10 Facts to Know About Weight Loss Surgery

28 Feb 10 Facts to Know About Weight Loss Surgery

Anyone considering weight loss surgery is most likely receiving advice from their doctor, but they are also probably doing plenty of research themselves.

Having a thorough understanding of what weight loss surgery entails as well as the patient’s responsibilities after the surgery is critical. After all, surgery is only successful when a patient stays fully committed.

All surgeries carry risks, but life after the surgery can be surprising. From the good, the bad, and possibly embarrassing moments, being prepared is a patient’s best way to know which procedure is best for them.

Each year, the number of bariatric surgical procedures continues to rise. Per the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2011 saw 158,000 surgeries, while 2015 had 196,000 procedures. Liposuction is equally popular, with 396,048 procedures performed in 2015. Surgical procedures are up by 17 percent from previous years, says the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

1. Liposuction and Bariatric Surgery are Two Very Different Things

Liposuction provides a patient with instant results, but it cannot help those who are severely overweight or have obesity.

For those severely obese, a true weight loss surgery, like a gastric sleeve or bypass, is needed to not only help the patient lose weight, but to help keep the weight off.

After liposuction, a patient may easily regain the fat cells removed and go back to their overweight body shape. With bariatric surgery, long-term results are more likely.

2. Weight Loss Surgery Shrinks the Stomach

Bariatric procedures reduce the size of a person’s stomach, which then lowers how much food they can eat.

The patient will experience metabolic changes and sometimes changes in their hormones. They will have a lower appetite, and some patients may experience diabetes remission. While they have risks, bariatric procedures drop a person’s mortality rate by 40 percent, according to New England Journal of Medicine’s study.

3. Depression Could Occur

After surgery, a patient may experience some depression. Most, however, notice an improvement in their well-being. That said, those with severe depression may see symptoms worsen instead of improving.

Yale University found that 13 percent of patients had an increased Beck Depression Inventory report ranging from six months to one-year post-surgery.

4. Not Everyone is a Candidate

While gastric bypass is marketed as a solution for many, it does not mean that everyone is a candidate for this procedure. A person’s individual basal metabolic index is a significant factor in deciding if they are a candidate. Those with severe obesity, typically a BMI over 40, are those that should receive the surgery.

5. There Will be Dietary Restrictions

Patients will find that unhealthy food cravings go away after a procedure, but they are still limited to foods they can and cannot eat. On the bariatric diet, a patient will eat healthier, consume proteins first, follow their blood sugar table, and drink water. They cannot snack, nor can they have large portions.

6. The Benefits Go Beyond Weight Loss

While the primary goal of bariatric procedures is to help someone lose weight, he or she also will experience a decrease in blood pressure, reduction in sleep apnea, less joint pain, and his or her Type 2 diabetes may disappear entirely, says Cleveland Clinic.

7. Minimal Scarring

An impressive fact about this kind of surgery is that patients will not have a large scar. In fact, the procedure involves only three to five incisions that are under one-inch in length.

8. Most Bariatric Patients Keep the Weight Off

Compared to other weight loss methods, those that undergo bariatric procedures are less likely to gain weight again. Some may increase weight slightly, but they still succeed at long-term weight loss, per the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

9. It is All About the Right Surgeon

The right doctor will do a thorough workup with a patient. They examine their medical history, but also will require them to meet with a psychological professional to undergo therapy treatments and make sure they have the right emotional mindset to handle such a drastic surgery.

10. It is Safe

All surgical procedures carry some risks, and there is no surgical procedure out there that is 100 percent safe. However, gastric bypass surgery deaths are extremely rare, says WebMD. In fact, they are 0.2% to 0.5% or less than one out of 200 patients. Highly qualified surgeons do these procedures; therefore, the risks are minimal.

Explore Options and Learn More About Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is a highly effective way to take away the unwanted pounds and get rid of obesity-related conditions.

For more information, contact us or call (713) 993-7124 and learn about how to combat the obesity epidemic.