Understanding Weight Loss Cost
Disclaimer: The following weight loss surgery cost breakdown is a generalization only. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Moeinolmolki to receive a more accurate quote for a specific bariatric procedure.
The cost of weight loss surgery is a topic that gets brought up during every weight loss surgery consultation. That’s understandable, as most people don’t want to commit to bariatric surgery until they know they can afford it. That being said, you should never let a thing like the cost of surgery keep you from enriching your life with improved health.
Weight loss surgeries range in cost between $6,000 and $25,000 or more. But that’s not the whole story. Instead of seeing the cost as a single figure, it helps to break the costs down into their counterparts. Then, it helps to change your perspective. Do that, and you’ll soon see that weight loss surgery costs are not that high. It is well worth it.
Here is a breakdown of the fees associated with weight loss surgery, starting with the cost of today’s most popular bariatric procedures.
The first factor determining the cost of bariatric surgery is the type of procedure performed. The most popular weight loss procedures in use today include:
Medically speaking, this surgery – which is considered the gold standard of bariatric procedures – is referred to as Roux-Gen-Y gastric bypass surgery. During the procedure, your stomach is smaller before your digestive system is slightly rerouted. The result is rapid weight loss, more energy, and a renewed zest for life. On average, gastric bypass surgery patients lose 70% of their excess weight for a total cost of $23,000.
The Sleeve Gastrectomy or Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) involves cutting away 75% of your stomach. The resulting tissue is formed into a sleeve-like pouch that restricts your eating. The alteration of your stomach also affects the hunger and satiety hormones. This makes you feel less deprived as the weight melts away. In the long term, weight loss surgery patients who opt for the gastric sleeve lose 50% or more of their excess weight. The gastric sleeve comes with an average price tag of $15,400.
Laparoscopic Gastric Banding or lap band is a surgery that uses an adjustable band to shrink your stomach’s capacity for food. Patients lose 25% or more of their excess weight for a total cost ranging from $9,000 to $18,000.
The intragastric balloon is an inflatable device implanted into your stomach using a thin tube inserted into your esophagus. The device is inflated using laparoscopic tools to take up room in your stomach. You will eat less as a result, leading to rapid weight loss. Patients average around 10% weight loss, while other reports indicate weight loss between 15% and 20%. You can expect to spend between $6,000 and $9,000 for a round of gastric balloon treatment for around six months.
Now you know the total cost of the most popular bariatric procedures. It helps to understand how those costs are broken down.
We’ve already discussed the various types of surgery. Your doctor will recommend a surgery type based on your BMI and health goals.
Your bariatric surgeon has undergone extensive medical training and honed their surgical techniques over many years of caring for patients like you. The surgeon will charge a fee that will be added to the total cost of surgery based on the professional’s expertise, your location, and the complexity of the procedure.
If the surgeon conducts your surgery at a hospital, your total costs may include the operating room fees, a short hospital stay, and associated fees. Or your doctor may have an accredited surgical center, which will include a separate set of fees, including any follow-up aftercare.
Your surgeon is one of several people who will be present during your surgery. For this reason, you may see added charges for professionals, such as a surgical assistant, anesthesiologist, and one or more nurses.
Your procedure may involve high-tech equipment, such as a laparoscopic camera and other minimally invasive tools, which can add a bit to the final bill.
When you are preparing for a bariatric procedure, the day of surgery can seem like such a final event. Rarely do patients look beyond surgery to any degree before the procedure. However, you should know that you will be receiving follow-up care. This care is necessary for helping you achieve your health goals. It can include nutritional counseling, psychological support, and follow-up appointments with your bariatric surgeon. Each of these elements carries its own set of fees.
By now, doctors’ methods to determine their fees should become more apparent. If you feel that the fees for bariatrics are too expensive, it may help to alter your perspective. For instance, consider this: You will potentially spend more on medical expenses for obesity-related health problems than on a single bariatric surgery.
Here’s the proof: According to a report by U.S. News, healthcare costs for obese individuals are $1,900 higher than those paid by their normal-weight peers—the severely obese pay an additional $3,100 per person based on Americans with a normal BMI.
The body mass index or BMI scale considers someone with a 25 BMI to be of normal weight. BMIs of 40 and above are considered morbidly obese or severely obese. If you fall within these categories, you may face rising medical costs to tens of thousands of dollars over the next five to ten years. You could’ve already paid off a weight loss procedure and enjoyed a slimmer, healthier body in that period.
The fact is that weight loss surgery costs as much as a vehicle, and people sign finance agreements for those all the time. Weight loss surgery should be seen as no different. Instead of stepping into a new car, truck, or SUV, you get to choose a new body with more energy and life enjoyment than before.
A vehicle will depreciate, but weight loss surgery progresses over time, allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your decision for years.
Once you put weight loss surgery costs into better perspective, you’ll see that the price isn’t that high.
But what if you don’t have the money for weight loss surgery?
Few people can immediately hand over $5,000, $10,000, or as much as $29,000 for weight loss surgery. This is why it helps to understand all of your options as far as payment is concerned.
Health insurance providers are increasingly adding weight loss surgery coverage to their policies. Ask your insurance provider for your coverage options. You may find that you need a letter of necessity from your doctor stating that bariatric surgery is needed for health reasons. Health insurers often want proof that you have tried to lose weight through conventional means. They do it before giving the green light for coverage. You may need to show receipts for gym classes, nutrition programs, and possibly proof of a psychological examination.
Even with insurance coverage, you may face a hefty out-of-pocket expense. This is where medical financing can help you foot the rest of the bill. CareCredit and Prosper Healthcare Lending are just two examples of organizations that can give you fast approvals and significant loan amounts to pay for your bariatric procedure.
Asking friends, family, and internet strangers to help cover the costs of your weight loss surgery may initially feel awkward. But it would be best to remember that you’re not doing this for vanity’s sake. Bariatric surgery is more than slimming your body down and looking your best. It’s about taking back control of your health. It’s about regaining mobility and reinvigorating your love of life. Put your crowdfunding description in those terms, and you’ll find a few sympathetic folks willing to donate their share.
You can take out a personal loan from your bank or credit union to pay for weight loss surgery. You can rally your friends and family to see if anyone will pitch in. When you consider that weight loss surgery is the best treatment available for obesity and is a viable treatment for weight-related ailments like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and respiratory problems, it helps to examine every payment option for your health and longevity.
Now you know how they determine the costs of weight loss surgery. Then, you might want to know how to take a more proactive step. To be considered for weight loss surgery, you must be examined by a bariatric surgeon. For those in the Los Angeles, Encino, and Glendale areas, Healthy Life Bariatrics is the center to call if you wish to meet with Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki.
Dr. Moeinolmolki is the only bariatric surgeon in Los Angeles, CA, California, with fellowships in both minimally invasive bariatric surgery and cosmetic body contouring surgery. That means Dr. Moein can perform weight loss surgery and post-surgical body contouring after the weight comes off. With the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and body lift procedures among his menu of services, you now have a single destination for all your health and body shape goals.
Call now to schedule a consultation with Dr. Moeinolmolki at Healthy Life Bariatrics (310) 861-4093.
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