What Weight Loss Surgery Ideas Are Best For You?

For some, weight loss or management is more complicated than simply cutting back on carbs or ramping up a workout routine. When weight loss becomes necessary to improve the standard of quality of life, or to improve one’s health, it is sometimes necessary to seek out professional weight loss surgery ideas. There have been great strides made in these areas, and not every option is right for everyone, so it is necessary to do some research to learn how each option works and what costs are involved. You should also talk with your doctor about what procedures would be right for you. He or she will be able to recommend the right specialists for your particular needs.

Gastric Sleeve

One prominent option in the list of bariatric surgery options is the gastric sleeve. This is actually a laproscopic procedure, so the incision is quite small. A gastric sleeve is a procedure by which doctors remove 85% of the stomach so that what is left is, effectively, a tube or a sleeve. This will cause a sharp reduction in the amount of food you can eat in one sitting and cut down on your appetite or desire to overeat. While there are no strict rules for who is eligible for this surgical option, it is generally a surgical procedure that is reserved for those patients who are at least 100 pounds overweight.

This procedure generally costs about $10,000. This cost includes such services as anesthesia, cost for using the hospital’s facilities, the surgeon, lab tests, and follow-up appointments. Many insurance policies will cover the surgery if it is a health related option, as opposed to a cosmetic one.

Duodenal Switch

Often performed after a gastric sleeve, the duodenal switch surgery effectively rearranges the small intestine, which, in turn, decreases the amount of nutrients, fat, and food substances absorbed into the body’s tissues through the intestinal wall. The procedure, performed by trained surgeons, involves separating the food flow from the flow of pancreatic juices and bile. This particular procedure does not restrict the amount of food that you eat; it changes the way your body processes it.

Depending on whether the duodenal switch follows a gastric sleeve or stands alone, this surgery can cost from $20,000 to $30,000. Like the gastric sleeve, it may be covered by your health insurance if it has been deemed necessary for the purpose of improving your health or preventing a life threatening illness or condition. There are many weight loss centers that are run by physicians and specialists that perform these procedures almost exclusively.

Lap Band

The Lap Band is actually a particular brand of gastric bands. This procedure entails the insertion of a silicone band around the upper portion of the stomach, leaving your available stomach about the size of a golf ball. Because this is procedure does not entail removing any part of your stomach or intestines, it is completely reversible and is less invasive than other options. Physicians and trained bariatric medicine associates will consider the Lap Band for those patients with a body mass index of 40 or above, and for whom other weight loss efforts have proven unsuccessful.

The cost of the Lap Band can range from $17,000 to $30,000, and is covered by more and more insurance carriers. This cost includes the cost of anesthesia, the hospital fees, the surgeon’s fee, and follow-up visits. Of course, these costs vary according to geographical region and individual circumstances.

Stomach Stapling

Stomach stapling is another name for vertical banded gastroplasty. Staples are used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach, and a small opening is then made through which food can pass from the upper part of the stomach to the lower part. The opening is very small, reducing the amount of food that you are able to take in. This procedure is generally followed by a duodenal switch or gastric bypass to decrease the amount of food substance that can be absorbed into the body as well.

This is a highly invasive procedure that will require avid follow-up, and the cost of this procedure will range from $20,000 to $55,000. This cost includes the cost of the hospital facilities, anesthesia, lab and x-ray fees, the cost of the surgeons and medical staff, and recovery maintenance. This cost does not include the cost of additional bypass surgery, which may be recommended by your doctor. Some insurance carriers will cover part of the cost of the procedure, depending on a number of variables.

Is It Worth It?

If you are more than 100 pounds overweight and/or have a body mass index of over 40, the cost of weight loss surgery may be less than other overall cost of being obese; it can also save your life. Your doctor will be able to give you sound advice about which options are best for you.