Cost of Removing Huge Tumour (Lipoma)?

Chris17 on 01/10/2024 - 12:30

My mother-in-law is in the UK and has spent the past five years sprouting a massive tumour on her arm. It’s benign but hideous, like a wobbly pockmarked grapefruit: NHS have offered to remove it free of charge but she’s scared to go under the knife.

MIL will be visiting us next year and my wife wants to get her operated on here as a non-citizen. Obviously I’m the one that will end up holding the invoice.

Any ideas how much that sort of thing might cost? Nobody is insane enough to go all the way to Australia for simple day surgery of this sort, so it’s hard to get even a notion how much poorer I risk becoming.

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • foolsgold on 02/10/2024 - 09:58
    +1

    looking at my health insurance invoices, a day procedure here was approx 2.5k for the day in hospital, and 6k for theatre, then there was a separate fee to the surgeon / anaesthetist, your probably looking conservatively 10-11k, likely 15-18k once you account for medicine, pre appointments, and post appointments

    • Chris17 on 03/10/2024 - 13:50

      Thanks for some concrete figures. That’s some hefty dough we’re talking.

  • Hangryuman on 02/10/2024 - 10:08

    from quick browse it looks like let the MILs children who live 5km from her sort it out.

    bringing her to Oz just opens a whole new can of worms that you would be blamed for.

  • Blargman2001 on 02/10/2024 - 10:22
    +3

    Assuming the surgery alone cost $20k, if something goes wrong and she needs to spend time in ICU that's about $5k per day. If that's not covered under the reciprocal healthcare agreement that can easily bankrupt someone if she spends any extended period of time in there.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/10/2024 - 10:58
    +4

    Practical answer, day surgery is about 3k for the facilityor private hospital and 1k for the Anaesthesiologist, could be abit more depending on location. Then you just have the surgeon cost which is most likely going to be a cosmetic surgeon, not cheap but still should be under 5k so 10k all up. However the chances of you getting everything scheduled within a 4 week block with referrals and surgeon availability is not high.

    Massive waste of time and money though. If your MIL has some emotional issues with health care you'd be better off spending that money on therapy

    • Chris17 on 03/10/2024 - 13:54

      I agree. She has several children over there who could offer the requisite hand-holding. She’s also 81, which doesn’t augur well for recovery.

  • RPGPlayer on 02/10/2024 - 11:40

    There is also a great risk of blood clot with removing the lipoma. It is tricky for the dermatologist or surgeon as parts of the fatty tissue stick to muscle. These need to be cauterised. I speak from personal experience and mine was a much smaller one (3cm in size)

  • goms on 02/10/2024 - 12:17

    If she doesn't need to go under, it's relatively cheap to do it at a skin clinic. I have mine removed for just under $200 all up, including the initial consultation.

    • mapax on 02/10/2024 - 12:21
      +5

      Was yours the size of a grapefruit?

      • pharkurnell on 02/10/2024 - 15:39
        +3

        The MIL would be a dragonfruit

      • goms on 02/10/2024 - 17:05
        +1

        It was about 6cm. Small grapefruit? Lol.

        • mapax on 02/10/2024 - 18:17

          Tiny grapefruit, but that’s still pretty big.
          How long did it take to get that big?

          • goms on 02/10/2024 - 21:18

            @mapax: Not sure when it started. It was at the back of my head so by the time I noticed it, it was already sizable. I ignored it for about 2 years and when I scanned it, it grew from 5cm to 6cm in a year, so I decided to take it out.

  • capslock janitor on 02/10/2024 - 13:30
    -3

    CLEAN DIET

  • cfuse on 02/10/2024 - 13:53
    +1

    simple day surgery

    Not even close.

    For starters, you don't talk about her age, other conditions, or general health. Someone that won't correct a visible disfigurement clearly has a super high tolerance for refusing necessary medical treatment.

    Then there's the nature of removing large chunks of tissue and skin. Some people go into shock. Some people bleed a lot. Everyone will need drains and wound care. No surgeon will do that extensive a procedure without a GA and that's got its own risks.

    Depending on the site of the surgery (given this is on an arm) you also might have all the fun of ripping the wound closure. Or having to get rehab to return the scarred limb to an acceptable range of motion.

    And with or without complications all of this takes time which you likely don't have.

    • infinite on 02/10/2024 - 16:49
      +2

      There will be pre-costs for sure, like an initial GP visit, referral from the GP, then a visit with a private surgeon for an initial consult, surgeons prep-report for the surgery, etc….

      But the entire surgery itself for a difficult lipoma excision will only need a theatre hire, the surgeon, an assistant and a couple of nurses + theatre clean fee. The surgery will cost about $3,000 to $5,000 up-front and will include post-op reports and testing if required. The whole surgery will be done in about an hour tops.

      A lot of Lipoma's can be quickly and easily excised by GP's, Dermatologists and pretty much anyone with a basic surgical history under their belt. Only a complex difficult large Lipoma in a hard area to get to, with a patient who has a heavy number of health factors & older age working against them, is going to need the type of surgery I just costed. An example of that would be a large Lipoma growing in the skin above the spine or on the neck.

      The most difficult thing about Lipoma excisions is they just tend to bleed heavily, as the cells inside that need draining have to be squeezed or suctioned out.

      • cfuse on 03/10/2024 - 13:34

        Not once do I mention money.

        My comment is about potential complications. If you are a clinician then all I have to ask to know your true sentiments about that is how much are you insured for?

        Things can go wrong. That's just the reality of life. Best to be prepared for the worst and be happy if it doesn't happen. Best to not willingly stroll into dangerous ground if it can be avoided. Unnecessary medical tourism for zero improvement in clinical outcome is an obviously bad idea, with or without added expenses and hurdles.

        • infinite on 03/10/2024 - 15:50

          Except for registrar's (because they are employees, not contractors) all practitioners are typically indemnified for about $20 million.

          There is a danger to all medical tourism, but that's mostly a danger if you are coming from a first world medical system and going to a third world medical system. Unfortunately due to woke and DEI hiring policies and the associated drop of professional standards and outcomes, the UK's medical system has become among the worst in all of Europe. OP is quite right to want to fly their relative outside of the UK to receive a first world standard of medical treatment.

          • cfuse on 03/10/2024 - 17:04

            @infinite: I don't know what paid elective surgery is like in the UK, either quality or cost wise. I'd imagine you could buy your way past the diversity hires if you had the money.

            Medical tourism may make more sense going from the UK to Europe. It's basically next door and plenty of places are going to have high standards for elective care if you're willing to pay out of pocket for it.

            I'm ex-insurance. We did medical evacs as part of the business. The irony here is that there is some very high quality care available in some poor countries exactly because their top of the line treatment is cheap in our currency.

    • Muppet Detector on 09/11/2024 - 04:12

      They do c sections and deliver babies without general aesthetic. Thinking a grapefruit on an arm is a bit smaller, less complicated and less invasive. So makes me think not all surgeons need GA for big surgeries.

      But realistically, if she has support in UK, she should have surgery there IF she wants it. Unfair to expect to come here and have you pay for it when it is neither life threatening or expensive in the UK.

      Also thinking, if she doesn't have it removed, at 81, she might not have to live with it for much longer anyway.

  • Name on 02/10/2024 - 18:45

    I had knee surgery last year (meniscus tear repair). Private health didn't cover it, couldn't wait for public system. Cost was $8k full fee at a private hospital.

    My wife had her gallbladder removed, similar situation a few months back, full fee was $13k.

    These were both just day surgeries with no complications. It's not as expensive as you'd originally think - although still more expensive than free! If I could have done it for free in some reasonable time frame I would have.

  • ajs900 on 02/10/2024 - 19:04

    About tree-fiddy.
    Sorry to hear though.

  • kindra on 02/10/2024 - 21:37

    i just got my lipoma removed around end of july this year. i went via private so not sure of exact cost but it will be expensive. surgeon fees alone were in a few thousands. Then hospital stay for 2 nights. i still up for 6 weeks of radiotherapy because theres a 50% chance of lipomas growing back in same area.

  • Randxyz123 on 03/10/2024 - 05:38

    I don’t think anyone is going to be able to give you an accurate estimate. Why does she think that the NHS would do a worse job than anyone in Australia?
    For starters although the system is broken as someone who lives in the UK the level of care is on par with Australia, secondly should she (touch wood) have any complications after surgery meaning she needs to say, or when she returns home being in one spot for everything will be way way easier.

    As others have said, offer to fly over a month with her while she recovers and tack on a trip to mainland Europe at the same time.

  • shutuptakemymoney101 on 03/10/2024 - 07:07

    Send wife and M-I-L to Thailand to have the operation, if you're feeling generous throw in a few bob more for breast augmentation surgery or a sex change - all up still cheaper than having the procedure done here in Australia.

  • Flipfeet on 03/10/2024 - 08:21

    Like others suggest, I would advise sticking to the free option in the NHS.

    I work in private healthcare. You could get an estimate of the cost by finding a surgeon who would be happy to do a telehealth appointment with your MIL. The surgeon's rooms will provide their estimate (which would be based on what they would usually receive from Medicare, the health funds and their out of pocket - aka not cheap). They would then send a request to the private hospital for them to quote on the estimated costs of the procedure and stay. Please note this is only estimated - a more complicated/longer surgery, your MIL becoming unwell post surgery and needing a higher level of care etc. will all impact on the final cost.

    If she required rehabilitation, further therapy or medication - all of these would be charged at the full listed price, not the discount we all pay as Medicare card holders and citizens.

    And all of the estimated costs would need to be paid up front, with you signing an IFC (informed Financial Consent) to be liable for any additional costs.

    Without knowing all the detail I would be surprised if it cost less than $20k - and that is with everything going as planned.

    Good luck

  • havabeer on 03/10/2024 - 09:57

    I had one removed a few years ago, using private health cover, I don't recall how much it cost but it was less than 2k out of pocket, it might have even been around 1k.

    Maybe size a location can effect cost but I went under a general for one that was deemed barely too big to be done in a clinic. So 20k to me sounds very speculative.

    • Flipfeet on 03/10/2024 - 12:08
      +1

      The point here is you had private cover that would have covered a large part of your doctor and hospital costs. In this situation none of these costs are covered except by the writer of the post. Most health funds will provide you with a breakdown of your total procedure costs and you can see what they (or Medicare) paid.

      Add to that, costs of providing care have increased significantly the last few years so what a particular surgery cost 3 years ago may be different to today.

  • IpGem on 03/10/2024 - 11:58

    She's afraid of knives in the uk but not in Australia? Must be the weather here

  • Chris17 on 03/10/2024 - 13:57
    +4

    Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and, in some case, personal experiences. The request is clearly absurd. As the breadwinner, I’m putting my foot down.

    • Hangryuman on 03/10/2024 - 14:30

      You tell 'em Chris - you could use my least-favourite meaningless statement, popular with folks who want to sound like they're doing something when they're actually not lifting a finger

      "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!"

  • mranderson978 on 03/10/2024 - 16:17

    This is why people go to Thailand for surgery.

  • iamapineapple on 03/10/2024 - 20:26
    +1

    I am a surgeon! UK has a reciprocal agreement with Australia so public care is free - it does stipulate 'medically necessary' care but I reckon you could probably get it done through the public system here - but there would be a long wait.

    Getting it done privately is not as dramatic as everyone is suggesting - you would need to shop around and speak directly to the hospitals about their fee structures but the total out of pocket cost will certainly be <$10K and closer to $5k, all added up.

    Also a lipectomy is a pretty benign surgery, you could reassure your mum getting it done in the UK is a good idea - if it helps to reassure her, she could book in a private telehealth consultation with an Australian surgeon who would say the same thing (which would only cost $200-300)

    • mauricem on 03/10/2024 - 20:48

      Not sure I'd trust a surgeon who identifies as a pineapple;)

  • BartholemewH on 03/10/2024 - 20:47

    Time to remove your balls from wife's handbag. $20k on a non critical surgery offered for free….

  • Sprockie on 04/10/2024 - 02:10

    Hi

    I have had this procedure done about 3 years ago under Medicare plus an additional cost to me of approximately $200. I assume that the Medicare contribution component was something like $200-$300. That was for multiple small lipomas.

    Every case is different but assuming it’s benign and it’s not near any problem areas eg arteries I understand it’s not a complex operation- but like I said it all depends on the individual case.

    Usually lipoma removal isn’t complex, the issue is that very few doctors are skilled or are willing to do Basic surgery, so it then ends up in the hands of specialists/surgeons who charge accordingly.

    It took me considerable time and investigation to find a reasonable doctor whom I was suitably skilled and available. I found a gp day surgery that seemed to specialise in lipoma removal without costing a fortune.

    I may be able to iron look back through my Medicare records to find the clinic details if required. This is not me advocating this gp, I’d just provide you the detail of the one I used and you can make your own assessment. I have rarely ever posted here but I’m assuming you can contact me directly/ privately through here.

    • Chris17 on 04/10/2024 - 07:18
      +2

      Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply.

      Given the cost involved for a foreigner, as well as the logistical complexities, my mother-in-law will learn to deal with her country’s hospital system and lean on geographically closer offspring.

      • gromit on 04/10/2024 - 09:39

        Very wise decision. any sort of complication with the procedure here could see you in debt up to your eyeballs.

      • Sprockie on 04/10/2024 - 11:17

        I think you’ve made the good decision - caution is always the best with medical issues.

  • bardlee on 04/10/2024 - 13:02

    Claim it as a dependant.

  • GreyChris on 04/10/2024 - 21:49

    Unm.. she hasn't consented to the surgery? You won't have to pay anything!

    In Australia GPs can do lipoma removals as part of a normal visit as far as I'm aware. When the lipomas are bigger or it's supposed to be left prettier a cosmetic surgeon might be more appropriate though.

  • Gros21 on 12/10/2024 - 21:18

    Gastric sleeve few years ago was 30k pre covid

    So thats a planned surgery thats same old same old he does 6 a day (2 days per week)

    10k surgeon
    10k room fees
    4k gas man

    Forgot what rest was.

    Now add that a tumer is more of a pot luck when she's opened.

    Plus it's going to be month or 2 from first visit to surgery.

    They will want x-rays, blood tests, MRI goodness knows what else.

  • Duckie2hh on 01/11/2024 - 13:23

    but she’s scared to go under the knife

    so doing it privately in Australia will resolve this how?

    • Archi on 06/11/2024 - 14:12

      aussie knives are better…

      because "that's not a knife..!"

      • mapax on 06/11/2024 - 14:37

        I see you’ve played knifey-spoony before…

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