Weight Loss Surgery Options: How much will it cost you?

For many people, losing weight through weight loss diet and exercise is a choice. Nonetheless, due to obesity, some patients can struggle in diet and exercise and be at high risk for complications related to the disease. Weight loss surgery may be a choice for this group of individuals.

There are various options for weight-loss surgery, commonly known as bariatric surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for weight-loss surgery though. To explore their choices, patients can meet with a surgeon who performs bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery is a lifelong operation requiring a lifetime effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.

Potential benefits of weight loss surgery

Ø  Reduced risk of diseases linked to weight, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea

Ø  Health in general improves

Ø  Possibly longer life span

Ø  Greater self-esteem and a better quality of life

Some studies propose that surgery together with medication works better in some diabetic patients than any procedure alone, but not all patients can reach remission status, meaning they no longer take diabetes medication.

Is weight loss surgery good for you?

Determining if you are a candidate for weight loss surgery is crucial and you do it with your doctor. Most people who are candidates for weight loss surgery have attempted to lose weight by conventional diet and exercise, and have not been successful.

Potential weight loss surgery candidates may include you if:

Ø  Understand the advantages and the dangers of the operations.

Ø  An obese adult, particularly if you have a condition linked to your weight, for instance, type 2 diabetes.

Ø  You are determined in making healthy lifestyle choices to hold off the weight.

Ø  Have a hereditary tendency for obesity

Ø  Provided a high Index of Body Mass

Does your insurance policy cover weight loss surgery?

Depending on a patient's benefit, health insurance is gradually covering many of the costs of weight loss surgery. Unique specifications, however, need to be met. One of the criteria is for a patient to have a certain body mass index (BMI) to qualify for the procedure.

Many patients may require at least one significant medical comorbidity, such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or diabetes. Many health policies also include evidence that a patient has achieved weight loss by conventional approaches such as diet and exercise in the preceding two years.

BMI (Body mass index) is categorized as below

Ø  Underweight = BMI under 18.5

Ø  Normal weight = BMI 18.5 - 24.9

Ø  Overweight = BMI 25 - 29.9

Ø  Obese = BMI 30 to 39.9

Ø  Morbidly Obese = BMI 40 or greater

For a patient to qualify for insurance coverage, one must have either;

Ø  BMI greater than 40

Ø  The scale of body mass between 35 and 39 and at least one major medical comorbidity, such as respiratory disorders (i.e. diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea)

Ø  Many patients may be eligible for weight-loss surgery if the BMI is below 35, due to obesity, or severe health issues.

A candidate should discuss this procedure with a professional surgeon before considering weight loss surgery as a choice for managing obesity. Importantly, they should contact the insurance company to determine:

Ø  If the insurance policy covers weight loss surgery

Ø  Hospital you have selected is covered by the insurance

Ø  When the patient is expected to pay a coinsurance or premium for the weight-loss operation where possible.

Weight loss surgery options

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery, which your doctor calls it Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation, results in staggering a portion of the stomach to suppress appetite and food consumption. A small stomach pouch is developed but there is no surgical removal of any part of the stomach. The top part of the stomach (known as the pouch-around an egg or walnut size) is where food is digested.

The pouch is then attached to the small intestine allowing less absorption of the nutrients and calories. The consumption of hunger and food is lowered and 55% - 65% of the excess weight will be lost, typically within one year.

Likely complication of this type of weight loss surgery may include

Ø  Higher risk of vitamin deficiency than procedures with the gastric band or gastric sleeve.

Ø  Dumping syndrome (leaking)

Gastric Band surgery

Sometimes it’s referred to as lab band or band surgery.

The adjustable silicone band is positioned around the upper stomach part. Tiny incisions are made in the skin to permit the placing of the band (laparoscopic procedure). The band produces a tiny pocket of the stomach at the top of the stomach-the size of the stomach is not decreased surgically.

After consuming smaller amounts of food, the smaller pouch that is formed with the band results in less food consumption, and a feeling of fullness. Usually, the surgery takes about an hour during which general anesthesia is used. Recovery takes about two weeks.

The tightness of the band may be changed after surgery by injecting saline in a small tube. During surgery, the port is inserted in the skin and attached to the gastric band. The saline injection can be done at the doctor's office. To meet weight loss targets the band may be loosened or tightened.

Adjustable stomach band surgery is a reversible treatment and is deemed the least invasive of all weight-loss surgery. Patients who implement dietary guidelines will typically lose between 30 % and 40 % of their excess weight with the treatment of the gastric band. However, weight loss with gastric band surgery is slower, and full weight loss can take up to five years.

Some of the complications include additional replacement or removal surgery, infections or bleeding, band slippage, or band erosion.

Gastric sleeve surgery

Can also be referred to as sleeve gastrectomy

Through surgery, nearly 80 % of the stomach is removed. The remainder (gastric sleeve) of the small part of the stomach is attached to the intestines. The volume of the stomach is decreased but there is no re-routing through the intestine, thereby ensuring the absorption of nutrients.

In some cases, sleeve gastrectomies can be appropriate as an option for gastric banding.

This option of weight loss surgery is acid reflux and leaking.

Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD / DS), typically only called the duodenal switch process, has two components.

Initially, a surgeon constructs a smaller stomach, similar to the sleeve gastrectomy technique. The surgeon then removes a portion of the small intestine which decreases the amount of food you can consume. Together, these strategies produce a smaller stomach that can hold less food, while at the same time keeping the body from adding as much weight as the food you consume usually absorbs.

Patients with the duodenal switch usually lose more weight than they do with other procedures. This surgery also provides the best possibility of improving problems linked to weight, such as diabetes. This needs less dietary control and the majority of people can consume relatively regular meals over time.

It also has the highest difficulties and death rates, however, presents a high rate of nutritional deficiencies, and needs continuous follow-up visits.

Weight loss diet and vitamins required after weight loss surgery

Following surgery, most patients will continue to be on a weight-loss liquid-only diet for several weeks, shifting to soft food for the next 6 - 8 weeks, and eventually returning to solid food for the next nine months. Dieticians specializing in meal preparation for patients undergoing bariatric surgery may consult with patients after surgery and during the time of weight loss.

Following bariatric surgery improvements in meal plans are important. Proper dietary habits must be integrated into the everyday routine. Patients would need to change their calorie intake to about 800 to 1,000 calories a day, including 40 - 60 grams of protein to help keep the muscle mass going.

Daily it will need a multivitamin of at least 18 milligrams of zinc and 400 micrograms of folic acid. Many patients, including fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, may require additional vitamins and minerals.

Say no to high-fat foods and sweets that can contribute to the syndrome of dumping. Dumping syndrome happens when food travels too rapidly from your stomach to your small intestine after eating it may lead to abdominal side effects such as fatigue, nausea, pain in the stomach, and extreme and rapid diarrhea.

How much does weight-loss surgery cost?

Cost may be a significant consideration when contemplating weight loss surgery. The more you learn about the weight loss surgery-related costs, the better place you will be in to go forward confidently.

In addition to reducing some health risks, having bariatric weight loss surgery will help you reduce the unnecessary costs that may come from being overweight. That's one justification that more and more insurance providers are bearing some costs of these procedures.

Depending on the type of operation and where you live, weight-loss surgery can cost between $15,000 and $25,000, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Your weight loss surgery cost will be subject to other considerations, such as:

Ø  Types of weight loss surgery- Weight loss surgery forms include stomach bypass, adjustable stomach banding, vertical stomach banding (also known as stomach stapling), sleeve gastrectomy, and biliopancreatic diversion. Every one of these is associated with a different fee.

Ø  The hospital you have selected - Costs may vary and can include, the cost of operating and hospital rooms.

Ø  Surgeon’s fee – surgeon’s fee will vary depending on where you live, the skills of your surgeon, and the difficulty of the procedure. It is important to remember that there are several major downsides to traveling for a gastric bypass. You won't be in a position to join support groups. Making your pre- and post-op appointments will be difficult.

After surgery costs

Ø  Complications can be enormously expensive. But when insurance covers the surgery, therefore complications are usually covered. Treatment of wound site infection in most cases is covered by the hospital.

Ø  Follow-up visits costs

Ø  Nutritionist visits are mostly out of pocket or arranged before surgery it can range from USD 50 a visit to over $100 a visit.

Ø  Patients undergoing gastric bypass lose weight very rapidly therefore you should be prepared to purchase new clothing, as you will need some within two months.

Long term weight loss surgery costs you might one to consider

Ø  Nutritional supplements- Most patients spend the remainder of their life -consuming supplements and sometimes protein shakes. Quality vitamins and nutrients are an important part of your new life. Such supplements may equate to $50 / month.

Ø  Gym fee - Obtaining a gym membership is not mandatory but it is mandatory to increase the level of fitness. It does depend on you if you more likely to do daily exercise in a gymnasium or in a different place?