Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric Surgery
The Cost Of Getting Bariatric Surgery
The cost of Bariatric surgery can be quite high. The typical price of an operation can be $25,000 or more. Medical insurance coverage varies by state and insurance provider, and although some states have legislation in place that requires insurers to offer weight loss surgery for patients, providing it meets health criteria laid down by the National Institutes of Health, other states do not. This means that patients who would benefit from bariatric surgery often have to contend with providers that have not yet accepted that this kind of weight loss surgery can deliver powerful medical benefits that will save them money in the long run. A patient encountering this problem may have to work with his or her surgeon to prove to the health insurance provider that the proposed surgery is not a cosmetic procedure, but a potentially life-saving operation that will minimize future health problems.
Individuals who are interested in bariatric surgery and are on Medicare will be glad to know that it covers weight loss surgery for morbidly obese patients with an obesity-related or condition. Morbid obesity is defined as 100 or more pounds overweight or a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more.
Of course, the costs do not end once a patient successfully undergoes bariatric surgery. Because weight loss can be significant, many individuals are left with loose, sagging skin that no longer has the elasticity to fit the new, slimmer shape. Since neither exercise nor diet will help tighten loose skin, many bariatric patients choose plastic surgery as a remedy. The cost of bariatric-related plastic surgery operations can vary significantly, depending on the patient’s condition, complications, the type of anesthesia, and other factors. Some of the more popular post-bariatric surgery procedures include: abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), body lift (circumferential panniculectomy), brachioplasty (arm lift), breast lift, augmentation, or reduction, face and/or neck lift, and thigh lift.
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This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.
Bariatric Surgery Resources
Tags: bariatric obesity surgery, Bariatric Surgery, bariatric surgery complications, bariatric surgery doctors, Weight Loss
I had stomack banding in July 2002 and moved to Labelle, after retiring from teaching and started my own restaurant. I never had a followup (my doctor in Miami moved, leaving no sources to contact). I heard of a support group in Lee County and was given this e-mail: bariatriceating.com, but was not able to get any info other than a message window. I wrote for info and for someone to contact me. I never received a reply to my inquiry.
Can you help me?
Thanks,
Maida
I need advice. My daughter had laparoscopic bariatric surgery on Oct. 31, 2007. She is now over 2 years out and is very sick. She has had continuous problems since the first surgery. We have been to emergency rooms lots of times. She has had 13 endoscopies. She has had 3 feeding tubes, had her gallbladder removed, had Cdiff,and has been so sick she has not worked much during these 2 years. She now has severe pain on her left side which she has complained continuously about since the first surgery. Numerous CT scans have been done–the last one was on Oct. 31 of this year. Two doctors say the larger stomach is full of fluids. The surgeon said this week that he was going to put another feeding tube in–but he cancelled the surgery on Wednesday. He has said he is not doing anything else for her. Also, the first surgery took a long time. When I questioned the surgeon about the timeframe of the surgery, he told me there were complications. I asked what were the complications. He told me the intestines had been cut and needed repair. We are at wits end now because she is so sick. He then called her yesterday and told her according to the bllod work that was done for preops, there was something wrong with her liver along with the stomach. He seems to think the medicines they have been prescribing were causing a motility problem. He also knows she is in pain, but will not give any more pain medication. What can we do? I have contacted other doctors, but no one will take her. The preops were done, but the surgery was cancelled. This surgery has not worked for her–she could not be in the 95% that it works for. I am afraid her life is in danger.
I am curious where did she have her surgery and how much weight did she need to lose? Did she lose the weight she wanted even during these problems? Julie
Good Job on the articles you have here, thank you for putting your time into it!
I had this surgery in 2001 with no problems at all/ most of my family have also had it done with no problems. Iam in oklahoma and the dr was grosbe. I would take her there and let him fix the problem unless he did the surgery
my sister is two years out and is at 146 lbs but i know there are several different kinds of the surgery. I learned this when my best friend went to dallas and had hers. she almost died and they had to redue it here in tulsa
Donna, hire a lawyer that has medical background and he/she will get better answers for you.
can anyone tell me if i can get this surgery done, and get help getting it financed?and how long does it take before i could go back to work? one more question,please, how old do you have to be before they will operate on you?