Gastric Sleeve Cost, Financing and Procedure Guide

If you are interested in improving your health and quality of life with weight loss surgery, know that gastric sleeve surgery is now the most common type of bariatric (weight loss) surgery in the United States.¹ As you consider the possibility of getting this surgery, learn about costs, gastric sleeve financing, insurance coverage and more to help you plan and budget for a sleeve gastrectomy.

What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Gastric sleeve surgery, also called a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of weight loss surgery that helps you lose weight by decreasing the size of your stomach by 75% to 80%. The remaining parts are joined together to form a “sleeve" that resembles the size and shape of a banana.¹

By reducing the physical volume of your stomach, you feel full faster and become more likely to limit your calorie intake, thereby helping you lose weight. The procedure is used to treat obesity, as well as various other conditions related to obesity, such as:¹

• Type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension
• Fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnea

Types of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

There are two main types of gastric sleeve surgery: laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG): This is a permanent surgical procedure to remove a portion of the stomach called the fundus, decreasing the size of the stomach by about 80%. The procedure also removes the part of the stomach that secretes ghrelin, the appetite-regulating hormone, which helps reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness and satiety.²
• Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG): This is a minimally invasive and reversible procedure that uses internal sutures to reduce the volume of the stomach by about 70%. ESG can be repeated or used after receiving a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy to further reduce the size of the stomach.³

Who Is a Good Candidate for Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

People who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher are usually good candidates for a sleeve gastrectomy. Those with a slightly lower BMI and obesity-related health conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, may also qualify for the bariatric procedure.⁵

How Much Does Gastric Sleeve Surgery Cost?

The average cost of gastric sleeve surgery without insurance ranges from $9,000 to $20,930, with an average cost of $13,109.⁴ Keep in mind that the amount you pay may vary depending on your surgeon, the practice location and the number of days you need to stay in the hospital.⁵ Other costs can include pre-operative tests, anesthesia, operating room use and postoperative care.⁵

Does Insurance Cover Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

While some health insurance plans may exclude bariatric surgeries altogether, other insurance plans may cover all or a portion of the cost of gastric sleeve surgery.⁶

Coverage may be applied if the surgery is related to a medical condition — like sleep apnea or heart disease — and you've been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise. For the majority of insurance policies, you'll need to have documented health issues related to being overweight that make a weight loss surgery like gastric sleeve deemed medically necessary. Some insurance policies may require a certain amount of documented weight-management visits before you can qualify for the procedure.⁶

If your insurance coverage doesn't include the cost of gastric sleeve surgery, your plan may still cover many of the related expenses, such as lab work, preparatory exams and other pre-op requirements.

If you're covered by Medicare and meet certain criteria, your weight loss surgery costs may be covered by your Medicare plan. Medicaid coverage of gastric sleeve surgery can vary by state.⁷

Paying for Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Even if your insurance covers part or all of a gastric sleeve surgery, patients may still have out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, coinsurance and copays. You may be able to use a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for associated costs.⁸

Some bariatric surgeons and hospitals offer payment plans, so consider asking your providers if you can pay for expenses related to your sleeve gastrectomy in installments. A credit card is also a way to finance the cost of weight loss surgery.⁵

The CareCredit credit card offers promotional financing to help you pay for gastric sleeve surgery as well as doctor visits, tests, follow-up care and other expenses related to your weight loss surgery at locations in the CareCredit network.* CareCredit may also be used to pay for other weight loss procedures, such as gastric bypass surgery, slim band surgery and more.*

Pros and Cons of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is considered to be a safe and effective procedure when other weight loss methods haven't worked.¹

Gastrectomy pros

Some advantages of gastric sleeve surgery are the following:¹

• Can help you lose weight quickly
• Helps reduce the chance of potentially life-threatening health problems related to obesity, like heart disease, diabetes and stroke
• Less invasive than other weight loss surgeries, like gastric bypass surgery or duodenal switch

Gastrectomy cons

Here are some drawbacks to gastric sleeve surgery:¹

• Fast, dramatic weight loss may result in loose, hanging skin.
• You face the same cautions as with any other type of surgery.
• Continued results are dependent on also modifying lifestyle and dietary habits.²

Alternatives to Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is one option for individuals interested in bariatric or weight loss surgery. However, there are alternative bariatric procedures you may want to consider:

• Gastric bypass
• LAP-BAND®
• Gastric sleeve + gastric bypass
• Gastric balloon
• Gastric emptying device

If you are considering weight loss surgery, talk with your doctor to determine which bariatric procedure is best for you.

Preparing for Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Your doctor may place you on a pre-gastric sleeve diet that restricts eating and drinking.⁹ Your doctor may also recommend that you start lifestyle changes, such as an exercise program, prior to surgery.¹⁰ Smokers will have to stop smoking weeks before surgery.¹⁰

How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Works

During the procedure, patients will be sedated with general anesthesia.²

• During laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the surgeon makes multiple small incisions in your abdomen and inserts instruments with a camera into the stomach. Then, the surgeon will cut away a portion of the stomach, reshaping the remaining stomach. The procedure takes about two hours.²
• During endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, the surgeon inserts an endoscope, a thin flexible tube with a camera and a suture device, down the throat and into the stomach. After drawing guide lines, the suture tool is used to stitch closed a portion of the stomach, reducing its volume. The procedure takes about 90 minutes.³

Recovering From Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Patients who had a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy will stay in the hospital for up to three days and then continue to recover at home for the next two to four weeks.¹ Patients who receive an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty may need to spend the night, but often can return home the same day.³

You'll need to avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks post-surgery as your body heals. You'll return for follow-up appointments so your doctor can monitor your progress and discuss a diet and exercise plan for you to maintain after surgery.¹

Gastric sleeve postoperative diet

Immediately following gastric sleeve weight loss surgery, you'll be on a restricted diet limited to liquids for about seven days. Next, you'll move on to pureed foods for about two to three weeks.³ You'll need to take vitamins and nutritional supplements since the restricted diet may result in some nutrient deficiencies.¹

After about a month or so, or based on your doctor's recommendations, you can begin eating soft, solid foods and regular meals.¹ Keep in mind that you won't be able to eat the same amount of food as you used to, and the way that you eat will likely change permanently moving forward.³ This may include:³

• Consuming smaller pieces of food
• Chewing food carefully before swallowing
• Consuming smaller portions of food
• Avoiding drinking while eating, since this may cause your stomach to overfill
• Focusing on foods that are low in sugar, fat and calories
• Taking vitamin and mineral supplements as directed by your doctor¹

Gastric Sleeve Surgery Results: What to Expect

Individuals who get a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can lose around 40% to 50% of their body weight within a year or two.² Those with an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty generally lose 12% to 20% of their body weight within a year.³ With either procedure, you'll need to follow a healthy diet and exercise plan to maintain your results.²

Potential Risks and Side Effects

Complications or side effects from a gastric sleeve surgery vary based on the type of procedure.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Although this procedure is shorter than some other types of bariatric surgery, a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy may still have certain complications, including:²

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Leaking stomach juices
• Infection
• Poor nutrient absorption

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty

Since an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, the possibility of serious complications is very low, but may include:³

• Stomachache
• Nausea
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Tears in the stomach
• Blood clot in the lung

Financing Gastric Sleeve Surgery With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for gastric sleeve surgery and related expenses not covered by health insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Kate Bayless is a health and wellness freelance writer with 15 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women's Health, Beachbody and OpenFit.