Friday, February 22, 2008

What Is The Cost Of Lap Band Surgery?

Lap band surgery is something that is giving many people a new lease on life. This procedure is allowing many people that suffer from obesity the ability to return to a healthy weight. However, many people want to know the price before they begin researching this weight loss option as a solution for their obesity problem.

While it is becoming increasingly more common for insurance companies to foot the bill for the surgery, there are many people who still do not have insurance, eliminating this as an option for them. Recently, Medicare has made the decision to pay for the gastric banding procedure. Many health care providers have come to the conclusion that the cost of this surgery is less than the cost many years of obesity related medical issues.

As time has passed, the price of the adjustable lap band has decreased. When it first started being performed in this country (it was approved by the FDA in 2001), it was priced at about $15,000. Gastric banding was available in Mexico for about $10,000 at that time. The idea of having this surgery performed in Mexico may bring on apprehension, but it has been performed in Mexico for many years and these doctors have performed hundreds of these minor operations.

With that being said, there are new bariatric surgery clinics opening regularly in this country making the price more competitive. In the past few years, the cost of lap band surgery is running between $10,000 and $15,000. But in just the past month, I have seen clinics offering this operation for less than $10,000. Now this may still seem like a lot of money, but many of the bariatric clinics now offer financing.

If you are obese and feel this procedure would be a good weight loss option for you, the cost of is not the obstacle it used to be. Talking to your physician is a good place to start if you considering weight loss surgery. This procedure can restore your health, but there is a lot to consider before having this minor operation.

This procedure is the least invasive of all the types of gastric bypass surgery, requiring only an overnight hospital stay. In most cases you will be back on your feet and back to work within a week. The cost has made this procedure much more attractive to many people looking to lose more than 100 pounds.

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