Surgeries to fix post-op issues with private gastric band procedures cost $33M: Report

It's reported that since 2010, surgeons at public hospitals removed 2,363 gastric bands that were implanted at private clinics. At a cost of between $3,000 and $14,000 per removal, it's estimated the cost of the post-op surgeries to the taxpayer is $33 million. Gastric bands, devices that close off part of patients' stomachs, are marketed as weight-loss fixes as they're supposed to reduce appetite. Gastric band surgery is covered under certain cases at public hospitals but at private clinics, the procedures cost $16,000, with some patients reporting there were no post-op follow-ups.