Gastric bypass is a type of weight loss surgery that changes the way your digestive system handles food. This procedure, also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, involves creating a small pouch in the stomach and connecting that pouch to the small intestine. After the surgery, the pouch will be the only part of your stomach that can hold food, which will help you feel full faster. Additionally, connecting the pouch directly to the small intestine allows food to bypass most of your stomach and part of the small intestine, decreasing the nutrients and calories your body absorbs from the foods you eat.
| National Minimum Price | $20,575 | (Bristol, TN) |
| National Average Price | $33,434 | |
| National Maximum Price | $56,580 | (Bristol, TN) |
| Price Range | |
|---|---|
| Seattle, WA Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $18,400 - $50,400 |
| San Diego, CA Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $22,500 - $61,900 |
| Baltimore, MD Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $16,400 - $44,900 |
| Detroit, MI Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $15,900 - $43,800 |
| St. Louis, MO Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $17,700 - $48,600 |
| Tampa, FL Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $15,900 - $43,600 |
| Denver, CO Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $18,100 - $49,800 |
| Boston, MA Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $26,700 - $73,200 |
| Minneapolis, MN Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $22,600 - $62,100 |
| San Francisco, CA Gastric Bypass Cost Average | $24,400 - $67,000 |
| Name | Location | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Providers | Price Range | |
| The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center | Austin , TX | $21,000 - $57,800 |
| Providers | Price Range | |
| Holy Spirit Hospital | Camp Hill , PA | $16,900 - $46,400 |
| Mercy Hospital | Portland , ME | $18,000 - $49,300 |
| Lake Wales Medical Center | Lake Wales , FL | $14,300 - $39,300 |
| Baptist Medical Center East | Montgomery , AL | $13,500 - $37,100 |
| Summit Ambulatory Surgical Center (Sister Pierre) | Towson , MD | $14,200 - $38,900 |
| Doctors Hospital at Renaissance | Edinburg , TX | $14,900 - $40,800 |
| Parrish Medical Center | Titusville , FL | $16,200 - $44,500 |
| Affinity Outpatient Services | Tifton , GA | $20,300 - $55,600 |
| Billings Clinic Hospital | Billings , MT | $16,800 - $46,200 |
| Southcrest Hospital | Tulsa , OK | $19,000 - $52,100 |
| Baptist Hospital | Pensacola , FL | $15,200 - $41,700 |
| Callaway Community Hospital | Fulton , MO | $14,700 - $40,300 |
| Park Ridge Hospital | Fletcher , NC | $15,700 - $43,000 |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital | San Diego , CA | $29,100 - $79,800 |
| Saint John's Regional Medical Center | Oxnard , CA | $30,700 - $84,500 |
| Kansas Heart Hospital | Wichita , KS | $15,500 - $42,500 |
| Satilla Regional Medical Center | Waycross , GA | $41,800 - $114,800 |
| Upmc Monroeville Surgery Center | Monroeville , PA | $12,900 - $35,500 |
| Saint Luke's Hospital - Bethlehem Campus | Bethlehem , PA | $17,000 - $46,600 |
| Kennewick General Hospital | Kennewick , WA | $17,100 - $47,000 |
| Florida State Hospital | Chattahoochee , FL | $14,200 - $39,000 |
| Sahara Surgery Center | Las Vegas , NV | $18,000 - $49,500 |
| Greenwich Hospital | Greenwich , CT | $21,500 - $59,100 |
| French Hospital Medical Center | San Luis Obispo , CA | $24,600 - $67,500 |
| Rebsamen Medical Center | Jacksonville , AR | $18,100 - $49,800 |
| Shasta Regional Medical Center | Redding , CA | $24,900 - $68,400 |
| North Hawaii Community Hospital | Kamuela , HI | $21,700 - $59,700 |
| Southeast Georgia Health System - Brunswick Campus | Brunswick , GA | $41,900 - $115,100 |
| Wilson N. Jones Medical Center | Sherman , TX | $15,800 - $43,300 |
Gastric Bypass Surgery Cost and Procedure Information
Gastric bypass surgery is a complicated procedure only recommended for individuals who have already tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on their own through diet and exercise. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher OR a BMI of 35 to 40 with at least one obesity-related health condition—such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or type 2 diabetes—may qualify for this surgery.
Most gastric bypass surgeries are performed laparoscopically, meaning that the surgeon operates through multiple small incisions in your abdomen. During this procedure, a surgeon creates a small pouch in the top of your stomach that’s about the size of a walnut. This pouch is sealed off from the rest of your stomach, limiting the amount of food you can eat in one sitting. Then, the surgeon attaches the small intestine directly to this pouch, giving your food a new, shorter path through your digestive system.
Gastric bypass is often performed as an inpatient procedure, meaning that your surgeon will have you stay in the hospital a day or more after your surgery to monitor your recovery. However, an increasing number of gastric bypass surgeries are being performed as outpatient procedures, lowering the overall cost of the surgery. Ultimately, the price you pay for your gastric bypass surgery will depend on many factors, including your surgeon, your healthcare facility, and even the city in which you have your procedure.
Patient Preparation for Gastric Bypass Surgery
In the weeks before your gastric bypass surgery, your physician will help make sure you’re prepared for the procedure. This can include doing a physical exam and blood tests, as well as advising you to begin a physical activity program and stop using any tobacco products. You may also see a counselor or nutritionist before your surgery to help prepare you for the dietary and other lifestyle changes you’ll go through after the procedure.
This is also a good time to prepare your home for your recovery. Make sure that everything you’ll need after the surgery is easily accessible and that you’ll have the appropriate foods and drinks on hand when you need them. You can also ask friends or family for help around the house during your recovery if you think you’ll need it.
Talk to your doctor about what steps you can take before and after your surgery to give yourself the best chance of a fast, healthy recovery. They can also give you guidelines for achieving healthy weight loss in the weeks, months, and years after your procedure.
What to Expect During and After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery can be performed traditionally (through one or more large incisions) or laparoscopically (through a series of small incisions). Generally, laparoscopic surgeries are associated with shorter recovery times and lower rates of complications. For both methods, gastric bypass surgery usually takes a few hours. You will be under general anesthesia for the surgery, meaning that you will be asleep and will not feel any pain.
During the procedure, your surgeon will divide your stomach into two sections. The top section, about the size of a walnut or an egg, will be your new stomach. They will then separate the small intestine from the bottom half of your stomach and attach it to the new, smaller stomach pouch. After the procedure, any food you eat will go from this small pouch directly to your small intestine, bypassing most of your stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
Before the surgery is over, the surgeon will also connect the other part of your small intestine—the part still attached to the bottom of your stomach—to a part of your small intestine that’s further down. This allows any stomach acids and digestive enzymes created by the unused lower portion of your stomach to drain into the small intestine and eventually mix with the food you eat.
After your surgery, you’ll be on a liquid diet as your stomach and small intestine start to heal. As time passes, you’ll slowly begin to reintroduce solid foods into your diet, starting with pureed foods. Your doctor will give you guidelines about what (and how much) you should eat in the days, weeks, and months after your surgery. They may also recommend taking a multivitamin or other supplements to help make up for the nutrients you won’t be able to get from your limited diet.
You’ll talk to your doctor frequently in the months following your gastric bypass surgery. They will monitor your health and weight loss throughout your recovery and help with any concerns you may have.
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