer you the greatest benefit.

Both surgeries help treat obesity and can improve metabolic conditions, but they work differently.

A sleeve gastrectomy makes the stomach smaller, limiting how much food you can eat.

A gastric bypass makes the stomach smaller and changes the path food takes through the digestive system, so it combines restrictive and metabolic mechanisms.

The choice depends on your history, your health needs and the medical evaluation. There is no ideal surgery for everyone.

There is no single prior weight requirement that applies to everyone. In some cases, we may recommend changes in eating or other measures before surgery to improve the safety of the procedure.

In addition, some clinics set specific BMI criteria for their surgical programs. That is why it is important to review your case and the requirements of the corresponding care modality.

As part of the pre-operative evaluation, we usually request:

• Blood tests.
• Electrocardiogram.
• Upper digestive endoscopy.
• Abdominal ultrasound.
• Nutritional evaluation.
• Psychological evaluation.

Depending on your history and results, we may also request evaluations by other specialists, such as cardiology, pulmonology or psychiatry.

The goal is to know your health status, identify possible risks and prepare the surgery as safely as possible.

It can vary depending on the tests you need, the evaluations required, your health conditions and the type of funding.

Surgery is scheduled once the evaluations and requirements are complete and the medical team considers you ready for the procedure.

Throughout this process we will guide you on the steps to follow.

In bariatric surgery, the hospital stay usually means one night, as long as recovery goes well and the medical criteria for discharge are met.

For cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), the operation may be outpatient or require one night in hospital, depending on the case.

Before surgery, you will receive the corresponding instructions and we will explain what conditions you need to meet to go home safely.

Yes. As part of preparation, we may recommend a liquid diet during the days before surgery. In some cases it lasts at least three days, but its length and details depend on each patient.

It is important to follow the instructions from your dietitian and not make changes or restrictions on your own.

Recovery is gradual. Walking and gentle movement are usually recommended from the first days, following the medical team’s instructions.

Strength exercise can usually resume from the third or fourth week, as long as your recovery goes well and you have your treating team’s approval. The right time can vary depending on the type of surgery and your recovery.

Follow-up is a fundamental part of treatment. It includes check-ups with the surgeon, nutritional evaluation and psychological support, according to your needs.

As a reference, surgical check-ups are held at six months and at one year, along with tests to assess your health and detect possible nutritional deficiencies.

It is important to keep the recommended check-ups over the long term, even if you feel well, because they let us follow your progress and look after your health.

Results vary depending on the type of surgery, your history and your individual response to treatment.

As a reference, excess weight loss can fall within these ranges:

• Gastric bypass: roughly 60 % to 80 % of the excess weight.
• Sleeve gastrectomy: roughly 50 % to 70 % of the excess weight.

These percentages are indicative and are not a guarantee of individual results. To support healthy, lasting progress, it is essential to follow the medical team’s instructions, eat well and stay physically active, including strength exercise once authorized.

Yes. Over time, partial weight regain can happen, because surgery alone does not remove all the factors that influence obesity.

Regular check-ups help identify changes, review habits and assess whether you need extra nutritional, medical or psychological support.

Surgery is a tool for treating obesity, and keeping the recommended habits and professional follow-up is essential to look after your health in the long term.

Yes. Fertility can increase after bariatric surgery, so it is important to plan a pregnancy.

In general, it is recommended to wait 12 to 18 months after surgery, or until your weight and nutritional status have stabilized, according to the medical evaluation.

If you are thinking about getting pregnant, talk it over with your treating team to get guidance and plan this stage safely.

Yes, some hair loss is possible during the first months after bariatric surgery. It is usually related to fast weight loss and the changes your body goes through at this stage.

In most cases it is temporary and the hair recovers gradually. To help recovery, it is important to eat well, get enough protein and follow the supplements and check-ups indicated by your medical team.

Yes. Vitamin and mineral supplements are needed in the long term and, in many cases, for life. This is because surgery can change how much food you eat and how some nutrients are absorbed.

Supplements may include multivitamins, vitamin B12, iron, calcium and vitamin D, among others. The type, dose and frequency depend on the surgery performed, your needs and your test results.