Why does surgery cost so much?

Because there is a lot involved in these surgeries. You have the surgeon - who has spent years learning to become a doctor, and years more to become a surgeon, then learn how to do the procedures. The hospital also has to be paid - there is the anesthesiologist, all the nurses and doctors that take care of the person from the time they come in the door, through surgery and in the recovery period. How much do you think it's worth paying the people that take care of a patient while they are unconscious and being operated on? That life is completely in their hands, so you better hope they know what they are doing, and they should be compensated for that. There are the anesthetics, pain medication, IV fluids, laboratory testing and so forth and so on. Right down to the people who make the food (sometimes a special diet after surgery) and clean the room, and make the bed.