Is Bariatric Surgery Worth The Risks?

The prevalence of obesity in the United States is the highest it has ever been. More than one-third of American adults have been stated to be affected. With the increasing obesity prevalence in our society, depression has grown as well, due to obesity causing depression. Weight Loss Surgery has grown to be a more popular option, as well as the number of adults with obesity rises. Have you done your research?

How safe are the procedures, and do the benefits outweigh the risks?

People dealing with obesity are not just dealing with depression and a negative outlook on their future.  They also face a number of severe health conditions that can develop and lead them to an even bleaker outlook on their future. Obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and has also been linked to some cancers. Obesity dramatically affects a persons quality of life, whether it be from depression, medical conditions, or both.  

An argument many face is, why can't you lose weight the "normal" way? Can't you diet? CAn't you go to the gym? While these notions are valid, for some, it just isn't that simple. A lot of the times genetics come into play or conditions such as PCOS which lead to weight gain and the inability to lose or keep weight off. Other times there are injuries or reasons why people can't merely workout. People don't come to the weight loss surgery lightly, and a lot of the time it comes as a last resort.
 

Bariatric surgery procedures:

A person is classified as obese if their body mass index is over 30, and are considered severely obese if their BMI is over 40. The three most popular procedures in bariatric surgery are the Gastric Bypass, Gastric Banding, and the Sleeve Gastrectomy.  

A Gastric Bypass is performed to re-route the digestive system beyond the stomach in order to promote feeling full faster and in turn eating less food, and less frequently.

The Gastric Band procedure is when the surgeon places an inflatable band around the top portion of your stomach. This creates a smaller stomach pouch meaning less room for food and will do the same as the bypass in terms of making you feel full faster.

The Sleeve Gastrectomy is where around 80 % of the stomach is removed to create a smaller banana-shaped pouch. Again this is to reduce the amount of food you can eat and allows you to get full faster and eat less often.

As each procedure is different, the recovery time will vary. Each patient is different, and some feel great right away, whereas others need a bit longer to feel like themselves. The thing that remains consistent after these procedures is that the patient must follow a liquid diet and introduce normal foods slowly. They must follow the guidelines of the facility that performs their surgery.

'Most effective option' for obese patients
Whether it be because of genetics or underlying medical conditions, Weight Loss Surgery has been found to be the most effective option for adults struggling with obesity. Standard diets and exercise strategies have been found to only lead to significant weight loss in about 5% of the US population. It also prevents obesity from causing health-related conditions and prevents current conditions from worsening due to obesity. In short, weight loss surgery in studies has been found to be more effective than other methods.  

Positives 'outweigh' the negatives.

Every surgical procedure comes with risk, and it is up to the patient to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. Aside from surgical risks if a patient does not adhere to the diet, the surgery will not work, and their stomach will stretch back, so the patient needs to be vigilant. Due to the strict diet and limited portion sizes, patients will need to take vitamins and minerals in order to prevent deficiencies. These things will all be discussed with the doctor prior to anything so that you are aware of all of the aspects of this procedure. On the flip side of the risks, the benefits for most outweigh the risks and have been associated with significant reductions in premature death.

Pompeii Surgical will discuss the entire aspects with you of your medical history and what procedure would wield the best results for you. They will discuss the risks, the benefits, and answer any and all questions you may have in regards to the procedure. You will also be given a complete guide to your diet and side effects to watch out for. It is essential that our patients have all the answers to their questions prior to making their decision. We wish you all good luck in your research and your procedure. Find more information at 
www.pomepiisurgical.com