Is WLS cost effective?

Hi, Everyone –

WLS, or weight-loss surgery, can be very expensive and is often not covered by insurance. There is also a certain stigma surrounding the procedure, that being that it is unnecessary in some cases. Well, I have performed over 2,000 bariatric surgeries in my career, and I have seen first-hand that WLS is sometimes the only option to get someone healthy, or even to save their life. It can be very useful for someone with a BMI of 35 or greater who have not had success with other weight-loss methods. 

A study came out in the September issue of the American Journal of Managed Care finding that the cost of bariatric surgery actually makes up for itself in 2-4 years; the health complications that go along with obesity will quickly overshadow the $17 – 26,000 price tag of WLS.

What are your perceptions of WLS? Do you think it is a procedure that should always be covered by insurance companies?

Dr. Snyder

Add comment September 10th, 2008