How Much Does Gastric Sleeve Surgery Cost?
Gastric sleeve surgery costs $7,825 on average, according to hundreds of recent reviews on RealSelf, but some people say they have paid as much as $25,000 out of pocket, without insurance.
Also known as a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), this procedure is considered by many bariatric surgeons to be one of the safest, most reliable types of weight-loss surgery.
Read on to find out whether insurance covers it, whether real patients say the results were worth the money, and why prices vary.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Gastric Sleeve Surgery
What does the total cost include?
After your consultation with a bariatric surgeon, they should provide you with a personalized estimate of your total costs for gastric sleeve surgery, including:
- the consultation fee (usually applied to your procedure)
- pre-op lab work, tests, and medical clearance
- consultations with a dietitian and nutritionist
- the surgeon’s fee
- facility fees for the hospital or surgery center, supplies, and staff
- pain medication or other recovery supplies
- ongoing follow-up visits and blood tests
If any of these costs aren’t included in your price quote, you’ll still need to anticipate and budget for them.
Post-procedure, you’ll also need to plan for the costs of:
- nutritious food and dietary supplements, to keep you healthy
- support from a dietician or personal trainer
- new clothing
Gastric sleeve surgery patients are also advised to take three to four weeks off from work, depending on how physical your job is. If you don't have enough PTO to cover it, that lost income may need to be factored into your budget.
There’s one more factor to consider: weight loss surgery patients are often left with a significant amount of loose skin. Excess skin can be surgically removed via procedures like a body lift, which may be partially covered by insurance if it's deemed medically necessary.
All of these expenses can feel overwhelming, but they’ll probably be less expensive in the long run than the healthcare costs that can stem from untreated obesity.
Does insurance cover gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve procedures are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Your private health insurance provider should approve coverage for a vertical sleeve gastrectomy if both of these things are true:
- Your policy covers bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery
- You have documented health problems related to obesity ("comormidities") that make weight-loss surgery medically necessary, not just an elective cosmetic procedure. Related conditions that could qualify you include type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, hypertension, and/or heart disease.
Some states legally require insurance companies to cover weight-loss surgery if you meet the National Institutes of Health criteria of having:
- a BMI (body mass index) greater than 40
- a BMI of 35–40 with related comorbid health conditions
- a BMI of 30 or more with type 2 diabetes that's difficult to control
Some insurance plans with bariatric coverage require patients to have several months of weight-management visits or diet and exercise programs before they will approve coverage.
The best way to find out the specific requirements of your policy is to call the number in the back of your insurance card.
Even if your policy doesn’t include coverage for weight loss surgery, it may still cover some related expenses, such as lab work and pre-op exams.
Your surgeon's patient coordinator should be able to guide you through the process of documenting obesity-related health issues and getting approval for coverage from your insurance company.
If you don’t have insurance coverage and need to self-pay, ask your provider which financing options they accept. Most providers in the U.S. accept CareCredit and other third-party financing options.
Why do gastric sleeve surgery costs vary?
Aside from insurance coverage, these are the biggest factors that will impact the price you pay.
1) Your bariatric surgeon’s credentials and level of experience
Some general surgeons perform bariatric surgery, but board-certified bariatric surgeons who specialize in weight-loss surgery are likely to be far more experienced. They can also be more expensive, because of their specialized training.
Choosing a bariatric surgeon with years (or decades) of experience and advanced training usually costs more than seeing a general surgeon.
The safety profile of modern-day bariatric surgery is similar to other general surgical procedures, but gastric sleeve surgery still comes with risks, some of which can be serious. The more experience and training your surgeon has, the lower their complication rate is likely to be.
2) Where your procedure is performed
As with other services, you'll pay a premium for a bariatric surgeon who practices in a major U.S. metro, where the cost of living is high. Prices can vary by neighborhood and even practice, depending on their staff size, overhead costs, and the level of demand for their services. Even if you want to stay local, it can be worth the time to consult with more than one qualified surgeon and compare their price quotes.
Your procedure will also be more expensive if it's performed in a hospital operating room versus an ambulatory surgical center, but your surgeon may also prefer the added layer of safety that comes with a hospital environment—especially for patients with serious underlying health conditions. If insurance is covering your procedure, they'll probably require that it be performed in a hospital.
Many weight-loss patients travel to bariatric clinics in places like Mexico, where the costs are significantly lower compared to the United States.
Especially if you choose to travel, be sure to thoroughly research the provider performing the surgery, including their patient reviews and complication rates, before booking with them.
RealSelf Tip: The most serious complications usually occur in the first week after the procedure. If you travel, make sure you either stay near your surgeon in a reputable recovery house or have experienced follow-up care in your hometown. You need to be able to be seen quickly if you notice any symptoms of a potential issue, like a fever or rapid heart rate.
3) How long you need to spend in the hospital
A gastric sleeve procedure is rarely an outpatient surgery. Most patients spend at least one night in the surgery center or hospital so their vitals can be monitored.
If your surgeon wants your hospital stay to be longer, your hospital fees will increase.
Is gastric sleeve surgery worth the money?
Among more than 300 people who have recently reviewed their gastric sleeve procedure on RealSelf, 98% say it’s Worth It. That’s similar to the Worth It Ratings for duodenal switch and gastric bypass surgery, but far better than lap band surgery.
On average, people lose about 60-70% of their excess weight over the first year post-op, according to UCLA Health. Most people lose about one pound a day in the first two weeks, and lose 8 to 10 pounds monthly through the rest of the first year. This can translate into welcome improvements in health, quality of life, and longevity.
While regaining a small amount of weight is common, the results will be permanent if you stick to healthy lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise.
There’s no doubt that the cost of gastric sleeve surgery is high, but as you’re weighing whether to make the investment, you may want to factor in the financial impacts of being obese. Improvements in your health following surgery often end up saving you money in the long run, due to reduced medical costs.