3 Common Safety Questions About Bariatric Surgery

3 Common Safety Questions About Bariatric Surgery

Undergoing bariatric surgery is an effective weight-loss measure for many obese individuals who haven’t been able to lose weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise. The fact is, not everyone can lose weight just by making lifestyle changes. If you are struggling with obesity or severe obesity, bariatric surgery can help you achieve your desired weight loss, improve your health and reduce your risk of serious, weight-related health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The decision to have weight-loss surgery is an important one that will affect you for the rest of your life. If you are considering bariatric surgery, you probably have questions about the safety of the procedure and what you can expect after surgery. The following are the answers to three common safety questions about bariatric surgery.

1. What is Bariatric Surgery and How Does it Work?

Bariatric surgery is the name given to a group of weight-loss procedures performed on people who are obese and people who are overweight and also have one or more health conditions related to their weight,such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea. There are several different kinds of bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve(sleeve gastrectomy), gastric band and duodenal switch. Generally speaking,bariatric surgery works by making permanent changes to your digestive system,resulting in weight loss.

2. Is Bariatric Surgery Safe?

Any type of surgery comes with potential risks, which vary depending on the patient. However, most weight-loss surgeries are performed laparoscopically, meaning they are low-risk, minimally invasive procedures that require only small incisions. Bariatric surgery is very common,with more than 200,000 procedures performed every year in the United States,and the various types of surgery are very safe. In fact, the risks of bariatric surgery are the same for most surgeries performed on the abdomen.

3. What Can I Expect After Surgery?

Weight loss doctors consider bariatric surgery to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment for obesity, a complex disease that affects more than 100 million Americans. Obesity rates in the United States are on the rise across the board and new data shows that approximately 8% of adults in the U.S. fall into Class 3 obesity, the term the CDC uses to describe “severely” obese people who are 100 pounds or more overweight or have a body mass index (BMI) above 40. Obese patients who undergo bariatric surgery can lose between 30% and 50% of their excess weight in the first six months after surgery and 77% of their excess weight by 12 months after surgery.

Is Weight-Loss Surgery Right for Me?

Bariatric surgery is a major operation and there are certain important changes you will have to make after surgery in order to lose your excess weight and keep it off. Surgery is a powerful too land it helps with initial weight loss, but maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise is critical if you want to maintain weight loss. For bariatric surgery to work, you must be committed to making permanent lifestyle changes post-surgery or risk gaining some or all of your weight back. There are many different kinds of weight-loss surgery and the outcomes of these procedures can vary depending on several factors, including your age, the type of surgery you get, your weight before the surgery, and your diet and exercise habits.You should discuss your options with an experienced bariatric surgeon in order to determine which type of weight-loss surgery is right for you.

The Best Bariatric Care in California

‍BASS Medical Group and Dr. Brian T. Chin offers some of the best bariatric care in northern California. Our team is ready to make you as comfortable as possible during your recovery from your surgery. If you are interested in gastric bypass surgery and want to know more, contact our expert bariatric surgeons to find out if this surgery is right for you.