LAP-BAND Removal Cost

If you had LAP-BAND surgery, you were probably hoping that it could help you lose weight, keep the weight off, and get your life back. Unfortunately, a huge number of LAP-BAND patients have found this surgery to be ineffective and even unsafe—they report pain, complications, and weight regain.

If this describes you, then please know that it is not your fault and that it does not mean you cannot lose weight and keep it off. Over the past few years, the medical community has learned a lot about gastric band surgery. We have learned that it isn’t the safe and effective form of weight loss surgery it was once thought to be. In fact, our double board-certified bariatric surgeon has never recommended LAP-BAND surgery to any of our patients.

If you’re struggling with your LAP-BAND and haven’t seen the weight loss results you wanted, there is a solution. At the BMCC we offer affordable LAP-BAND removal and revision surgery options; we can remove your LAP-BAND, replace it with a safer and more effective bariatric surgery, and help you get back on track to lasting weight loss and the life you deserve.

What Is LAP-BAND Surgery?

LAP-BAND surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that used to be a common bariatric surgery. In this procedure, bariatric surgeons place an adjustable gastric band around the top of the stomach. The band is connected to a tube which is then connected to a port. Saline is inserted via the tube which inflates the band to constrict the stomach into a smaller pouch.

The idea is to use the band to restrict the amount of food a patient needs to eat in order to feel full. Patients could need to return as often as every 2-4 weeks in order to adjust their pouch to the ideal size.

This surgery can be done laparoscopically, which is a minimally invasive type of procedure that generally leads to less pain, scarring, recovery time, and hospital stay. However, even when surgery is performed laparoscopically, patients have reported several side effects with the gastric band that required either removal or revisional surgeries. The problems with LAP-BAND surgery have less to do with how it’s performed, and more to do with the issues that arise when a patient has a foreign object put into their body.

Does My LAP-BAND Need to be Removed?

Any type of surgical procedure involves risks and potential complications. However, studies have shown that there are many more risks and complications involved with LAP-BAND surgery than other bariatric surgery options.

The most common LAP-BAND complications and side effects are band erosion into the stomach, band slippage, band intolerance (which causes scar tissue around the stomach), nausea and vomiting, pain, gastroesophageal reflux, and weight regain. Other less common risks include port or band infections, food trapping, and hardware failure which can cause band or port leaks.

Traveling in Colorado also presents another complication due to potential altitude changes. Sudden fluctuations in altitude can cause the stomach to swell, making the band feel too tight.

These problems have led to 25-40% of patients with LAP-BANDs needing a band removal procedure in a little as five years after the initial bariatric surgery.

At the BMCC, our double-board-certified bariatric surgeon does not offer LAP-BAND placement surgery to those looking for lasting weight loss because this is no longer seen as a safe and effective option. However, if you have had a LAP-BAND procedure and are suffering from any of the above side effects, it may be time to consider removing the band and we regularly help patients with this need.

What Happens When A LAP-BAND Is Removed?

Once the LAP-BAND is removed, you have several options to continue on your weight loss journey. If you’re looking for dramatic and lasting weight loss, then the complications with LAP-BAND surgery can be disheartening. The good news is that LAP-BANDs can be revised to a different bariatric surgery.

These alternative options are far more effective at helping our patients to lose weight and keep it off. They also pose less risk of complications as they don’t require installing a foreign object into the patient’s body. LAP-BAND removal can be combined with the other three bariatric surgeries we offer at the BMCC, so that you can get back on track towards a healthier, happier, and pain-free lifestyle.

The BMCC offers three different types of LAP-BAND revision surgery:

• LAP-BAND to biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch
• LAP-BAND to gastric bypass
• LAP-BAND to sleeve gastrectomy

The removal of the LAP-BAND, as well as LAP-BAND revision surgery, are performed in a minimally invasive setting. If you are considering LAP-BAND revision surgery but aren’t sure which of our other bariatric surgeries is best for you, please call the staff at our medical center in Denver. We are happy to discuss the details of each procedure and help you understand which weight loss surgery option is best for you.

How Much Does LAP-BAND Removal Cost?

At the BMCC, we offer some of the lowest prices for all of our bariatric surgeries in the Denver area. The self-pay cost of LAP-BAND removal surgery is just $5,400 for our patients.

If you are looking to have LAP-BAND revision surgery, not just a removal, our prices are as follows:

• LAP-BAND revision to sleeve gastrectomy (also known as gastric sleeve surgery): $13,750
• LAP-BAND revision to loop duodenal switch: $21,560
• LAP-BAND revision to gastric bypass: $20,150

Our surgery costs are designed to be inclusive of the other services you will need. This means that each price covers the cost of each step of your bariatric procedure: pre- and post-operative care (post-operative care includes 3 months of aftercare), bariatric education, the cost of removal and revisional surgery, anesthesia, and hospital stay. While we cannot guarantee that each price is all-inclusive, we work hard to avoid additional fees.

Our prices are also transparent, meaning the cost you see is the price you will pay. Keep in mind, the amounts listed are our cash payment prices. If you have medical insurance and wish to pay through your insurance provider, your cost of surgery will be based on your deductible and copay. The BMCC is proud to offer our patients several options in terms of payment plans in order to meet the weight loss needs of everyone.

Does Medicare Cover the Cost of LAP-BAND Removal?

Yes, LAP-BAND removal is covered by Medicare as long as you present medically confirmed complications from the initial gastric band surgery. Medicare and Medicaid will also cover the three different types of LAP-BAND revision surgery as long as the original requirements for weight loss surgery were met prior to gastric band surgery. Those requirements include:

• A BMI of 40 or higher (or a BMI >35 with documentation of 1 or more co-morbid conditions such as cardiac disease, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, or severe joint or disc disease that interferes with daily function)
• The patient has had a qualifying BMI for at least two years
• The patient must have made at least one serious clinically monitored attempt at weight loss
• A medical history and psychiatric assessment have been made and approved by a surgeon to ensure you are committed to losing weight and have realistic expectations of the outcome of surgery

What Are My Payment Options with or Without Insurance Coverage?

At the BMCC, we accept most Colorado and national medical insurance providers. We also accept Medicare. We currently have a waitlist for Medicaid patients.

If you don’t have insurance, or your current provider doesn’t offer bariatric surgery coverage, we also accept cash payments. Our affordable prices are listed as out-of-pocket costs.

Affordable Weight Loss Surgery Is Still Possible

If you’re suffering from LAP-BAND complications and weight regain, you may feel like you made the wrong decision in pursuing surgical weight loss. But, that isn’t the case. Long-term, successful, affordable weight loss is still possible.

At the BMCC, we want you to know you aren’t alone in your struggle with obesity, and with proper medical advice, you can still achieve your weight loss goals. We commit to the entirety of the weight loss journey with each of our patients, and we are committed to your success.

If you received gastric band surgery in the past, and are struggling with complications and considering removal and/or revision surgery, contact our office today. We are happy to discuss all of your bariatric surgery options, as well as our affordable payment plans.