Cost of Gastric Bypass Surgery
One of the first questions that many people ask when they are considering
weight loss surgery is "how much does a gastric bypass cost?" While this is a
wholly understandable question, unfortunately it is not a simple question to
answer.
Gastric bypass surgery is a full surgical procedure requiring the services of
a surgical team including a qualified bariatric surgeon, an anesthetist, a
psychologist and other specialists, as well as hospitalization for at least 2 to
3 days followed by a 2 to 6 week recovery period.
Gastric bypass surgery also comes in a variety of different forms today and
while the long-established Roux-en-Y procedure is still widely practiced, many
other forms of surgery, in particular laparoscopic stomach surgery, are gaining
in popularity.
Also, like many other forms of surgery, gastric bypass surgery is not without
its risks and, while many patients will sail through the procedure, a
significant number will develop complications either in hospital or during the
recovery period which can push up the overall cost of gastric bypass surgery
considerably.
Against this background it can be seen that the cost is going to be
significant and is going to vary widely, but just how significant is it and what
sort of variation can be expected?
Well, at the bottom end of the scale, a minor procedure, such as gastric
banding, without complications can be expected to cost around $17,000. This
figure will increase to perhaps as much as $35,000 for full gastric bypass
surgery.
Should complications arise it is extremely difficult to say just what the
additional cost would be but it would not be unreasonable to think in terms of a
figure of $50,000.
Although gastric bypass surgery is an expensive procedure, the good news is
that, in many cases, a substantial part (if not all) of this cost can be met by
insurance. This will of course depend upon the type of insurance policy you hold
and the terms of that policy and will often involve something of an uphill
battle with your insurance company but, nonetheless, this is the first avenue
that you should explore.
More articles about gastric bypass surgery:
Gastric Bypass Complications Are Significant In The Post Operative Period - Gastric bypass complication rates are often quoted for the 30 days following surgery but it is interesting to see what happens when you look at the complications of gastric bypass surgery over the 6 months following surgery.
Losing Weight After Adjustable Gastric Band Surgery - The secret to losing weight following adjustable gastric band surgery lies in no small part in selecting the right surgical team.
The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Is An Increasingly Popular Choice - For many of the 27% of all Americans whose New Year's resolution is to lose weight the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedure will prove an attractive option.
Slimming Products - Israel - Market Report - New Market Report Published - Of...
29 Jul 2010 at 7:55am
Slimming Products - Israel - Market Report - New Market Report Published
OfficialWire (press release)
... in 2009 as it was found by the Israel Diabetes Association that there was a steep increase in the number of Israelis undergoing gastric bypass surgery. ...
and more »
Some health experts wary of gastric bands for teens - msnbc.com
26 Jul 2010 at 11:08am
msnbc.com
Some health experts wary of gastric bands for teens
msnbc.com
The procedure is considered less invasive and risky than gastric bypass. Banding could also be an especially attractive option for teens, say proponents, ...
and more »
'Excellence' centers no better for bariatric surgery - Reuters India
28 Jul 2010 at 2:21pm
'Excellence' centers no better for bariatric surgery
Reuters India
The researchers tracked more than 15000 obese people up to one month after they had surgery. The surgeries included gastric bypass, which reduces the ...
and more »
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