A partial colectomy in the US bills $30,000 to $60,000 or more at hospital charges and typically settles at $18,000 to $35,000 cash-pay all-in; a colostomy or ileostomy creation adds to that, and a later reversal is a second operation at $15,000 to $30,000. At accredited Colombian hospitals a laparoscopic partial colectomy typically runs $7,500 to $13,000 and an ostomy reversal $5,000 to $9,000. Ongoing ostomy supplies cost $300 to $600 per month in the US without insurance.
Colectomy pricing is harder to pin down than most surgery because the operation varies enormously: a 90-minute laparoscopic sigmoid resection for recurrent diverticulitis and a 5-hour open total colectomy with ileostomy for cancer are both "colectomy." This guide gives the ranges by type, explains ostomy costs, and covers what is realistic to do abroad.
Typical 2026 prices
Colectomy and ostomy procedures
All-in typical 2026, cash-payWhy colectomy costs what it does
- It is inpatient surgery. Even laparoscopic colectomy means 3 to 5 nights in hospital while bowel function returns; open surgery 5 to 7. At US per-night rates that is $5,000 to $25,000 of the bill before the surgeon is paid.
- Bowel preparation, imaging, and colonoscopy precede it: $1,500 to $4,000 in the US self-pay.
- Stapling devices and energy instruments are single-use and expensive.
- Complication risk is real. Anastomotic leak occurs in roughly 3 to 8 percent of colorectal anastomoses and can double the cost of care. Ask how complications are priced.
Colostomy vs ileostomy, temporary vs permanent
An ostomy diverts stool through the abdominal wall into a pouch. A colostomy uses the colon; an ileostomy uses the small bowel. Many are temporary, created to protect a fresh anastomosis or in an emergency (perforated diverticulitis, obstruction), and reversed 3 to 12 months later in a second operation. The reversal is billed as separate surgery and is one of the most common places uninsured patients get stuck: the emergency surgery happened, the reversal is elective, and elective surgery requires payment arrangements.
The reversal is the travel-appropriate half. An ostomy reversal is planned, elective, and well-suited to an accredited Colombian colorectal program at $5,000 to $9,000 versus $15,000 to $30,000 US cash. The original emergency surgery is not something to travel for. If you are living with a temporary ostomy and the reversal has been delayed by cost, this is the procedure to price abroad.
Ongoing ostomy costs
Pouches, wafers, barrier rings, and adhesive remover run $300 to $600 per month self-pay in the US, less with insurance or Medicare. Manufacturer assistance programs and organizations like the United Ostomy Associations of America maintain lists of supply assistance. In Colombia the same brand supplies typically cost 40 to 60 percent less at retail.
Conditions behind most colectomies
- Diverticulitis: elective sigmoid colectomy after recurrent or complicated episodes. The most common elective colectomy and the most travel-appropriate.
- Colorectal cancer: oncologic resection with lymph node harvest. Possible abroad at hospitals with a cancer program, but coordination with oncology at home matters more than price.
- Inflammatory bowel disease: ulcerative colitis (total colectomy) and Crohn's (segmental). Complex, often staged, best done within one program.
- Polyps not removable by colonoscopy: segmental resection.
Credentials to verify before booking in Colombia. Surgeon license on ReTHUS, the national health-professional registry; specialty board membership (SCCOT for orthopedics and traumatology, ACC for general surgery, SCCP for plastic surgery); and the name of the hospital where the procedure is performed. JCI accreditation applies to hospitals, never to standalone clinics.
Price a colectomy or ostomy reversal at an accredited Colombian hospital
Send your diagnosis, prior operative report if any, and imaging. Our Medellín-based team routes to colorectal surgeons at accredited Colombian hospitals and returns itemized quotes within 48 hours.
Request quotesWhatsApp usFrequently Asked
How much does a colectomy cost?
In the US, $18,000 to $35,000 cash-pay all-in for a laparoscopic partial colectomy and $35,000 to $70,000 for a total colectomy; hospital billed charges run higher. At accredited Colombian hospitals, $7,500 to $13,000 and $14,000 to $24,000 respectively.
How much does a colostomy cost?
Creating a colostomy or ileostomy as a standalone procedure typically runs $12,000 to $25,000 US cash-pay and $4,500 to $8,000 in Colombia. When part of a colectomy, it is usually inside that price.
How much does colostomy reversal cost?
$15,000 to $30,000 US cash-pay; $5,000 to $9,000 at an accredited Colombian hospital. It is elective surgery and the most travel-appropriate part of ostomy care.
How much do ostomy supplies cost per month?
$300 to $600 self-pay in the US, depending on pouch system and change frequency. Manufacturer and nonprofit assistance programs exist; supplies in Colombia cost 40 to 60 percent less.
Can I have colectomy surgery in Colombia?
Elective colectomy (diverticulitis, polyps) and ostomy reversal, yes, at accredited hospitals with colorectal surgeons. Emergency surgery, no. Cancer resection is possible but should be coordinated with your oncology team at home.