Obesity has been a growing health issue in the country ever since, and as people experiencing this condition literally continue “growing” their weight, the number of obese individuals is also ballooning by the minute. This is the reason why health professionals continue to improve their services to provide optimal care to obese patients. Through successful weight loss surgery, patients can experience healthier living, free from medical health problems and complications. But how much should one spend to achieve a healthy weight?
Why is Obesity an Expensive Vice?
Morbid obesity (a BMI of 30 and higher) can have a significant impact on your health and on your healthcare expenses. As your weight continue to go beyond the scale, you begin to experience discomfort and complications in your health that would require proper medical care and attention. The most common health problems which come along with obesity are sleep apnea, breathing problems, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gout, gallstones, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancer. All these health risks require proper medical attention that could add on top of your other expenses.
Multiple studies have found that these ailments and other health problems cause morbidly obese patients to spend more on medical care (42 percent) and on drugs (77 percent) than healthy people. Additionally, instances of hospital admission or stay for obese is 48 percent higher. If you try to sum this up, individuals who are severely obese can spend up to $10, 000 on additional healthcare costs in a year. Expensive, isn’t it?
To make ends meet, many would try the traditional, least expensive way of losing weight, but with very low success. Proper diet and hardcore exercise can help, but for morbidly obese patients, these two are not always the best option if you are expecting faster and optimal results. Therefore, weight loss surgery is advised. Not only can it help you avoid experiencing
health risks but it can also save you from spending a huge sum of money on healthcare services and maintenance in the long run. However, in the short term, you might be spending a lot of cash but with the assurance of promising results.
Weight Loss Surgery Prices
Weight loss surgery is an expensive surgical procedure. As recorded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, this surgical procedure can cost from $20,000 to $30,000. The exact amount for the surgery will largely depend on a variety of factors. These include the following:
- Type of surgery. There are multiple types of weight loss surgery: adjustable gastric banding (or lap banding), sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, vertical gastric banding and biliopancreatic diversion. Each of these procedures has different rates or fees.
- Surgeon. The surgeon’s fee will vary depending on your location, the expertise of your chosen surgeon and the complexity of the procedure that will be performed.
- Hospital. Hospital cost will differ depending on the operating and hospital rooms, and hospital stay, among other fees.
- Additional Fees. You must also consider additional expenses on top of the cost of the main surgical procedure. These may include fees for the consultant, surgical assistant, anesthesiologist, device, and follow-up procedures.
- Aftercare. Many would think that the surgery is the end point of their weight loss program and would overlook the importance of aftercare. To achieve optimal and long-term results, weight loss surgery patients must also undergo nutritional counseling, psychological support, follow-up appointments and care.
Lap Band Surgery
In a lap band surgery, the surgeon will wrap an adjustable band around the upper area of the stomach. A small pouch is created above the band that fills up quicker, thereby making the patient feel full sooner while eating. The lap band surgery helps obese patients lose excess fat and weight between 25 and 75 percent and cure obesity-related complications. The average cost of lap band surgery ranges from $9,000 to $29,000.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy, also referred as vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is an irreversible surgical procedure performed to reduce the size of the stomach. This procedure promotes weight loss by reducing the amount of food one is able to consume. Sleeve gastrectomy does not alter the digestive tract and will only require one to two days of hospital stay. A patient may spend from $5,000 to $10,000 for this procedure.
Gastric Bypass
The often quoted surgery cost of gastric bypass is $23,000. During this procedure, the weight loss surgeon makes the stomach smaller and rearrange the small intestine. Patient who have undergone gastric bypass have lost up to 68 percent of their excess weight and have experienced significant health improvements.
Vertical Gastric Banding
This procedure involves a weight loss surgeon making use of staples and a band to close most of the stomach and leaving only a small portion that will serve as the small pouch for food. As a result, food consumption is limited to the amount the stomach can contain. Vertical gastric banding typically runs from $20,000 to $25,000.
Biliopancreatic Diversion
Biliopancreatic diversion is a more complicated type of weight loss surgery, compared to the gastric bypass and roux-en-y procedures. Here, a large area of the stomach is totally removed to create a smaller pouch. Like most weight loss surgeries, the biliopancreatic diversion procedure costs from $15,000 to $25,000.
Weight loss surgery is both expensive and complex. However, always bear in mind that the cost of surgery shall not be the deciding factor in choosing the procedure that you should have. Consult with your surgeon to discuss concerns with regard the surgical procedure that will really work for you.
Relying on Medications VS Undergoing Surgery
For morbidly obese individuals who decide to not have surgery, they spend more on medical expenses for obesity-related health problems. The cost of not undergoing weight loss surgery is still higher compared to the total cost you will spend on any of the above mentioned procedures, even without the aid of insurance.
On average, patients who paid for their entire weight loss surgery expenses are able to recover financially after a year or two. To make the point clear, one study has shown that weight loss patients saves as much as $900 each month as soon as 13 months after surgery than obese individuals who chose to not have surgery. You can save almost $11,000 every year for the total medical cost, starting on the 13th month. A couple of months after the surgery, there will be less drug prescriptions, which means patients are able to save at least $3,000 or even more per year.
Finding the Best Weight Loss Surgery
Here in Long Island, NY, there is one trusted weight loss surgeon who has changed the lives of obese patients through successful weight loss surgery. Dr. Arif Ahmad, recognized as one of the top surgeons in America, has dedicated his career to transforming patients’ lives by providing the best weight loss surgery and advanced surgical procedures. His expertise and experience in this field have improved many lives and he continues to provide safety and success in all surgeries he performs.
His team of medical doctors and staff are on hand to guide patients all throughout the weight loss surgery process. Before performing any surgical procedures, Dr. Arif Ahmad will sit with you to discuss your condition and provide all necessary information about the best procedure that is suitable for you. Complete evaluation and pre-surgery tests will be conducted to ensure that your body is ready for the surgery.
While there are a number of certified weight loss surgeons in Long Island, NY, you must keep in mind that not all can perform the different procedures. Dr. Arif Ahmad specializes in minimally invasive surgery, a cutting edge surgical procedure done with small incisions, resulting in minimal pain, less scarring, and faster recovery. This type of surgery will help you go back to your normal routine and work in a very short span of time.
To have a better understanding of what procedure is best for you and how weight loss surgery can save you thousands of dollars in the long run, contact us today to book an appointment
