Obesity is one of the most common problems that many people struggle with. However, with bariatric surgery, losing a significant amount of weight is possible. Learn what benefits you get with bariatric surgery and factors you should consider before choosing bariatric surgery for weight loss in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation about weight loss surgery.
Benefits
Bariatric surgery not only helps you lose weight but also offers many other benefits as well:
- More than 80% of obese patients suffer from at least one weight-related chronic health condition, including:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Sleep apnea
- Depression
- Heart disease
- Acid reflux/gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Arthritis
- Migraines
- Fatty liver disease.
- Stress urinary incontinence
Besides these conditions, it can also increase the risk of cancer as well. But when you get bariatric surgery, you experience dramatic weight loss which can treat or even resolve these conditions, in some cases.
This is possible with the most common chronic condition associated with obesity, which is diabetes. Weight-loss surgery resolves type 2 diabetes in 83% of people who had the condition before their surgery. It also helps with GERD, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and all the above-listed obesity-related conditions.
- Weight loss surgery can provide long-term weight loss benefits to people who are committed to long-term lifestyle changes, including eating healthy and exercising regularly. If you don’t follow these lifestyle changes, you may regain the weight you lost and lose the changes that happen with the surgery.
- When all other attempts at weight loss have failed, then weight-loss surgery is the last ray of hope to achieve weight loss and overcome the complications. Like all other surgical procedures, it also carries certain risks. However, the risk is incredibly low, if you properly follow the guidelines and your procedure is performed by a professional bariatric surgeon who’s accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Its benefits can outweigh the risks and help you achieve a healthy weight again.
FAQs – Factors to Consider Before Making the Decision
Here are some FAQs to help you understand what you should consider before choosing weight-loss surgery for weight loss.
- What is weight loss surgery and how does it make you lose weight?
Ans. Weight loss surgeries also known as bariatric surgeries, are surgical procedures that are performed on the stomach or intestines that make changes in your digestive system and promote weight loss. It can limit the size of the stomach, which makes the patients eat less. It can also change the way the body metabolizes food.
Bariatric surgery can also alter the signals of craving and feeling full and how the body processes and senses food. The hormones that control these craving and fullness signals are removed along with a part of your stomach. These methods are used to promote weight loss by bariatric surgery.
- What medical benefits can you enjoy with bariatric surgery?
Ans. You can enjoy many medical benefits besides weight loss with bariatric surgery. It includes long-term remission of type 2 diabetes, improved cardiovascular health, joint pain relief, resolution of sleep apnea, improved fertility, etc. Most patients also lower their medication intake, which is needed for managing their conditions, or stop taking them completely.
Patients also report an overall improvement in their life quality because bariatric surgery offers relief from depression and anxiety that come from being obese. Now they can enjoy outdoor activities more and don’t feel awkward in social situations, which they avoided before.
- Are weight loss surgeries safe?
Ans. Generally, weight loss surgery is very safe and mostly it outweighs the risks associated with obesity. The risks from bariatric surgery are less compared to other surgeries, like gallbladder removal or hip replacement.
Studies show that patients who had weight loss surgery also lower the risk of death related to diabetes by more than 90%. The risk of death from heart disease is 50%.
- How do you know if you’re qualified for bariatric surgery or not? Does your health insurance cover the cost or not?
Ans. According to bariatric guidelines, a patient with a body mass index (BMI) over 40 is qualified for bariatric surgery or if your BMI is between 35 to 40, with a chronic obesity-related condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea, then you’re also eligible for bariatric surgery.
Generally, weight loss surgery is covered by insurance, but it depends on the health insurance carrier. You should speak with your insurance company before getting the plan and understand what benefits it offers for your health. If bariatric surgery costs will be covered by your insurance, you should talk with your doctor first about what expenses will be covered under the insurance.
- After being eligible for bariatric surgery, how early can I have the surgery, and what steps do I need to follow before the procedure?
Ans. Before the procedure, patients need to be prepared medically and psychologically to undergo bariatric surgery, and lifestyle changes need to be followed afterward. Patients may need to attend one of the virtual bariatric surgery seminars. These virtual sessions give you all the information about surgical options, insurance coverage, diet and lifestyle changes, and support resources.
Individual health insurance requirements may lead the patients to wait longer before the surgery. They ask the patients to take 3 to 6 months of pre-operative weight reduction classes before the procedure. So, to know the exact procedure, you should call your health insurance provider and ask about your weight loss surgery requirements.
- How much weight loss can I expect after my weight loss surgery?
Ans. Weight loss can vary from patient to patient and depending on the type of weight loss surgery you need. For instance, with sleeve gastrectomy, patients can expect to see a weight loss of 25% of total body weight and 50-60% of excess body weight. The average weight loss for those who get gastric bypass surgery can be 30 to 35% of total body weight and 60 to 70% of excess body weight.
- What diet and lifestyle changes do I need to follow after weight loss surgery?
Ans. For the first 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) after surgery, you need to follow a 4-stage progression which allows your stomach to recover from surgery. Once you reach the fourth diet stage, no foods are off-limits. You can still eat your favorite foods, however, now in moderation. Patients may need to abstain from coffee and alcohol for 3 to 6 months after surgery. Your lifestyle after the surgery will change for the better. Most patients enjoy better overall health with more energy, allowing them to participate more in activities that they avoided once.
- Can I regain weight after bariatric surgery?
Ans. The answer is yes. However, it happens only with some patients, the majority of patients lose significant weight and keep it off. Keep in mind that surgery is not a cure for obesity, it’s just a tool that helps to remove obesity if you follow proper lifestyle and diet changes.
More than 95% of patients can lose half of their excess body weight or more. Studies have found that gastric bypass patients lose around 70% of their excess body weight initially and 2 years after surgery, only around 5% of their excess body weight regain.
- Should I consider pregnancy immediately after bariatric surgery?
Ans. You should wait for 12 to 18 months (about 1 and a half years) after surgery to plan to get pregnant. Most women become more fertile after surgery, even with moderate weight loss. After surgery, the risk of experiencing problems during pregnancy and childbirth decreases. Studies found there is a lower risk of needing a caesarian section and fewer miscarriages and stillbirths than women with obesity.
- What supports are available after your bariatric surgery?
Ans. Bariatric surgery is a lifelong choice, and support from the bariatric team is a part of the process. They provide regular follow-ups with patients for life after surgery. Patients can also continue to have nutrition and psychology services to help them through the initial stages post-operatively and the maintenance stages once they have lost weight. So, they work closely with medical weight loss groups, for patients who need additional help to keep their weight off of them in the long run.
Bariatric surgery is a good option for you if all other weight loss treatments fail and you’re at risk of chronic obesity-related conditions or have one already. Bariatric surgery not only allows you to lose weight but also improves/resolves this chronic condition. It also improves your mental health and increases your energy levels to perform activities that you didn’t do before. So, discuss with your bariatric surgeon which bariatric surgery is right for you and what benefits and risks you should expect with it.
If you need help with bariatric surgery, call or visit our bariatric clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. If you want the best surgical options for weight-loss surgery, whether it’s Gastric sleeve surgery, Laparoscopic surgery, Gastric bypass surgery, Sleeve gastrectomy, or LAP band surgery; call us on +13473845690 to get a consultation from us. Doral Health and Wellness has one of the best bariatric doctors and surgeons to treat obesity and weight problems. Book your appointment and walk in at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. Book your slot for a weight-loss consultation.