Saturday, November 7, 2009

Become Aware of the Cost Of Lap Band Surgery

By Sara Guppy

One of the most common problems faced by a majority of the world population is being overweight. This one cause gives rise to numerous ailments that can become fatal. But with the advances in medical science, now people have found various ways of reducing weight. Lap band surgery is just one of them, but people are still apprehensive about it. The main cause for this is that people are still unaware about the exact process and cost of lap band surgery.

The good news is that some insurance companies are finally coming around to cover the cost of lap band surgery for their clients. However, there are numerous people who still do not have any sort of insurance, and hence this is not a suitable option for them. Such people are more in need of information about the estimate of expenses they would have to bear if they were to proceed with the lap band surgery for reducing their weight.

With the changing times and growing awareness about maintaining a minimum weight, the cost of lap band surgery has come down by a good percentage. When the procedure was first introduced in 2001, the cost of lap band surgery was quite out of the reach of common people. However, as the procedure became popular and new clinics opened up, the increased competition brought down the costs.

Any person can now loose weight through this surgical method as the cost of lap band surgery can come to anywhere between $12,000 to $27,000 or even more and generally includes the expenses of the lap band surgeon, expenses of the operating room, tests etc., but generally excludes the expenses incurred on the follow- up care of the patient. Even though the cost of lap band surgery is still relatively very high, the provision of external financial assistance by insurance companies and financial institutions has really made things much easier.

Many people prefer to get the procedure performed overseas, believing that the surgery will prove to be less expensive for them and hence they would be easily able to cover the cost of lap band surgery there.

People also prefer to get the procedure performed in foreign lands; they feel that the cost of lap band surgery will be lesser over there. One significant example is Mexico, where the procedure costs anywhere between $5,000 and $7,000. However, such people do not take into account the other costs involved like travel expenses, boarding and lodging etc. So, even if the cost of lap band surgery in foreign lands is lesser, it can prove quite expensive if the other associated costs are also included.

But expensive or not, the fact remains that more and more people are opting for lap band surgery as a means of reducing their excessive weight. After all, there is no greater wealth than good health and people do not hesitate from bearing the high cost of lap band surgery if it ensures a healthier and better life for them.

Only a little research is needed to find a good clinic where the procedure is performed efficiently without causing much financial distress to the patients. And now that financial assistance is also available for such surgeries, the procedure has gained even more momentum.

About the Author: