How many cataract surgeries, knee replacements, or hernia repairs are actually performed in France each year? The national health insurance system publishes these figures, procedure by procedure, but in raw files that almost no one consults. We've analyzed them for you. Here, procedure by procedure, are the 2025 volumes for the private sector, their evolution, and the official reimbursement rates.
The 2025 dashboard
| Intervention | Procedures reimbursed in 2025 | Evolution vs 2024 | Reimbursement basis (most frequent procedure) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract surgery | 847 857 | +0,9% | € 271,70 |
| Carpal tunnel release | 130 484 | +3,9% | € 104,50 |
| Knee prosthesis | 99 110 | +4% | € 673,32 |
| Total hip replacement | 95 930 | +3,2% | € 459,80 |
| Inguinal hernia treatment | 88 824 | -2,3% | € 232,40 |
| Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) | 57 568 | -2,3% | € 293,94 |
| Tonsillectomy | 45 686 | +0,6% | € 93,42 |
| Septoplasty and rhinoplasty | 29 613 | +3,8% | € 178,98 |
| Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) | 13 622 | +4% | € 188,10 |
| Abdominoplasty and abdominal dermolipectomy | 5 232 | -5,3% | € 396,75 |
Note: The reimbursement basis is the official fee for the surgeon's procedure in sector 1. This is not the price paid: the anesthesiologist's fees, hospital costs, sector 2 overcharges, and flat fees are added. Our out-of-pocket expense calculator reconstructs the complete bill item by item.
Methodology and scope
The figures come from the official file "CCAM Technical Procedures, Annual Series" published by the Cnam based on the National Health Data System (SNDS), 2024 and 2025 vintages (version consulted on August 13, 2026). Three important points to note:
- Liberal sector only : private practices, clinics and health centers. The activity of public hospitals is not included, so the national totals across all sectors are higher.
- Reimbursed procedures Purely cosmetic surgery, which is not covered, does not appear in these data.
- Areas cleaned We only include the surgeon's procedure itself in the totals. Infiltrations, histopathological examinations, prosthesis revisions, and ancillary procedures have been excluded from the totals, code by code. The exact list of aggregated CCAM codes for each procedure is available upon request.
Intervention by intervention
Cataract surgery: 847,857 procedures in 2025
Lens extraction by phacoemulsification is the gold standard technique. It is by far the most frequently performed surgical procedure in France. The volume is increasing by 0,9% compared to 2024 (840,380 procedures). The most common procedure (CCAM code BFGA427) has a reimbursement base of €271,70.
Carpal tunnel release: 130,484 procedures in 2025
Median nerve release, either via direct approach (54%) or video-assisted surgery (46%). Injections, a non-surgical procedure, are billed separately by the French National Health Insurance. The volume of these procedures increased by 3,9% compared to 2024 (125,611 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code AHPA009) has a reimbursement rate of €104,50. For more information: our sick leave compensation simulator.
Knee replacement: 99,110 procedures in 2025
Initial implant procedures only, primarily total dentures (also known as tricompartmental dentures). Revision dentures are excluded from this total. The volume increased by 4% compared to 2024 (95,306 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code NFKA008) has a reimbursement base of €673,32.
Total hip replacement: 95,930 procedures in 2025
First-time total hip replacements, excluding revisions and exchanges. The volume increased by 3,2% compared to 2024 (92,920 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code NEKA020) has a reimbursement base of €459,80.
Inguinal hernia treatment: 88,824 procedures in 2025
Inguinal hernia repair, with or without a prosthesis. Video-assisted surgery (laparoscopy) now accounts for the majority of unilateral repairs. The volume has decreased by 2,3% compared to 2024 (90,903 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code LMMC002) has a reimbursement base of €232,40.
Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy): 57,568 procedures in 2025
Cholecystectomies, performed laparoscopically in more than 9 out of 10 cases. The volume decreased by 2,3% compared to 2024 (58,912 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code HMFC004) has a reimbursement base of €293,94.
Tonsillectomy: 45,686 procedures in 2025
Tonsillectomies by dissection, often combined with adenoidectomy in children. The volume increased by 0,6% compared to 2024 (45,393 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code FAFA015) has a reimbursement base of €93,42.
Septoplasty and rhinoplasty: 29,613 procedures in 2025
Septoplasties and rhinoseptoplasties, excluding sinus surgery. The volume increased by 3,8% compared to 2024 (28,525 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code GAMA007) has a reimbursement base of €178,98.
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): 13,622 procedures in 2025
Skin, muscle, or fat resections of the eyelids covered by French National Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie) constitute functional surgery. Purely cosmetic blepharoplasty, which is not reimbursed, is not included in these figures. The volume of procedures increased by 4% compared to 2024 (13,099 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code BAFA008) has a reimbursement base of €188,10. For further information, see our guide to post-eyelid surgery care.
Abdominoplasty and abdominal dermolipectomy: 5,232 procedures in 2025
Abdominal dermolipectomies are covered, typically after massive weight loss or pregnancy with diastasis recti. Purely cosmetic abdominoplasty, which is not covered, is not included here. The number of procedures decreased by 5,3% compared to 2024 (5,525 procedures). The most frequent procedure (CCAM code QBFA012) has a reimbursement base of €396,75. For more information: our out-of-pocket expense calculator.
Verified sources
- Health Insurance, Technical Acts of the CCAM, annual series 2015-2025
- Health Insurance, open data catalogue
Analysis conducted on August 13, 2026, using public data from the French National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam). These figures describe reimbursed activity in the private sector and do not constitute a recommendation or an indicator of the quality of care. This page will be updated with each new year.
