纖體天成體重管理與代謝手術中心Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Center
纖體天成體重管理與代謝手術中心Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Center
Over the past few years, we have cared for patients from the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. From the first online consultation, through surgery in Taiwan, to long-term follow-up back home, every step follows an established process.
Twenty years of metabolic surgery experience and more than 4,000 operations. For international patients, the first consultation, telemedicine consultation, pre-operative interview, surgery, and follow-up visits are all handled by Dr. Ser himself, no referrals, no handoffs.
Dr. Ser consults in both English and Chinese, so every conversation (online or in the consultation room) can happen in the language you are most comfortable with. The center also assigns you a bilingual care coordinator, and from your very first message, the same coordinator stays with you through the entire journey, online consultation, trip planning, arrival, hospital stay, discharge, and follow-up after you return home.
We care for international patients according to internationally recognized protocols: multidisciplinary pre-operative evaluation, insurance documentation support, English medical records, and long-term remote follow-up. None of this is a "special" service, it is the baseline for a properly run international metabolic surgery center.
Ten Chan Hospital is a certified member institution of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Medical Service Internationalization Program, formally qualified under Taiwanese regulations to serve international patients, assist with medical visa applications, issue English medical documents, and work directly with international insurers.
Overseas surgery is not just an operation, it is a journey that deserves company at every step.
Here are the three stages we have built for international patients, with the same care coordinator beside you throughout.
Before you decide to come to Taiwan
Your time here, arranged
Going home is not the end
Unlike local patients, you cannot simply drop by the center when something comes up. Even so, we sincerely recommend returning to Taiwan in person at the 3-month and 1-year marks if you can: Dr. Ser will run a full check-up, walk you through your body composition changes, and talk things over face to face. Some parts of post-operative care simply work better in person than over video.
The rest of the time, have basic blood work done locally and send us the results, and stay in touch with Dr. Ser and your coordinator over WhatsApp, a short weekly message with your weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar is all it takes. As long as you want to stay connected, your coordinator is there.
In 2022, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) jointly issued new surgical criteria, replacing the 1991 NIH standards that had stood for three decades. The updated guidelines set BMI thresholds for Asian populations that better reflect real-world metabolic risk.
Metabolic surgery is recommended for consideration, whether or not metabolic disease is present.
For people with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or other metabolic conditions, surgery may also be considered.
With careful multidisciplinary evaluation, surgery can also be performed in adolescents who meet the criteria.
The complete pre-surgical work-up required of a metabolic surgery center that follows ASMBS/IFSO standards
In properly run international healthcare, paperwork and process are half the work.
Everything starts during your pre-trip telemedicine consultation, we do not leave the documents until after you have landed.
An English letter of medical necessity, issued by Dr. Ser after your full evaluation, covering the clinical diagnosis, recommended procedure, surgical rationale, and expected benefits. This is the core document for your insurer's pre-authorization review. Provided as required for your country and insurer.
We prepare the documents your insurer needs for review: medical summary, test reports, BMI records, comorbidity diagnoses, and an itemized cost estimate. We recommend starting at least 2 months before your planned trip. Provided as required for your country and insurer.
Visitors from Malaysia and Singapore enter Taiwan visa-free for 30 days, and Hong Kong residents apply online for an entry permit, more than enough for a single surgical trip. If you need a longer stay, hold a PRC passport, or your nationality requires a visa, the center assists with the medical visa application, including the treatment plan and itinerary documents. Provided as required for your country.
Before discharge you receive a complete set of English documents: discharge summary, diagnosis certificate, and itemized receipts, ready to submit to your insurer when you get home. If your insurer requests additional information, Dr. Ser will respond directly.
If your insurer issues a Letter of Guarantee and settles directly with the hospital, we coordinate the arrangement so you do not need to pay the full amount up front. Without a guarantee, you can be admitted on a deposit basis and claim reimbursement with your documents after discharge.
After your telemedicine consultation, the center issues a complete written cost estimate. You transfer the estimated amount before admission, and the final bill is settled against actual usage at discharge, any difference is refunded or collected. We accept international wire transfer, credit cards, and UnionPay.
Starting from your first telemedicine consultation, Dr. Ser and your coordinator will confirm each of the following with you.
Every cost, schedule, document, and medication is listed in a written quotation, no hidden items.
Based on your BMI, comorbidities, medical history, and lifestyle, Dr. Ser will recommend the most suitable procedure. Sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and SASI/SASJ bypass each have different indications and long-term profiles.
Days in the hospital, observation days after discharge, and your total expected stay. International patients usually stay 1–2 days longer than local patients, so you are stable before flying home.
A complete written quotation covering the surgical fee, anesthesia, hospital stay, all pre-operative testing, and video follow-up visits within the first year, every item listed. What you cover yourself (flights, accommodation, meals) is spelled out just as clearly.
If you hold international health insurance, we help you prepare the letter of medical necessity and apply for pre-authorization. The whole process typically takes 1–2 months, and we help you keep it on schedule.
Airport transfers, partner hotel recommendations, arrangements for accompanying family, and activity planning before and after surgery. Your coordinator confirms each detail around your flights and your condition.
The follow-up schedule for the first year, which basic blood tests to have done locally, how often to check in over WhatsApp, and what to do in an emergency, so before you leave Taiwan, you already know the rhythm of the year ahead.
After the telemedicine consultation, your coordinator will send a complete written quotation and itinerary proposal within one week. Everything is laid out in that one document, no items quietly added later.
No. Dr. Ser consults in both English and Chinese, so your telemedicine consultation and clinic visits can be conducted entirely in either language. A bilingual care coordinator stays with you throughout, from your first message onward, you will always be talking to the same person.
Possibly. Under the 2022 ASMBS/IFSO guidelines for Asian populations, metabolic surgery is recommended for consideration at BMI ≥ 27.5, and may be considered at BMI ≥ 25 for people with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or other metabolic conditions.
Whether surgery is right for you can only be determined after Dr. Ser's full evaluation. For your telemedicine consultation, have ready any recent health check reports, a list of your current medications, and your height and weight.
It depends on the procedure. International patients usually stay 1–2 days longer than local patients: someone local can come straight back to the hospital if anything comes up after discharge, but once you have flown home that is much harder, so to be safe, we keep you here a little longer and make sure you are stable before you go.
Sleeve gastrectomy typically means 5–7 days in Taiwan (3–4 days in the hospital plus 2–3 days of observation). Gastric bypass or SASI/SASJ bypass typically means 7–10 days (5–6 in the hospital plus 2–4 of observation). Your telemedicine consultation will give you a personal estimate.
We will ask you to send your height and weight, recent health check reports (if any), a list of chronic medications, and records of past surgeries. On the call, Dr. Ser personally evaluates your situation and recommends a suitable procedure.
If you decide to go ahead after the assessment, your coordinator starts everything from there: insurance pre-authorization, travel planning, and accommodation.
Yes. We provide complete insurance documentation support for international patients, including:
• A letter of medical necessity in English, signed by Dr. Ser
• Medical summary, test reports, and diagnosis codes
• An itemized cost estimate
• If your insurer requests a physician response or additional documents, Dr. Ser will handle it
Insurer review times range from 15 days to several months, so we recommend contacting us at least 2 months before your planned trip to leave enough time for approval.
If your nationality qualifies for Taiwan's visa-free or visa-on-arrival programs, that is more than enough for a single surgical trip, no medical visa needed. For reference, visitors from Malaysia and Singapore enter visa-free for 30 days, and Hong Kong residents apply online for an entry permit.
You will need a medical visa (which the center can help arrange) if:
• Your planned stay exceeds your visa-free allowance
• You hold a People's Republic of China passport (required)
• Your country is not covered by Taiwan's visa-free programs
• You plan multiple trips to Taiwan for treatment within a short period
We recommend returning to Taiwan in person at the 3-month and 1-year marks if you can: Dr. Ser will run a full check-up, a body composition analysis, and face-to-face education. Some parts of post-operative care simply work better in person than over video.
The rest of the time, have basic blood work done locally and send us the results, and stay in touch with Dr. Ser and your coordinator over WhatsApp, a short weekly message with your weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar is all it takes.
As long as you want to stay connected, your coordinator is there. If anything looks off, the center will help directly or point you to the right local care.
Absolutely, we encourage it. Single rooms at Ten Chan Hospital accommodate one accompanying family member, and if more of your family is traveling, we are happy to recommend nearby accommodation. Having family around genuinely helps recovery, and we encourage international patients to travel with at least one companion.
You can message the center on WhatsApp at any time. In an emergency, seek care locally first, then let us know over WhatsApp. Dr. Ser can advise on local care and, where helpful, speak directly with the physician taking over and provide an English medical summary.
Mr. Zhu's story · From Malaysia
A patient from Malaysia who crossed the sea for surgery in Taiwan and documented the whole experience, from the decision to come, through the telemedicine consultation and surgery, to long-term follow-up back home.
No forms to fill out first. No need to have decided on surgery.
Your questions, considerations, and worries, just send them our way.
Your coordinator replies during business hours, in English or Chinese.
Messages are answered as soon as possible, Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:00 Taiwan time (GMT+8).
Messages sent outside business hours are answered the next business day.
If you would like a telemedicine consultation, mention it in your message and we will arrange a time.
● Regular session · Appt By appointment only
Dr. Ser may occasionally be unavailable due to conferences. Please call to confirm before your visit.
Closed on national holidays.
Ten Chan Hospital · General Building, 3F
No. 155 Yanping Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan