Laparoscopic surgical procedures are the cutting edge of medical technology in the 21st century.  Less invasive surgical techniques and procedures utilizing laparoscopic surgery enable patients to heal faster, reduce the risk of infection, and cause less tissue damage and resulting complications. Laparoscopic surgery is also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS).  The technique enables surgeons to view, access and remove sections or entire organs through very small incisions.

For example, laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that has been perfected in the past two decades that enables surgeons to surgically repair or remove organs in the body through small incisions that result in fewer complications, surrounding tissue damage and faster healing times.  A gallbladder removal procedure is called a cholecystectomy. Other popular laparoscopic procedures include:

• Appendectomy (removal of the appendix)
• Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH)
• Bariatric gastric bypass surgeries
• Cancer treatment
• Fibroids

Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgical procedures may enjoy savings of tens of thousands of dollars in hospital care costs due to shortened hospital stay time. In the United States for example, the cost of laparoscopic gallbladder removal averages about $3,000 to $8,000 but lab costs and anesthesiology and hospital stay may leave patients with a bill of  approximately $25,000 to $50,000 depending on geographical location.

Medical tourists traveling to destinations such as Makewell Meditour in India or Laparoscopic Solutions in Coahuila, Mexico, as well as facilities in Thailand and  Turkey may save up to 50-70% on the costs of laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery and hospital stays in the United States. In various locations in Mexico and Costa Rica, international travelers may purchase packages for laparoscopic surgery that average between $4,500 to $6,000, including hospital stay, transportation and lab work.