There are people who believe they have exhausted ever options short of surgery for weight loss and failed. Surgery is in fact the last resort when all else does fails. But be warned it can be risky and is generally reserved for those who are morbidly obese or facing serious health consequences such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, orthopedic problems, gallbladder disease, and/or sleep apnea. I say "generally reserved for" because more and more overweight Americans are opting for surgery.
As more and more Americans are choosing weight loss surgery to combat the battle against the bulge, I think it is important to know as much about the procedure as possible before you go under the knife. Although surgery for weight loss has been around for years it has only been the last few years that doctors have decided to track the long-term results systematically.
Procedures
There are generally two types of procedures used for weight loss surgery: 1) restrictive procedures, which include gastric banding, gastric bypass, and vertical banded gastroplasty and 2) malabsorptive procedures, such as the biliopancreatic diversion and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB). The first, restrictive procedures, limit the amount of food the stomach can hold or a part of the stomach is removed (ouch)! The second group of procedures limit the amount of calories the body can absorb by bypassing part of the intestines.
After surgery
Once an individual has a weight loss procedure, if the desired results are to be realized and maintained their lifestyle must change. These changes will include a restrictive diet, eating smaller meals frequently, thoroughly chewing food, possibly taking supplements (especially if you had a malabsorptive procedure) and of course you’ll still need to exercise to keep the weight off. So the procedure is not a cure all guarantee, you still have to make a serious commitment.
Benefits
Generally patients will lose weight for 18 to 24 months after surgery and maintain most of their weight loss. Although it is common to regain some weight most maintain an average of 90 pounds lost. Weight related diseases improve drastically after weight loss begins. Patients have more self-confidence, self-esteem and are less depressed.
Concerns
The standards for weight loss surgery by a doctor are currently not well established, any doctor with a medical license and access to an operating room can perform this surgery. It is therefore essential that you seek out a doctor with experience and a track record for performing this type of surgery successfully.
Risk can include bleeding, infections, bowel obstruction and respiratory problems. Patient can develop nutritional deficiencies (can be eliminated with balanced diet and supplementation), gallstones and corrective surgery for complications.
If you are considering weight loss surgery make sure to do through research on the procedures, doctors and maintenance necessary for a successful outcome. You’ll also want to interview doctors to ensure that they are qualified to perform the procedure. Remember this is a serious process, don’t leave anything to chance.
