Wondering what a loop duodenal switch costs in Denver? One accredited program just south of downtown—the Bariatric & Metabolic Center of Colorado—lists an all-inclusive cash price of about $20,060 for the surgery, covering the surgeon, hospital stay, anesthesia, and three months of follow-up care.
In the rest of this guide, we’ll compare that benchmark with other local quotes, unpack every line item, and show practical ways to shrink what you pay—whether you’re using insurance or paying cash.
Picture it as a two-step operation rolled into one. First, the surgeon creates a narrow stomach sleeve. Next, a single loop of the small intestine is rerouted so the body absorbs fewer calories and appetite hormones. The full name is single-anastomosis duodenal switch, but most people just say loop DS or SADI-S.
What do those steps mean for you? Results. Patients typically lose about 80 percent of their excess weight and often see major improvements in type 2 diabetes. Outcomes tracked for duodenal switch surgery Colorado at the Bariatric & Metabolic Center of Colorado reach 85–100 percent excess-weight loss, underscoring why the switch is considered the most potent option when the starting body-mass index (BMI) is above 50.
The trade-off is complexity. Loop DS takes longer in the operating room, demands meticulous suturing, and usually involves a two- or three-night hospital stay. Only a handful of Colorado surgeons perform it regularly, so schedules fill quickly and expertise costs more.
Remember these points as we move to pricing. The technical detail that powers stronger weight-loss results also pushes the bill higher than other bariatric options. Knowing the steps behind the surgery puts the cost in clear context.
As of January 2026, most Denver bariatric programs quote a package price between $20,000 and $30,000. That figure usually bundles the surgeon, anesthesia, operating room time, a two- to three-night hospital stay, and 90 days of follow-up care.
High-volume bariatric clinics often sit near the low end, around $20K. Large hospital systems, with higher overhead and longer block times, land closer to $30K.
For context, the same hospitals list gastric sleeve packages at $12K–$18K and gastric bypass at $18K–$25K. Loop DS costs more because it combines a sleeve with an intestinal bypass in one longer operation.
For example, the Bariatric & Metabolic Center of Colorado publishes a transparent, all-inclusive cash package of $20,060 for loop DS. The cost itinerary spells out up to six months of pre-op classes, one-on-one dietitian counseling, surgery, anesthesia, a two-night hospital stay, three months of clinical follow-up, and lifelong support groups—so you can see exactly what your money buys before you commit.
Programs with similar case volumes and lean overhead often cluster near that $20K mark.
The next section will line these numbers up side by side so you can compare them at a glance.
Walk into any Denver operating room and a cost clock starts. Every minute covers high-tech tools, scrub nurses, sterile supplies, and the recovery bay. A loop duodenal switch often takes four hours or more, so the facility bill rises quickly.
Add at least two nights in a bariatric-ready room and facility charges can swallow 50–60 percent of the total package. That single line item hides room fees, pharmacy supplies, lab work, imaging, and each specialist who checks on you while you heal.
Hospitals post set self-pay rates, so this slice of the bill is hard to negotiate. Compare all-inclusive quotes first. If two providers include the same inpatient care, you can focus on surgeon skill, support services, and payment terms instead of surprise add-ons.
Think of the hospital as the backstage crew that makes surgery possible. You may not notice it on the big day, yet it claims the largest share of your budget.
Location shapes your quote more than you might think. A downtown Denver medical campus carries higher payroll, costly real estate, and constant acute-care demand; those overhead costs flow into bariatric rates. Drive an hour south to a specialty center in Cañon City and the surgeon-plus-anesthesia fee may sit near $4,100, but that figure leaves out the hospital stay and recovery services bundled into most Denver packages.
Urban hospitals also invest in advanced imaging, robotic tools, and 24-hour intensivist coverage. Smaller regional centers keep leaner inventories and refer complex cases to the city. That lean setup can lower the bill yet shifts some risk and extra travel back to you.
When two quotes differ by several thousand dollars, first ask where the surgery will happen, then confirm what the facility provides. Paying more for an accredited, full-service center can buy peace of mind that is hard to price.
As of January 2026, most major insurers—including Medicare and Colorado Medicaid—classify bariatric surgery as medically necessary for severe obesity, and loop duodenal switch is on that list. If your policy already covers gastric bypass or sleeve, it likely covers the switch once you meet medical criteria.
Approval is not a simple yes or no. Your plan reviews your body-mass index, weight-related conditions such as diabetes, and documentation that supervised diets have failed. The surgery must take place at a Center of Excellence hospital, a designation Denver’s leading programs already carry. Clear those checkpoints and the insurer usually authorizes the procedure, leaving you to handle the deductible, coinsurance, and any remaining out-of-pocket maximum.
That coverage can shrink a $25,000 bill to only a few thousand out of pocket. The exact number depends on where you are in your deductible cycle, so pull your benefits sheet or call the member line before booking a consult. Knowing your financial floor early keeps surprise bills off the recovery table.
As of January 2026, many Denver programs quote a single, flat cash price for loop DS that covers the surgeon, anesthesia, hospital stay, and 90 days of follow-up care. Most packages fall in the low-to-mid $20K range, payable up front or in two installments.
Packages cost less than piecing every bill together because clinics negotiate volume discounts with partner hospitals and trim administrative overhead. The result is a predictable number you can plan for, with far less paperwork.
Before you sign, ask for a written list of what the package includes. Does it cover pre-op lab work? How many dietitian visits? Are unexpected complications billed at a reduced rate? A transparent provider will answer without hesitation. If they stall, keep shopping—another Denver clinic will gladly spell out every dollar.
Denver prices make more sense when you stack them against other options. Nationally, a duodenal switch averages $20,000–$30,000 according to Your Bariatric Surgery Guide (accessed January 2026). That places it a clear tier above gastric sleeve and usually a few thousand above gastric bypass.
Local numbers match that hierarchy. In Denver, a sleeve package often lands in the low-to-mid teens, a bypass in the high teens to mid-twenties, and loop DS tops the chart at roughly $20K–$30K. The gap reflects longer operating time, a two- to three-night hospital stay, and the extra surgical skill required for the switch.
Price is only half the equation. The next section looks at what you gain for that bigger check: stronger long-term weight loss, higher diabetes remission, and a lower chance of needing a second operation.
The hospital bill is only the opening act. Living with a loop duodenal switch brings ongoing expenses that rarely appear in brochures, yet they matter just as much to your wallet.
Start with supplements. Because the switch reduces nutrient absorption, you will take bariatric-grade vitamins, calcium, and protein daily, at a cost of about $50–$100 a month for life. Skipping them risks anemia, brittle bones, and hospital stays that dwarf the price of pills.
Next come routine lab tests. Your care team will order blood work every three to six months in year one, then annually. If insurance labs run a $25 copay each time, plan roughly $100 a year out of pocket.
Rapid weight loss can leave extra skin. Many patients eventually choose a tummy tuck or arm lift. Cosmetic surgeons in Colorado charge $5,000–$15,000 per area, and insurers consider those procedures elective.
Finally, factor in time away from work. Most people return to a desk job after two weeks and to physical jobs after four. Unpaid leave or used vacation days translate to real dollars. Building a small emergency fund covers these hidden costs and lets you focus on healing instead of spreadsheets.
A $25,000 surgery can feel like the world’s priciest medical bill, until you compare it with the ongoing costs of severe obesity. Research published in 2025 found that adults with a BMI over 40 spend about 80 percent more on healthcare each year than peers at a healthy weight.
Further evidence appeared in October 2024, when Northwestern University researchers compared bariatric surgery with semaglutide injections. The study concluded that surgery adds two healthy life-years and saves about $9,000 a year compared with Wegovy or Ozempic alone.
Those long-term dividends explain why many patients call loop DS the best money they ever spent. Fewer prescriptions, fewer specialist copays, and renewed energy to work and play continue to pay back long after the hospital stay.
Remember, the operation only sets the stage. Keep up with vitamins, lab checks, and balanced meals, and the return on investment shifts from theory to bank balance.
Walk into each consult with clear, decisive questions and expect direct answers.
Start with the money. Ask, “What exactly does this quoted price include?” and wait for details such as hospital room, anesthesia, labs, and post-op visits.
Dig into safety. “How many loop duodenal switches have you performed in the past year, and what are your complication rates?” High-volume surgeons usually post lower complication numbers.
Clarify the fine print. “If I need an extra night in the hospital, how is that billed?” and “How are complications covered for self-pay patients?”
Probe the support system. “How long will I meet with your dietitian and psychologist after surgery, and is that cost included?”
Confirm financing help. “Do you offer in-house payment plans or partner with medical-loan companies?”
Bring this checklist to at least two Denver consults, note each answer side by side, and the best value—financial and medical—will come into focus.
MBTpg
