How Much Does A Gall Bladder Surgery Cost?

When someone who is suffering from gallstones hears that they are in need of surgery to remove their gallbladder, the normal fear begins to set in. How Much Does A Gall Bladder Surgery Cost? Any surgery can cause a certain level of apprehension, but this type of surgery is very commonplace. While a lot of people focus on the actual surgery, some people also worry about the gall bladder surgery cost.

Not A Surgery To Worry About

When the surgeon decides to go ahead with the gallbladder surgery it is mostly because of the pain that the patient is in. However, that is not the only consideration. When the gallbladder is not working properly or is blocked by a gallstone in the bile duct, it is no longer helping the body process food.

The gallbladder is instrumental in helping to break down cholesterol, fatty foods, and toxins left over from digestion. If this is no longer working, then these particles will cause other pain and problems in the digestive tract.

Two Types of Surgery

There are currently two types of gallbladder surgeries that can be performed by the surgeon. The first is the easiest and least expensive. It is called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. With this type of surgery, the surgeon will cut three small incisions into the abdomen and use a small video camera to aid in the removal of the gallbladder. This can be done as outpatient surgery, although some people do stay overnight in the hospital for monitoring.

The other type of surgery is a regular cholecystectomy. It involves a much larger, and more involved, surgery. The surgeon will use a laser to create a longer incision and remove the gallbladder with conventional instruments. This means a lengthy hospital stay and a much longer recovery time.

Gall Bladder Surgery Cost

There are many different considerations to be taken into account when thinking about the gall bladder surgery cost. Most of the time, when a patient has insurance they will not have to worry about the cost except for the deductible.

With that in mind, the normal cost of gall bladder surgery can range from $500 to $2,000 depending on where the surgery is done, and which surgery is performed. This does not include any of the doctor fees, and any costs accrued in the event of a lengthy hospital stay. Once the entire process is completed, the bill for a gall bladder surgery can be several thousand dollars. However, this is the same as any necessary surgery.

Do Not Let Gall Bladder Surgery Cost Stop You

• If you are notified by your doctor that you need to have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you should have the surgery. Most hospitals will work with you in payments. If you have insurance then the deductible will be a cost, but a small one compared to the relief you will have once the surgery is completed.

When Do You Need A Gallbladder Surgery?

Your gallbladder is an important part of your overall digestive system. It is located behind your liver and delivers a chemical called bile which aids in the digestion of food. As food travels through the intestines, this bile will continue to break down food to prepare it for waste. It is also instrumental in helping to remove harmful cholesterol, fats, and toxins from the body.

Having a gall bladder removal surgery, then, should not be done without some major consideration. One thing you will need to think about is what your diet will be like afterward. A healthier diet of fewer fats and cholesterol will help your body be able to function without it.

Severe Pain

When a person suffers a gallbladder attack they will experience a lot of pain in the area of the right side of the chest. This pain is caused by small gallstones that are blocking the bile duct. Because of this blockage the bile begins to build up in the gall bladder and causing severe pain. At times this pain can be debilitating. When the pain gets severe enough you will need to seek out medical treatment.

Gallbladder Surgery

Thankfully there have been big improvements in the methods used during a gall bladder operation. In years past, when someone was going in for a gall bladder surgery they would have to spend a few days in the hospital after a very invasive operation. This surgery, called a cholecystectomy, was done by the surgeon making a large incision in your abdomen in order to take out the gall bladder.

However, today’s methods for performing gallbladder surgery are much different. Depending on the individual case, it is often possible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy to be done. While there is still an incision made, they are very small; only about 1/2″ in size.

Benefits Of A Laparoscopic Surgery

There are two major benefits to this type of surgery. First, you do not have such a long recovery process. Most patients who undergo this gall bladder surgery laparoscopically have a much shorter hospital stay. In most cases, the patient can go home later that evening or first thing in the morning the next day.

The second major benefit to this type of gallbladder surgery is that there is no scar. With the older type of surgery, the patient would have a long scar on their abdomen. However, the smaller incisions made during laparoscopic gallbladder surgery heal up very nicely.

Surgery Is Safe

When you are having severe pain in your abdomen and it is diagnosed as a gallbladder attack, surgery is the only option for lessening the pain. This type of surgery is very safe and necessary for the sufferer to find relief.