Doctors normally do all they can to prevent the need for surgery, but sometimes it is inevitable. Surgeries can be expensive and although health insurance will usually pay for them, the treatment must be pre-approved. Following are 5 basic surgeries and how much they usually cost on average.
Cataract Surgery
As humans age the body naturally deteriorates in different places, such as the eyes. The most common eye condition related to aging is cataracts. Cataracts are cloudy white obfuscations over the eye’s lens which can only be removed from surgery. Cataract surgery is painless and involves the replacement of the natural lens with an artificial lens. The success rate of cataract surgery is over 90% and there are usually very few complications after the surgery, making it one of the safest procedures known. The average cost of cataract surgery is $3,900.
Abdominal Hernia Repair
A hernia is a medical term for when an organ puts too much pressure on surrounding tissue and causes it to tear and bulge. Hiatal hernias must be repaired by a simple surgery to the diaphragm. If a hernia is not repaired some internal organs can become tangled in the intestines, which will cut off the blood supply and cause damage to the organ. A hernia can be caused by something as small as straining during a bowel movement. The average cost of a hernia repair is $5,800.
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is the procedure used to surgically remove the tonsils from the back of the throat. The procedure was first used by the Romans several thousand years ago. Usually the tonsils are removed after they become infected several times and the surgery is most commonly done during childhood in a simple inpatient procedure. However, anyone can opt for the surgery for other reasons. A tonsillectomy can remedy issues such as extreme snoring, sleep apnea, and airway obstruction. The average cost of a tonsillectomy is $3,800.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic surgery, also known as arthroscopy, repairs damage to a joint. The procedure involves the use of an arthroscope to repair the tissue damage without fully opening up the joint or making a large incision. An arthroscope is a flexible tube with a very small camera that transmits a video feed to the surgeon to guide them. The surgeon only needs to make a small incision for the scope and another for the reparation tool. The procedure is usually performed on the knees, wrists, shoulders, or spine. The average cost of an arthroscopy is $7,000.
Sinus Surgery
This type of surgery is used to treat nasal polyps and sinusitis. It’s also one of the most common methods of removing diseased tissue from the nasal passageways. This is a non-invasive surgery, which means that there are no cuts made to the skin. Instead, an endoscope is inserted into the nasal passageway which allows the surgeon to see what he or she is doing. As the sinuses are located extremely close to the brain this is a very delicate procedure. The average cost of nasal surgery is $5,700.
Surgery is never pleasant, but knowing the cost of your procedure can reduce some of the stress going into the procedure. It’s also important to pay attention to the recommendations of the surgeon so that you minimize your chance of complications.