Weight Loss Doctor Having excess weight can put you at risk of serious health conditions and lower your quality of life. If you struggle with losing those extra pounds – weight loss surgery might be a good option to consider.
Types of Weight Loss Procedures
There are different kinds of surgical weight loss procedures available for those who need to lose excess weight. Common ones include gastric bypass, gastric plication, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. These procedures make your stomach smaller in different ways, which helps you eat less so you can lose weight.
A sleeve gastrectomy involves stapling your stomach to make it smaller, while a gastric bypass involves making a small pouch and having your small intestine connected to it. Gastric banding involves putting a band around your upper stomach to form a pouch, while gastric plication involves making folds in the lining of your stomach.
Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery offers a number of health benefits, including:
- Lower disease risk:
- Having too much weight significantly increases your risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other serious health conditions. Undergoing surgery to remove this excess weight decreases these risks.
- Reduced chronic pain:
- If you have arthritis or another condition that causes chronic pain, having weight loss surgery can help relieve this discomfort. Having too much weight puts more strain on your joints, leading to increased pain.
- Sleep apnea relief:
- If you use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, losing weight could mean that you can stop doing so. Sleep apnea symptoms are generally associated with being at a heavier weight. Losing this weight can help ease symptoms, so that you don’t have to use your CPAP machine.
- Improved mood:
- If you suffer from depression or other problems that affect your mood and emotional well-being, weight loss surgery can help. These procedures can help you lose extra weight, so that you feel better about yourself. You might also find that you start interacting with others more as your mood and self-confidence improves.
- Improved fertility:
- If you have been trying to conceive, being at a healthy weight can improve your chances. Weight loss surgery is associated with fertility improvements in women who are in their childbearing years.
Risks of Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is usually considered safe for many patients, especially for those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher or those with a BMI of 35 or higher and an obesity-related illness. However, there are some risks associated with it. Risks from undergoing surgery include infections, bleeding, blood clots and breathing problems. Long-term risks that can occur with weight loss surgery include bowel obstruction, hernias, vomiting, ulcers and gallstones, although these are not common.
Recovery Process from Weight Loss Surgery
Recovery from weight loss surgery can vary depending on different factors, such as the type of procedure you have. You’ll need to follow your doctor’s instructions for post-surgical care, which generally includes coming for follow-up visits and starting with a liquid diet before resuming a normal one. You might have body aches, mood changes, fatigue and other side effects as your body adjusts to the weight loss. You can keep this weight off by adopting a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
If you’re considering having weight loss surgery, contact Weight Loss and Wellness Center for an appointment. We can evaluate you and help you determine if this is a suitable option for you.
