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What Is The Price Of Lap Band Surgery? Nurse's Guide

By Helen Hecker
Sep 22, 2009
If your diet and not achieving satisfactory weight loss have been big problems in your life, you may be thinking about or considering getting lap band surgery or adjustable gastric banding surgery and are wondering what is the price or what does it cost. That is one of the first questions that comes to mind,

You may have reached the point where you know you would be a good candidate, have health concerns that qualify you for the surgery and think you can meet some of the criteria such as the Body Mass Index, which needs to be between 35 and 60 depending on certain conditions. If you have serious health concerns like sleep apnea and diabetes you may be considered in the lower range of BMI.

Lap band surgery in the US is sometimes covered under certain health insurance policies. So if you have health insurance you want to check your policy carefully to see if you're covered. If it isn't clear, call your health insurance representative to find out. If you're morbidly obese and fit the criteria and have health issues that are related you may be a good candidate for the surgery.

Assuming your health insurance policy won't cover you or pay most of your costs, you would need to pay for the surgery. If you're planning on having it in the US there is a little known option called lap band financing. You can get financing for your lap band surgery if you meet the criteria. Then there is cash in advance of course. The cost or price of lap band surgery can be $12,000 to $27,000 or more. This would include most of the expenses, including the lap band surgeon, operating room expenses, tests etc. but not necessarily all follow-up care.

Many people travel outside of the United States for the lap band procedure or adjustable gastric banding surgery. Mexico is one popular destination. Surgeries can cost a lot less there and in other countries however if you get home and find you have complications or medical issues that are related that need attending to, it would be expensive going back and forth.

So you would need to prepare in advance as to how you're going to be taken care of after the surgery for any problems that arise and for diet and weight loss questions etc. You may be able to line up a bariatric doctor or surgeon who would follow up on your care in the US as needed. On the other hand it may be hard to find a doctor who wants to step in. So make sure this is arranged before you agree to surgery.

So that's the basic facts to answer the question as to what is the price of lap band surgery or the cost. Make sure you check out everything thoroughly before you commit and know that you have all the financial details taken care of so there are no surprises.
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