Synonyms in a broader sense
Stomach surgery, stomach volume reduction, gastric banding, gastroplasties, tubular stomach, Roux En Y bypass, small intestine bypass, gastric balloon Medical: Obesity surgery
Introduction – Costs of a stomach reduction
Surgical stomach reduction is usually the last option for pathologically overweight people to lose weight. There are several different procedures by which a reduction of the stomach can be achieved. As they differ in their effort and complexity, the costs also vary.
In addition, they depend on the operation center and the services included. Every form of stomach reduction also involves risks. If complications occur, the costs can increase significantly.
If medically necessary, the costs of a stomach reduction can often be covered by health insurance upon request. Having the procedure performed abroad as an alternative is usually only cheaper at first glance and also involves additional risks. At this point, it is recommended that you first take a look at the main page on stomach reduction.
What are the costs for a stomach reduction?
The cost of a stomach reduction depends mainly on the chosen procedure and the hospital where the procedure is performed and can therefore vary greatly. In addition, the actual cost of the treatment can never be accurately estimated in advance. Due to the risks involved in a stomach reduction, complications can always occur.
As a result, the costs can increase by several thousand euros. When comparing the possible procedures for stomach reduction without taking into account possible complications, in most cases the insertion of a gastric balloon is the cheapest. With this procedure, the only thing that needs to be done instead of a general anesthesia is a gastroscopy under twilight anesthesia.
Therefore, in contrast to the other types of stomach reduction, no inpatient stay is usually necessary, which also makes the lower costs comprehensible. The insertion of a stomach balloon costs about 2. 500 to 3.
000€. The costs for the necessary removal of the balloon after about six months are already included. This is also usually done by an outpatient gastroscopy.
However, when using a gastric band, the costs are significantly higher. The procedure requires surgery inside the abdominal cavity (usually with the “keyhole technique”), which requires general anesthesia and a mostly three-day inpatient stay. Therefore, the costs for such an operation are considerably higher, at about 6,000 Euros.
The so-called gastric bypass and the installation of a tube stomach are even more complex and thus more expensive. While the gastric banding does not involve any incisions on the organ itself, the bypass operation of the stomach and the tubular stomach operation involves the surgical reduction of the organ. Accordingly, sutures are also required to securely close the stomach, which is more complex and demanding than, for example, the application of a gastric band from the outside.
In addition, the risk of complications is increased during such an operation. Therefore, these drastic and irreversible forms of stomach reduction are also the most expensive. Costs of at least 8.
000€ have to be expected. However, these costs can easily reach into the five-figure range. The individual methods of stomach reduction with the most important details can be read on the respective main pages:
- Gastric balloon for weight reduction
- Gastric pacemaker – What is behind it?
- Costs of a gastric bypass
None of the methods of stomach reduction described above are yet included in the standard service catalogs of the statutory health insurance companies.
In order for the health insurance company to cover the costs of a stomach reduction, certain requirements must be met. Most importantly, the procedure must be medically justified. This must be documented by a doctor.
The basis for this is that the patient is extremely overweight and the body mass index exceeds at least 35, possibly even 40. In addition, there must be consequential damage associated with the overweight. These include, for example, joint diseases or metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus (“diabetes”).In addition, all alternative measures for weight reduction, such as exercise programs and a change of diet, must already have been exhausted.
The health insurance companies usually require proof of at least one medically controlled weight loss attempt, which has not been sufficiently successful, before the costs of a stomach reduction can be covered. If the requirements are met, a written application for cost absorption must be submitted. The application procedure is often very time-consuming.
The best way to formulate this application is with the help of your doctor. In most cases, the health insurance company requires that the stomach reduction operation be performed in an affiliated center. Here, the patient is followed up and additional measures are taken as part of the therapy, such as nutritional counseling, exercise centers and regular medical check-ups.
These are represented by the specialist areas of internal medicine, psychology, adipostolic surgery and movement therapy. Follow-up treatment takes place on average over a period of 6-12 months after the stomach reduction. The reduction of the stomach by means of a gastric balloon is only approved, even after the application of the cost transfer to the health insurance company, if the balloon is used as part of a combination therapy, i.e. with subsequent surgery.
The costs of a gastric pacemaker are not covered by health insurance. In the case of private health insurance companies, none of the above-mentioned methods are included in the catalog of rules for assuming the costs. Private patients would also have to submit an application for cost coverage.
Do you suffer from overweight and are afraid of having secondary diseases caused by it? So you should take active measures against overweight and undergo a medical examination. You can find all the important information on the topic of overweight at
- Consequences of overweight – You should pay attention to this
- Therapy of overweight in children and adolescents
Very often it happens that the health insurance company initially rejects the application for a stomach reduction or at least sets conditions that must be met before the costs are covered.
This is often the case, even if the request is formulated in detail and with medical assistance, and the formal requirements for cost coverage are given. Depending on the health insurance company and the case, it is possible that certain aspects may not be recognized, particularly with regard to the exhaustion of all available weight reduction measures apart from an intervention. Therefore, it is often required that the patient first participates in a professional fitness program over several weeks, receives psychological support if necessary and keeps a diet diary.
Even though these measures are usually to be carried out over several months, it is advisable to implement them. On the one hand, there is the possibility to lose weight without the drastic intervention of a stomach reduction and on the other hand, if the measures fail, the costs are often covered by health insurance. Another possibility, if the application is rejected by the insurance company, is to file a written objection.
Concerning the chances and possibility of an objection, for example, the help of the family doctor can be used.
- Tips on the best way to lose weight
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Due to the high cost of stomach reduction, some people travel abroad to undergo the procedure. Several countries, such as Turkey, offer the treatment at lower prices.
Sometimes even package prices including flight and transfer are possible. However, the potential risks and possible additional costs of having a stomach reduction performed abroad are usually not obvious at first glance. On the one hand, the quality of treatment abroad is often not assured, for example with regard to the training and experience of the surgical team.
Another important aspect is that a serious procedure such as a stomach reduction requires lifelong aftercare of the patient. At least during the first months and years, continuous professional support is necessary. Although foreign centers usually offer some form of aftercare, this is usually by no means sufficient.It must also be remembered that a stomach reduction is always associated with risks and complications or difficulties can arise directly during the procedure and for a long time after the procedure.
This aspect is relevant in several ways when considering having a stomach reduction performed abroad. These complications include, for example, an inflammation that may occur during the operation itself or afterwards during the stay. The result is a longer stay in hospital and additional, necessary medical treatment of the complication.
This can result in enormous additional costs, which usually have to be borne by the patient himself. All in all, the procedure then quickly becomes more expensive than if it had been performed in Germany. The second aspect that must be considered with regard to possible complications and consequential damage is that if such complications and damage occur, it is best to visit the hospital where you were treated.
For patients who have undergone stomach surgery abroad, this is usually not possible without further ado. For these reasons, no recommendation can be made to travel abroad for the procedure. The costs are often lower only at first sight and one does not receive the necessary long-term care. In addition, the costs can only be covered by health insurance if the procedure is performed in Germany.
