Bariatric procedures cost from $20,000 to $35,000. Medical
insurance coverage varies by state and insurance provider. If you are
considering bariatric surgery, contact your regional Medicare or Medicaid
office or insurance plan to find out if the procedure is covered.
Bariatric surgery may be the next step for people who remain
severely obese after trying non-surgical approaches, or for people who have
an obesity-related disease. Surgery to produce weight loss is a serious
undertaking. Anyone thinking about undergoing this type of operation should
understand what it involves. Answers to the following questions may help you
decide whether weight-loss surgery is right for you.
Are you:
unlikely to lose weight or keep weight off
long-term with non-surgical measures?
well informed about the surgical procedure and the
effects of treatment?
determined to lose weight and improve your health?
aware of how your life may change after the
operation (adjustment to the side effects of the operation, including
the need to chew food well and inability to eat large meals)?
aware of the potential for serious complications,
dietary restrictions, and occasional failures?
committed to lifelong medical follow-up and
vitamin/mineral supplementation? Remember: There are no guarantees for any method, including
surgery, to produce and maintain weight loss. Success is possible only
with maximum cooperation and commitment to behavioral change and
medical follow-up—and this cooperation and commitment must be carried
out for the rest of your life.
