Gastric Bypass Surgery Cost

Bariatric surgery can be a transformative tool for patients who are seeking a solution to their struggle with weight loss. If you suffer from obesity, and you’re frustrated from trying every form of weight loss you can think of — every fad diet and exercise program on the market — it might be time to consider some more permanent options. Bariatric surgery can help you level the playing field and give you an equal opportunity as anyone else to lose weight, even if your prior struggles may have led you to feeling trapped.

Gastric bypass surgery is a proven successful form of weight loss surgery. Whether you have done extensive research on the topic, or you’re new to the conversation, any kind of surgical procedure is guaranteed to bring up one specific question: how much does it cost? And, in this case, how much does gastric bypass surgery cost? At the BMCC, we are committed to the health and happiness of our patients, regardless of their income or whether or not they are insured.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards a healthier lifestyle full of energy and activity, but you’re concerned about the cost of gastric bypass surgery, we want to help you and take that next step with you. The BMCC offers some of the lowest prices for the gastric bypass in the Denver area.

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Let’s start with the basics. The Gastric bypass, sometimes referred to as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, has helped our patients lose between 65-90% of their unhealthy body weight. This procedure is both restrictive and malabsorptive.

Restrictive means that the surgery restricts the amount of food that the patient can eat. This involves stapling off a one-ounce portion of the stomach in order to form a small, thumb-sized pouch. This smaller version of a stomach only requires a small portion of food in order to feel full. With consistently smaller portions of food at each meal, you can lose significant amounts of weight.

The malabsorptive element of the gastric bypass involves the “bypass” portion of the procedure. After bypassing part of the stomach, approximately 1/3 of your small intestine will be bypassed. This allows for fewer calories to be absorbed and, therefore, a higher potential for you to lose weight.

Although a gastric bypass may sound like a big surgery, it’s no riskier than a routine out-patient procedure like gallbladder removal. This procedure is routinely done minimally invasively which generally means very tiny incisions, minimal hospital stay, and minimal recovery time.

How Much Weight Can You Lose with A Gastric Bypass?

Our patients have seen dramatic results from their gastric bypass. With this procedure, you can expect to lose between 100-200 pounds (65-90%) of your unhealthy body weight. However, you do need to keep in mind that the gastric bypass is not a magical cure for obesity. While it can be a useful first step towards losing weight permanently, patients also need to commit to a new lifestyle of healthy eating and regular exercise habits to realize the best and most lasting weight loss success.

Do I Qualify for Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass can help patients suffering from obesity lose a substantial amount of their unhealthy body weight, but it isn’t the right bariatric surgery for everyone. Patients who may be better candidates for this type of surgery (as opposed to a non-malabsorptive surgery) include:

• Those suffering from type II diabetes who are looking for a long-term solution (gastric sleeve surgery may be less effective at curing type II diabetes)
• Those dealing with severe acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD
• Those wanting to lose 65-90% of their unhealthy bodyweight

However, if you suffer from any of the following conditions, then the gastric bypass may not be the best surgery for you:

• Severe baseline vitamin and mineral deficiencies (including anemia)
• Chron’s disease
• Any other condition that requires anti-inflammatory medications such as steroids or NSAIDs

If the above conditions disqualify you as a bypass candidate, there often is still another excellent bariatric solution for you and we will be delighted to discuss this in detail at your appointment. At the BMCC we offer three different bariatric surgery procedures: gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and loop duodenal switch surgery.

Please note that while we do perform LAP-BAND removal or revision surgery, we do NOT perform placement surgeries as LAP-BANDs have been proven inefficient in long-term weight loss and have several long-term health concerns. In fact, LAP-BAND surgery is being abandoned in most locations in the US. Because we care about every patient and because you deserve nothing but the best, we will recommend another much better form of weight loss surgery for you.

What is the Average Cost of Gastric Bypass Surgery?

If you’ve done your research and realize you’re an ideal gastric bypass candidate but are still wondering “how much does gastric bypass surgery cost?” we’ve got you covered.

The national average cost of gastric bypass surgery has been reported to be around $23,000 but can range upwards of $35,000 in some locations. We offer some of the lowest prices in the Denver area and nationally. At the BMCC in conjunction with Parker Adventist Hospital, the self-pay cost for gastric bypass surgery is $18,200. This includes all of your preop education, surgeon fee, anesthesia fee, and hospital fees for up to 3 nights in the hospital if needed (more than 90% of our patients only need 1 night in the hospital). It also includes up to 3 months of outpatient post-operative care with our comprehensive team. However, it does not include the surgical assistant fees because the surgical assistants are not employed by the hospital and these fees may vary slightly. The average surgical assistant fee is $450 for this case, bringing the average total to $18,650 for a completely self-pay gastric bypass surgery.

What are My Payment Options for Affordable Gastric Bypass Surgery?

That all depends on whether you have insurance or not, and, if you are insured, how much your health insurance will cover. At the BMCC, we accept most Colorado and national insurance providers such as United, Cigna, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. We also participate in many local narrow network plans including Bright Health and many others. We also accept Medicare and Tricare.

Colorado Medicaid will also cover bariatric procedures if the patient meets predetermined criteria. If you are insured by Medicaid and are considering a gastric bypass, you will need to meet the following requirements:

• Have a BMI of 40 or higher (for a BMI <40 the patient must have documentation of co-morbid conditions such as type II diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, high cholesterol, 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 to lose weight
• A medical history, full dietary and psychiatric assessment have been made and approved by a surgeon to ensure the patient is committed to losing weight and has realistic expectations of the outcome of surgery

At the Bariatric & Metabolic Center of Colorado, we currently accept Medicaid but due to demand we do sometimes have a wait list. If you have Medicaid, please call to inquire about getting an appointment or if needed being placed on the wait list. When we do have a wait list, you can also visit this page to join the wait list.

If you don’t have health insurance or weight loss surgery is not included in your coverage, we do offer cash payment options.

What Is Covered in the Cost of Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Our prices are transparent and designed to include all components you will likely need for surgery. For cash pay patients, this means the price you pay includes all of your preop education, surgeons fee, anesthesia fee, hospital fees up to 3 nights in the hospital (most patients only need one night in the hospital), and up to 3 months of post-operative outpatient bariatric care. If you are going to be working payment through your insurance, then your responsible portion will be determined by your specific insurance plan (please contact your insurance provider to determine what your deductible or coinsurance will be). There is so much more to this surgery than just the procedure, and we want to support you every step of the way.

Pre-Operative Procedures Cost

It is important to remember that while the gastric bypass is a very powerful weight loss tool, a comprehensive weight loss tool set is needed, including other dietary and behavioral tools, for you to achieve your maximum weight loss benefit from surgery. Because of this, there are several important steps that will be required by most insurances and are also very important for you to achieve long-term weight loss success. At the BMCC, we care just as much as you do about maximizing your success, and because of this we have designed our comprehensive program to include all of the necessary elements for your maximum benefit including:

• Initial surgical consultation
• Psychological or behavioral evaluation
• Dietiary consultation (to create a solid pre- and post-op lifestyle plan)
• Medically supervised weight loss curriculum and classes for up to 6 months
• Additional medical consultations and clearances if indicated by specific medical conditions
• Preoperative consultation with your surgeon

Education Cost

Gastric bypass patients need to know that they are signing up for a complete lifestyle change, not just a single surgery. At the BMCC, we designed a comprehensive weight loss surgery curriculum and classes at our location in Denver (which are also provided virtually for our regional patients) to ensure you are educated on all of the comprehensive tools needed to optimize your weight loss surgery success. We want to see you to maximize your results, and knowing how to do this is just as important as surgery. This education will empower you to transform behaviors and support your efforts in sustaining the journey to health.

Post-Operative Care Cost

As we said, we’re with you every step of the way, which means we don’t just perform the surgery and send you on your way. We stay with you for the long haul and offer resources to help you be successful. We provide support groups, personal consultations, and further education in order to help you feel support and maintain personal accountability towards a healthier lifestyle for a minimum of 5 years after your surgery. When you choose a bariatric surgeon, you are choosing a team for life and it is very important that you choose a surgeon and team that will support you very well. We have designed our program with you in mind and with the goal of committing maximum support to your journey.

Our cash pay prices include the above as well as anesthesia, the surgery cost itself, hospital stay, and 3 months of after-care.

Gastric Bypass Surgery is an Investment in You

The BMCC aims to make all forms of weight loss surgery affordable for everyone. Whether you choose to pay through your health insurance or you’re paying out of pocket, the cost of gastric bypass surgery is far less than the cost of continuing to suffer from obesity.

On average people who suffer from obesity pay 81% more for their healthcare due to higher deductibles, prescription drugs, and more medical bills. Aside from lowering these costs, weight loss surgery can significantly reduce your chances of dying an early death from obesity and can cure many obesity-related health conditions. It can help you feel healthier and can give you the energy to live a happier, more fulfilling life.

Change Your Life with Gastric Bypass Surgery

These are some of the important the details of the gastric bypass procedure, your payment options with the BMCC, and what is included in our prices. The choice for a better future is yours. Imagine feeling 100-200 pounds lighter. Gastric bypass surgery can help you save money in the long run and improve your quality of life, and you can see our patient success stories which prove its transformational power. Affordable weight loss surgery is available.

If you’re ready to take the next step on your weight loss journey, please schedule a consultation with our friendly office staff.