Today I stumbled across a news story on an ABC News affiliate’s website. There’s also a two-and-a-half-minute video clip that’s packed with information about weight loss surgery, specifically the vertical gastrectomy.

Story excerpt:

“Scott decided to have a vertical gastrectomy, a relatively new stomach reduction procedure that doesn’t require rerouting the intestines, as with gastric bypass, and instead of using a band to tie off part of the stomach, surgeons actually remove the majority of it, including the area responsible for hunger pains.”

Full story and video

Before considering the cost of surgery with the LAP-BAND® System, you may want to read our overview of Lap Band surgery.

For most people who consider Lap Band surgery (or any type of weight loss surgery for that matter), the cost of the procedure is a top factor in their decision-making. The cost of Lap Band surgery is obviously important, but it should only be considered after more important questions have been answered:

Is Lap Band surgery right for me? Am I a candidate for such a procedure? Do I understand the risks versus the reward, the lifestyle changes and aftercare?

Once these important questions have been answered, the prospective patient will logically want to know, “How much does Lap Band surgery cost?” Here’s an overview to answer that question:

Lap Band Surgery Cost

At the time of this writing, the cost of Lap Band surgery (worldwide) ranges from around $8,000 to upwards of $25,000, depending on where you have the surgery and who performs it. Some people travel to Mexico for banding procedures, because of the lower surgery cost involved. Of course, you have to factor in airfare and other travel expenses. You also have to ask yourself how comfortable you are having Lap Band surgery abroad. In the United States, the cost of Lap Band surgery ranges from around $13,000 to $25,000 or more.

Insurance Coverage?

Insurance companies have been slow to accept the cost of Lap Band surgery into their coverage area. In the past, few companies insured this type of procedure. But the number of insurance companies who cover Lap Band surgery costs seems to be increasing with each passing year, possibly due to pressure from the medical community, frequent requests from the insured, and other factors.

Related article: Overview of Lap Band Surgery | Cost of Bariatric Surgery

The cost of refinancing

In a recent post, we mentioned TLC’s new program “Big Love,” which chronicles the lives of obese patients who undergo bariatric weight-loss surgery at Houston’s Methodist Weight Management Center.

The show premiered this past Monday, and so far it has generated some significant buzz. Only two days after the show’s premiere, the “Big Love” message boards on the TLC website were filling up with online dialogue between viewers … and even the featured surgeons themselves.

What will this program do for the world of weight loss surgery? For one thing, it will obviously add to the ever-increasing popularity of bariatric surgery (which has risen nearly tenfold over the last decade or so). One can only hope that the program will also portray bariatric weight-loss surgery in an accurate and unbiased way. It’s too soon to tell, but in true TLC fashion I’m sure they’ll pull it off.