In this post, we’re going to take a look at getting gastric sleeve surgery from a financial perspective. If you are from the UK, you might have the option to have that operation done by the NHS, free of charge. However, we went private and decided to have the surgery done abroad, so we will walk you through what that cost us. Clearly, what we will detail are the costs for one person, but just remember that as we both had the surgery, our total expenses were double.
But as it turns out, we went with Weightloss Riga in the end because we did find their prices to be pretty black and white, even including the cost of such optional extras as consultation with a nutritionist, which we ultimately chose to do without.
So anyway, here is the cost breakdown per person:
Surgery: £4,980
Light Anaesthetic for Endoscopy: £140
Insurance: £170.55
Private Room: Free (This is usually an extra £100/200, but it was included for both of us since we were both having the surgery done at the same time).
Flights: £166.80
Total: £5,457.35
Total for both of us: £10,914.70
We felt that the price we paid offered good value for money, especially when considering the level of care we received. We go into our research process in some detail on another page, but suffice it to say we made an informed decision upon which to use Weightloss Riga.
James had planned to do this in the UK where the price was around £15,000. Kirsten decided to get the surgery too; however, with both of us, it would be way out of our budget to do it together here in the UK. From what we gathered, the cost of a gastric sleeve in the UK is normally between £12,000 and £18,000.
In going abroad, we managed to do this at great savings and still visit high-quality professionals. For those who are thinking of going private, it really is worth comparing both in the UK and abroad to find the right deal for you in relation to your budget and requirements.
A Word of Warning
If you are going to embark on having surgery abroad, please do your research, especially in light of the current situation with Turkey. Though being a significant destination for medical tourism because of its low costs, the quality of care might vary. Be sure to check the credentials of the surgeons, read previous patient reviews, and understand the risks. Choose a well-reputed clinic with an excellent record to guarantee your safety and well-being. Don’t rush. Take the extra time; give this decision an effort that your health is worth.