Did you have your gall bladder removed DURING surgery and if so why? Also, if you self-paid did this cut your price down and by how much?

I had to have a gallbladder ultrasound before my surgery to see if it was functioning ok and it was, so I did not have my removed. Your surgeon may require the ultrasound just to see if it shoud be removed or not. I would think if you're self pay, it would definitely not cut the price down, but could go up a bit or just stay the same depending on the surgeon.

I know one person who was self-pay and it cut the cost because her insurance paid for it(the gallbladder). So since she had it done at the same time the insurance paid the hospital stay, meds, etc. and she just ended up paying for the pre-labs and the vsg. I also know someone who had a hernia repair at the same time and the same thing ended up happening, she ended up paying half of what she would of paid! Just wanted to know of anyone who had a similar situation.

I did. during my preop ultrasound appt.. they found that I had gallstones. lucky to have them done at the same time

you are lucky that they took your gallbladder at the same time. My surgeon told me after the surgery that my gallbladder was inflamed and scarred and needed to come out, but he didn't take it while he was doing the sleeve because he did not want to do a bonus surgery! So, 7 weeks after the sleeve, I went back in this past week to have my gallbladder removed. i am going through the healing again.....my poor belly button! HA!

That sounds like the surgeon wanted to double bill. My surgeon said it would be included in the cost if needed to come out. Mine did not. I also know 6 people who had surgery here in the states with 3 different WL surgeons in the san diego area and all of them had the gallbladder out and it was included in the surgery. I think it depends on the surgeon and insurance.

I had mine out during the sleeve surgery- if you have more questions email me.

I had no problems- and it only cost 800 more- I am self pay.

I agree that in my case, where the surgeon told me it needed to come out so I had another surgery 7 weeks later, that the surgeon was not interested in spending the extra time for additional work that was not preauthorized by the insurer. That was disappointing. Otherwise, I really liked this guy, who spends 90% of his time doing these surgeries and is very good. My other doctors just rolled their eyes when I told them about his comment about not doing "bonus surgeries". So, I guess the lesson for the newbies who haven't had surgery yet is to ASK ahead of time about the gallbladder, will they take it out when they are doing the sleeve if it is not healthy. This guy had a long informed consent form that included hernia repair, etc., but not the gallbladder. Oh well, it is over now, and I am getting better every day. I hope this lesson helps others who haven't had the sleeve done yet.

I had mine removed because they found a stone during the ultrasound. I did call my insurance and had that approved also.