People with excess weight find it difficult to control their food intake. In such cases, bariatric surgery comes to the rescue. One of the most popular procedures is gastric bypass surgery, which is considered the gold standard in obesity treatment. During the surgery, a large portion of the stomach is isolated (but not removed), and the small intestine is reconstructed. As a result, the isolated parts of the gastrointestinal tract no longer participate in the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Thanks to gastric bypass surgery, much fewer nutrients enter the bloodstream, contributing to gradual weight loss and long-term maintenance of results. In the first three months after surgery, a patient loses 30% of excess weight, and in a year – 70-80%. Along with the excess weight, other issues will disappear: vital indicators (blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels) will normalize, joint and spine stress will reduce, and the risk of cardiovascular and oncological diseases will decrease. Emotional and psychological well-being will also improve. Additionally, many patients after gastric bypass surgery manage to cure other conditions such as diabetes, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and sleep apnea.
Find out if you need surgery
The main indication for gastric bypass surgery is morbid obesity (grade III obesity), where the body mass index (BMI) exceeds 40 kg/m². The doctor may also recommend the surgery for grade II obesity (BMI >35 kg/m²) if it is complicated by associated diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and others.
You can calculate your BMI and find out if you are a candidate for gastric bypass surgery using the calculator.
Determine your BMI and find out if gastric bypass surgery is right for you
What affects the cost of gastric bypass surgery?
The cost of gastric bypass surgery includes:
- Consultation with a surgeon.
- Preparatory examinations.
- The surgery itself.
- Post-operative medical care.
- Additional treatment (if necessary).
The average cost of gastric bypass surgery is $6493. The minimum cost is $1986, and the maximum is $27,586.
Consultation with a Surgeon
The cost of the surgeon's appointment includes a visual examination, medical history collection, diagnostics and lab tests prescription, and a consultation based on examination results.
Preparatory Examinations
Before surgery, you need to undergo diagnostic examinations:
- General and biochemical blood tests;
- Blood test for blood group and Rh factor;
- Blood coagulation test (coagulogram);
- Blood test for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C;
- Electrocardiogram (ECG);
- Fibrogastroscopy (FGS);
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.
It is important to find out beforehand whether the cost of diagnostics is included in the overall price of the surgery or if each procedure must be paid separately.
If there are chronic diseases, additional tests may be required:
- Hormonal blood test;
- Hemoglobin blood test;
- Urine test;
- Fluorography;
- Echo-cardiography (ECHO-KG);
- Video esophagogastroduodenoscopy (VEGDS);
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EFGDS);
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
- Ultrasound of the chest;
- Ultrasound of the gallbladder;
- Ultrasound of the lower extremity veins.
If necessary, the surgeon may refer the patient to other specialists (gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, dermatologist, allergist, infectious disease specialist, psychologist), which will require additional costs.
Surgical Intervention
The cost of the surgery depends on the type and technique of the procedure. Surgery can be performed in two ways: laparoscopic (through small incisions) and laparotomy (open surgery). The cost of laparoscopic surgery is higher than that of open surgery. The costs will significantly increase if a robotic surgeon is used. However, robotic surgery ensures precision and eliminates human errors. As a result, complications and the need for repeat treatments can be avoided, which ultimately saves money.
In addition to the surgery itself, the cost of gastric bypass surgery includes the price of anesthesia and the medications used for it, as well as the cost of consumables. It is also important to note that the cost of the procedure can vary widely depending on the surgeon’s reputation, and the clinic’s level and image.
Post-operative Care
The cost of post-operative care includes several parameters:
- Number of bed days;
- Room class (VIP, standard, economy);
- Medications.
Additional Treatment
In cases of obesity, additional combined surgical procedures may be necessary to correct body contours. Gastric bypass surgery is often combined with abdominoplasty, liposuction of the abdomen and thighs, or lipodermectomy. In this case, the overall cost of bariatric surgery will increase due to the additional procedure. However, combining surgeries can result in significant savings compared to performing two separate surgeries (no need for repeat anesthesia) and minimizing the risk of complications.
Main Post-operative Complications
Sometimes, complications develop after surgery (most common causes include medical errors and non-compliance with post-operative recommendations):
- Infections;
- Internal bleeding;
- Bowel obstruction;
- Hernias;
- Gallstones;
- Stomach ulcers.
If serious health problems occur, medication treatment or additional surgery (possibly multiple) may be necessary, along with repeat pre-operative examinations, which could significantly impact your family budget.
To speed up recovery, minimize the risk of post-operative complications, and preserve health while avoiding unnecessary financial expenses, it is important to strictly follow the medical recommendations.
How to Choose a Clinic and a Surgeon?
Bariatric surgeries are among the most expensive as they require high-tech equipment, modern medical instruments, and many expensive imported consumables. Therefore, you should avoid clinics that offer low prices for gastric bypass surgery. The surgery is likely to be performed by a beginner surgeon, using outdated equipment and low-quality consumables. In this case, there is a high risk of post-operative complications, which will require additional surgery and new financial expenses. Such "savings" will cost you dearly and negatively impact your overall health. However, an excessively high price does not guarantee quality, so you should not automatically choose such a clinic.
Therefore, when choosing a clinic and surgeon, it is important to be very thorough and careful. The price of gastric bypass surgery should not be the deciding factor. First, pay attention to the clinic's foundation year, its equipment, the qualifications of the surgeons, and whether the clinic has a license and the surgeons hold certificates. It is also helpful to read reviews published on specialized websites and social media. It is advisable to choose a clinic that specializes specifically in bariatric surgery. In this case, the risk of complications and side effects is minimal. If an unforeseen situation arises, the surgeon will have the necessary resources to address the issue.
Whenever possible, choose a surgeon who has performed over 500 bariatric surgeries. Ideally, the surgeon should specialize in gastric bypass surgery. This will ensure the surgery is as successful as possible.
Suffering from excess weight and unable to manage the problem on your own? Fill out the online form on the website. Our administrator will contact you, answer all your questions, clarify the cost of the surgery, and schedule the best time for a consultation with a bariatric surgeon.
