Weight Loss Surgery Cost Guide: Average Cost, Insurance Provider Coverage

The urgency of the situation can be understood from the fact that there are more obese adults in the US than overweight adults. Thus, to cover all the avenues, we present to you a Weight Loss Surgery Cost Guide, which will provide all the in-depth details of undergoing a weight loss surgery abroad. Extreme obesity, also known as morbid obesity, puts an individual at an increased risk of a number of health conditions. This includes hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), and other fatal events such as stroke and heart attack. Incorporating permanent changes in the overall lifestyle becomes the need of the hour in such cases. Diet management, physical exercise, and healthy lifestyle changes are needed to shed weight. However, this approach rarely tends to work for people who are morbidly obese.

For people who are extremely obese, weight loss surgery is a convenient and promising option to shed extra weight. However, it is not just a surgery. The patient is required to make a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle. In the absence of such commitment, it is hard to witness the desired results. The failure to adapt to the changed lifestyle has a direct impact on the total cost that the patient may have to incur later. This includes the out-of-pocket expenses that the patients pay to manage obesity-related comorbidities. In this weight loss surgery cost guide, we have compiled the costs of the three most common bariatric procedures: sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and gastric banding. Additionally, it examines some of the factors that control the overall costs, the out-of-pocket expenses, and the ways to make bariatric surgery more economical. Lastly, we list some of the best and globally renowned hospitals in the most popular medical tourism destinations that conduct weight loss surgery.

Types of Weight Loss Surgeries: Know The Difference

There are three major types of weight loss surgery that obese individuals can choose from. However, the eligibility criteria for each of these types of surgeries differ. For example, people with body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 are a suitable candidate for sleeve gastrectomy procedure and not gastric banding. The following table highlights the basic differences in the three most popular weight loss procedures – sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, and gastric bypass.

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Cost of Bariatric Surgery Around the World

Even though the ultimate objective of each type of weight loss surgery is the same, the approach to achieve the desired results is different. Because of the difference in approach, the cost of bariatric surgery is different. Additionally, each type of weight loss surgery requires different expertise, levels of skills, and investment with respect to time. All these reasons also contribute to the cost of each surgery. The following table highlights the difference in the cost of the three most common bariatric surgeries across some of the major countries in the world.

It can be seen that the cost of a particular type of weight loss surgery varies from one country to the other. Sleeve gastrectomy cost in India is just $5000 but the same procedure can cost as high as $20000 in the US. The cost of a particular medical procedure depends on quite a bit on the laws that govern the healthcare facilities.

Factors That Control The Cost of Bariatric Surgery

The following are some of the factors that control the cost of bariatric surgery in a particular country:

• The fees of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and the supporting staff
• Anesthesia fees
• Cost of consumables and other medications
• Room charges, operation theater (OT charges), and intensive care unit (ICU) charges
• Pre-surgery lab tests and X-ray charges
• Quality of gastric band used (if applicable)
• The choice of country and hospital

Costs Additional To Bariatric Surgery Package

Some other costs are not included in the initial fee for the weight loss procedure. These may include expenses associated with:

• Vitamins and minerals: Patients may require vitamins and minerals daily after surgery. This is especially true in the case of gastric sleeve and gastric bypass because it may lead to malabsorption of nutrients. As a result, the individual may face severe nutritional deficiency. Daly vitamin and mineral supplements help prevent this deficiency.
• Exercise and diet counselling: Exercising and diet management are essential after weight loss surgery. Only an individual who maintains good dietary habits and exercises regularly can achieve the desired weight loss results after surgery. Bariatric surgery is not a miracle that produces results overnight. It takes a lot of effort to achieve the desired body type and body weight.
• Second surgery in the case of "staged surgery ": Sometimes the weight loss procedure is staged, meaning it is conducted in multiple stages. Secondary bariatric surgery procedures may cost extra.
• Body contouring and cosmetic procedures: Massive weight loss following a bariatric procedure may result in loose folds of skin. Such individuals may require or desire to undergo a cosmetic procedure to lift the sagging body areas. Such procedures may include tummy tuck, breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation. The greater the expectations of the procedure, the longer the time required and the cost of the procedure.
• Follow-up cost: The candidate must visit the doctor for follow-up after the surgery. Such appointments with the doctor cost extra.

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Is Weight Loss Surgery Covered By Insurance?

There was a time when bariatric surgery was not that popular and was never covered by insurance. However, today, insurance companies are starting to cover weight loss surgery more than ever. Typically, insurance policies do not cover experimental procedures, such as duodenal switches and mini gastric bypasses. However, a majority of major insurance companies have now started to cover laparoscopic gastric bands, laparoscopic gastric bypass, and gastric sleeves. However, that does not mean that your insurance policy includes coverage for bariatric surgery. The coverage rules depend on the type and age of your policy. It does not rely on the insurance company. You must check this with your insurance carrier directly by letting them know your member identification number or policy number. If your policy states that weight loss surgery is included, insurance is typically the best way to go, as compared to cash payment.

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FAQ

Q. Which Type Of Weight Loss Surgery Is Right For Me?

A. Many factors will determine which type of surgery is best for you, including how much weight you need to lose and any illnesses you might have. Your doctor will conduct a detailed assessment and discuss the best option with you, including the associated risks.

Q. What Can Go Wrong?

A. Every operation has risks. You might pick up an infection, lose a lot of blood, or react to the anaesthetic. There are specific risks associated with different types of bariatric surgery. For example, lap band surgery is safer than gastric bypass. Ask your GP and surgeon what risks you face.

Q. What Can I Expect After Weight Loss Surgery?

A. You will need to make significant lifestyle changes after bariatric surgery to lose weight and keep it off. For example, you will need to follow dietary guidelines, and you'll likely take vitamins or other supplements for the rest of your life. Your weight loss program will also involve increased physical activity. After the surgery, you'll start with liquid foods. Over the next few weeks, you'll change to pureed food, then solid food. Your meals will be much smaller, and you may have to stop drinking with meals due to your small stomach. In some cases, people will initially lose weight, but then their body becomes used to the changes made during the surgery, and they can regain some of the weight.