Weight-Loss Surgery
Weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is for severely overweight people who cannot lose weight by traditional means or who suffer from life-threatening, weight-related health problems. If you fit this profile and are determined to lose weight to improve your health, surgery may be the answer. Your health care provider will estimate the risks and benefits and decide whether the risk of NOT having the surgery outweighs the potential complications from having the surgery. You may be a candidate for weight-loss surgery if you meet these criteria:
- - You have tried and failed with dieting, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
- - Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 or greater, or your BMI is between 35 and 40 and you have a life-threatening, weight-related health problem such as diabetes, severe sleep apnea, or heart disease.
- - You are more than 100 pounds over ideal weight.
Weight Loss Surgery encompasses a number of procedures which can be divided into two main categories:
- Restrictive procedures, which include gastric banding, gastric bypass, and
- Vertical banded gastroplasty, which limits the amount of food the stomach can hold by closing off or removing parts of the stomach.
Different procedures are used as a part of the surgery for each patient, depending upon the individual level of obesity and the health problems.
Weight-loss surgery is a serious undertaking. Before making your decision you’ll need to clearly understand the potential benefits and risks of the surgery. As with any surgery, there are some risks, but for many people the health risks of remaining overweight are greater than the risks of surgery.
Benefits: Most people lose weight fairly rapidly in the first few weeks after surgery and continue to lose for 18 to 24 months afterward. Regaining some weight is common, but most people maintain a long-term weight loss of around 100 pounds or more. Weight-related health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, and sleep apnea, often improve dramatically with weight loss. Emotional benefits may include a better self-image, higher self-esteem, and the reversal of depression.
Risks: Risks of any surgery can include bleeding, infections, bowel obstruction, respiratory problems, allergic reactions, hematoma, scarring, and numbness. At times patients are left with heavy flab and loose muscles. Fortunately, for such situations, bariatric plastic surgery procedures or liposuction can be performed to bring back the normal shape to the body. They enhance looks, appearance and confidence.
After surgery you will need to follow strict eating instructions provided by your health-care team. In the early weeks, it may be difficult to eat anything without feeling uncomfortably full, and your stomach may still be very tender. Depending on the type of surgery, you may be on a liquid diet for several weeks. Gradually, you will work up to eating soft, easily chewable foods and then progress to frequent, small meals. The actual number of meals may vary from four to six a day. Not only do you need to adjust to eating more frequently and consuming smaller amounts of food, but you will also need to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly. Initially, you won’t be able to drink fluid with meals because it can cause discomfort. Instead, you’ll drink fluids 1/2 to 1 hour after meals. You will receive lists of suggested foods to eat and foods to avoid. In general, you will need to eat foods higher in protein and low in fat.
Like any other surgery, weight loss surgery brings risks and complications along with its benefits. It is better to be well informed about all the risks of weight loss surgery well in advance. Fortunately, in the course of time the surgical procedures have improved, bringing about an improvement in results and minimization of risks.