Weight loss surgery cost without insurance
The median cash price for Gastric sleeve surgery is $7,373.00 across 244 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $1,494.08 and $37,151.87.
Weight loss (bariatric) surgery makes the stomach smaller, and a gastric bypass also reroutes the intestine. The sleeve gastrectomy is now the most common operation, followed by the gastric bypass; the adjustable gastric band is rarely placed anymore, but many old bands are being removed. Many people pay cash because some health plans exclude bariatric surgery.
Collected Sep 30, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Weight loss surgery prices by type
43775 is the laparoscopic sleeve and is used in the state table; 43644 is laparoscopic gastric bypass and 43846 open bypass; 43770 places an adjustable band and 43774 removes one.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Most charge | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric sleeve surgery Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss · code 43775 | 244 | $1,494.08–$37,151.87 | $7,373.00 | — |
| Gastric bypass surgery Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, standard limb length · code 43644 | 160 | $2,138.80–$43,793.33 | $11,771.76 | — |
| Gastric bypass, open Open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass through an abdominal incision · code 43846 | 70 | $1,446.24–$30,279.00 | $4,773.96 | — |
| Gastric band surgery (Lap-Band) Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band placement (Lap-Band) · code 43770 | 150 | $2,244.47–$26,070.68 | $12,320.22 | — |
| Gastric band removal Laparoscopic removal of an adjustable gastric band and its port · code 43774 | 287 | $1,617.00–$16,753.98 | $5,384.79 | — |
“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.
Gastric sleeve surgery: median by state
States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its weight loss surgery prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Michigan$1,288.10
- Kentucky$1,952.60
- Minnesota$2,054.92
- New Jersey$2,223.65
- Washington$2,403.28
- Kansas$2,517.83
- Iowa$2,644.53
- Nebraska$3,473.39
- Connecticut$6,295.00
- Tennessee$6,403.69
- California$6,423.20
- Arkansas$8,403.00
- Wisconsin$8,532.10
- Colorado$8,989.16
- Louisiana$9,064.00
- North Carolina$9,085.09
- Pennsylvania$11,031.53
- South Dakota$12,673.78
- New York$13,248.48
- Mississippi$13,263.47
- Arizona$15,001.09
- Texas$18,315.01
- Missouri$21,149.34
- New Mexico$21,498.64
- Florida$24,544.88
- West Virginia$25,242.25
- Indiana$30,580.44
- Idaho$32,839.00
- Alabama$32,966.33
- Ohio$41,528.49
- Virginia$42,830.53
- South Carolina$47,557.23
- Illinois$57,487.92
- Georgia$59,077.30
Gastric sleeve surgery: median by metro area
Metro areas with at least two hospitals.
- Abilene, TX$19,815.84
- Appleton, WI$8,532.10
- Boise City, ID$32,839.00
- Cape Coral, FL$24,544.88
- Chicago, IL$57,487.92
- Cincinnati, OH$47,003.16
- Dallas, TX$6,346.34
- Detroit, MI$1,413.35
- Fort Smith, AR$14,448.46
- Green Bay, WI$5,250.30
- Harrisburg, PA$11,484.03
- Lafayette, LA$9,064.00
- Lansing, MI$1,698.00
- Las Cruces, NM$36,634.38
- Lexington, KY$2,204.67
- Lima, OH$51,124.14
- Little Rock, AR$6,448.20
- Los Angeles, CA$3,596.72
- Memphis, TN$6,403.69
- Michigan City, IN$29,771.10
- Morgantown, WV$15,577.18
- Nashville, TN$17,305.25
- New York, NY$10,973.76
- Omaha, NE$3,473.39
- Oshkosh, WI$8,532.10
- Peoria, IL$8,766.22
- Rapid City, SD$12,673.78
- Sacramento, CA$6,423.20
- San Diego, CA$2,896.87
- San Francisco, CA$6,423.20
- San Jose, CA$6,423.20
- Springfield, MO$23,794.60
- St. Louis, MO$19,963.64
- Utica, NY$14,041.53
- Vallejo, CA$6,423.20
- Victoria, TX$19,457.87
- Virginia Beach, VA$44,985.21
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask for a bundled self-pay package that includes the surgeon, anesthesia, the hospital stay, pre-surgery tests and follow-up visits; hospital file prices usually cover only the facility.
- Ask what happens to the price if there is a complication or an extra night in the hospital.
- Compare programs accredited by MBSAQIP, which report their outcomes, rather than price alone.
Questions
How much weight do people lose after bariatric surgery?
On average about a quarter to a third of body weight over one to two years after a sleeve or bypass, less after a gastric band.
Does insurance cover weight loss surgery?
Some plans do when body mass index and related conditions meet their criteria, often after a supervised diet program; others exclude it, which is why cash packages are common.
Is a sleeve or a bypass cheaper?
The sleeve is usually a shorter operation and often costs less, but the right choice depends on your health, such as reflux or diabetes.