Weight Loss Surgery: Benefits And Risks

December 30th, 2008 | by admin |

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Weight Loss Surgery: Benefits and Risks

by: Jay Romano

You may be considering weight loss surgery if you are overweight or obese. For many people, surgical weight reduction is one of the only viable ways to lose a significant amount of weight and enjoy better health. However, it’s important to realize that this is a very serious undertaking. You should definitely spend time researching the topic and, if possible, talking with people who have already had a weight reduction procedure performed. Understanding the benefits and risks involved with weight loss surgery is absolutely vital to making an informed decision. To help you get started, here is a brief guide…

Benefits:

Fast Weight Loss: Obviously this is the biggest benefit of weight loss surgery. Immediately following the surgery most people begin to lose weight quickly. This rapid weight loss usually continues for at least a year and a half, leading to a very significant reduction in body weight. It’s important to note however that many people begin to regain weight within 2 years, especially if they have not made any healthy lifestyle/diet changes!

Improvement of Obesity-Related Health Conditions: For many people, the improvement in their overall health, following weight loss surgery, is just as important as the weight loss itself. And for good reason: people who have suffered from debilitating obesity-related conditions (such as diabetes) for years often experience tremendous improvements within a short period of time.




Risk and Side-Effects:

Death: A small percentage of weight loss surgery patients die during the operation or from complications in the days and weeks following the surgery.

Post-surgery complications: Some patients must have follow-up procedures to correct complications, which can include infections and hernias.

Nutritional deficiencies: Some types of weight loss surgeries reduce the body’s ability to absorb important vitamins and minerals. Many patients must take diet supplements on a daily basis or risk developing anemia, osteoporosis, metabolic bone disease, etc.

Gallstones: More than a third of gastric surgery patients develop gallstones due to the rapid weight loss that occurs in the months following a weight reduction procedure.

Side-effects: Some of the most common side-effects experienced by weight loss surgery patients include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, excessive sweating, increased gas, and dizziness.
As you can see, weight loss surgery carries some huge benefits along with some very significant risks. If you are severely obese, it is definitely an option for reducing your body weight and improving – or even eliminating – many of your obesity-related health conditions. Just understand the risk and be prepared to make some relatively extensive lifestyle changes after the procedure. If you are not severely obese you should definitely consider diet and exercise options before you think about weight loss surgery.

About The Author

Jay Romano is a writer for LesserTummy.com.

Get more up-to-date and useful information about weight loss surgery at http://www.lessertummy.com.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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  1. 7 Responses to “Weight Loss Surgery: Benefits And Risks”

  2. By Plasticsurgeon on May 15, 2009 | Reply

    Why not just go on a diet and save a a lot of money and pain?

  3. By tonya on Jul 8, 2009 | Reply

    I FOUND THE ARTICLE TO BE VERY HELPFUL, I’M GETTING READY TO HAVE MY SURGERY AND I’M DOING ALL THE RESEARCH THAT I NEED TO SEE IF I WANT TO GO THROUGH WITH IT OR NOT. AFTER READING THE ARTICLE ITS A 99% CHANCE THAT I’LL HAVE THE SURGERY DONE TY..

  4. By diane merrick on Jul 14, 2009 | Reply

    My brother weighed 200 lbs and ballooned up to almost 400lbs before he had his surgury. He experienced all of the symptoms after surgery such as bad gas, gall stones, and an irrigular heart rythum. He had to take a protein supplyment every day of his life after surgury, hated it. It is expensive as you just cant buy the cheap stuff. He would loose 5 pounds in one day if he wanted to. This was dangerous. He did not absorb vitamins well, had huge bowel movements when he had them at all and was not happy with his body after the surgury. He weighed 190 lbs and stood 5 feet 11 inches. He lookd like an old man and was very gaunt. He lost his hair. We weak and dizzy most of the time and became depressed for no reason. He was 51 years old when he passed away . The doctor said the surgury was a main factor in his heart not in rythum, and not being able to absorb nutrients he despertly needed for his brain to funtion normally. Think about just going on a regular diet and not this crap. He only lived 2 years after surgery and the afters were not worth the weight loss. Please think about not going thru with this unless you weigh like 600 pounds and are lift threatened. I miss my Brother very much and his body was not good looking after surgery. He would of had to have skin cut off of him to look normal after this kind of fast weight loss. The body is just not able to handle this.

  5. By Kim on Jul 19, 2009 | Reply

    There’s allot of risks with this surgery. MORE THAN IS EVER COVERED BY THE DOCTORS.It is a money maker for practices that do only gastric bypass. I had mine done and had all the usual gas, bloating, feeling nauseated. I lost 150 pounds.I have payed dearly for every pound.I got cancer 1 year later, lost an adrenal gland and a kidney.No one prepares you for this type emergancy and how it will impact your life for ever more.I developed (like allot of people after GB) hypoglycemia after GB surgery. This is a nightmare. Because you have to eat all the time to keep your Blood Sugar up EVEN WHEN YOU ARE FULL ENOUGH TO THROW UP. But you can’t throw up after this surgery.. MY mouth is always dry like the desert I live in, even my lips are dry and hurt. NO MATER HOW MUCH WATER I DRINK>I developed adreanal deficiancy, and mal absorption. I feel sick everyday and just want to feel well and not sick all the time.I have been to best endochronologists at the Mayo to try and get help.I am stuck this way and I struggle daily. I wish I just would have got better nutrional counseling.Because you have to follow a strict diet the rest of your life anyway.No it is not true, you cannot eat anything you want, even in moderation if you get sick from this surgery.Another friend almost died from hers,and I know 5 people who have put their weight back on. Don’t forget to ask about hernia surgeries. I have had to have 3 since my Gastric ByPass.I would walk a country mile to avoid this surgery. What I would give to not feel sick, and constantly thirsty and have my mouth and toungue and lips hurt all the time 24/7. Find a good nutritionist, and a chair excersice tape and start helping yourself. This is not a do over situatiuon…I don’t know anyone who has been BAD SYMPTOM free after this surgery . Irregular heart beats wake you up, or the hypoglycemia . So sleep is hard to come by…. BEWARE!!!!!!!! I wish I had never done this. I still have to take medicine for nausea on a regular basis. This medicine is not cheap. You better have a great insurance. This is NOT AN EASY WAY TO LOOSE WEIGHT< IT IS NOT A MIRACLE CURE…..

  6. By Kim on Jul 19, 2009 | Reply

    READ MY REPLY TO YOUR COMMENT PLEASE TONYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  7. By Susan Nelson on Feb 1, 2010 | Reply

    I had my gastric bypass surgery 4-1-2008 and have lost 110 pounds. I FEEL GREAT!!! I was told I would have a different lifestyle, but I dont….I just eat less and exercise in moderation and the pounds continue to fall off. I do take vitamins and caltrate plus a B12 shot every 3 weeks. That is not a big deal! I am able to get on the floor and play with my grandsons and go on dates and dance the night away! I am on a pool league and have improved cuz I am not so self-conscious about bending over in front of people! My only complaint would be the gas and diarhea problem, but I take over the counter drugs to help with that……again, not a big deal! Life is Good!!!!

  8. By elizabeth allweiss on Mar 1, 2010 | Reply

    My sister had it done and I have started thinking about it. I wonder if there is some variation to the by-pass to prevent the gas, nausea, weakness, and dizziness, hypoglycemia,and poor vitamin absorption? can you ask someone if there is, or if there have been new improvements lately?
    The positive is my sister, brother, sister-in-law had it done and eliminated their diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure,bladder stress incontinence, and lost 150, 125, and 140 pounds so far. my sister was 275 for decades… she now weighs 120 at 5 foot, and is stunning. her energy, stamina, happiness is obvious to all.
    I am just scared of the side effects of the surgery so I would like to find improvements in their procedures so I can reduce those effects. any advice from your doctor/surgeon?Please ask for me and let me know at starlitdreams2@yahoo.com as soon as possible. thank you for some help on my behalf, elizabeth

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