Is Weight Loss Surgery Bad?

Does Weight Loss Surgery Last Forever?

     If you are considering weight loss surgery, there is a good chance that you will get a lot of pre- and post-surgery guidance from a doctor you trust. But that's not always the case, and for many people who undergo this type of procedure, life after surgery can be full of surprises, bad things, good things, and even downright humiliating things. If you are thinking about having bariatric surgery, here are some things you should know that your doctor may have forgotten to mention.

You are planning to have weight loss surgery such as gastric binding, sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, it is best to be prepared so that you can rest and recover properly after your surgery. The suggestions below are offered to help you think ahead about what you will need before, during and after your procedure.

Weight Loss Surgery How Does it Work?

There are two types of weight loss surgery: malabsorptive surgery and restrictive surgery. Each of them helps to lose weight in a different way.

Restrictive surgery works by physically restricting the size of your stomach, limiting the amount of solid food you can eat. A normal stomach can accommodate about three liters of food. After weight loss surgery, the stomach can hold only one ounce of food, though over time it may hold two or three ounces of food.

Malabsorptive surgery works by altering how your digestive system absorbs food. This type of weight loss operation is more complicated. The surgeon removes a section of your intestine, creating a shortcut for food to be digested. This means that less calories are absorbed into the body. Combined malabsorptive/restrictive surgery also creates a smaller stomach pouch, which limits the amount of food that you can eat.

How Do U Qualify For Weight Loss Surgery?

Weight loss surgeries are not for everyone. Doctors usually recommend it to people with certain criteria.

Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more - about 100 pounds of excess weight for men and 80 for women

Have a lower BMI of 35 to 40, and have serious health problems because of obesity such as heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or severe sleep apnea

Have tried and failed to lose weight by non-surgical means like diet and exercise

You have to fully understand the risks associated with weight loss surgery and be motivated

How Much Can You Lose with Weight Loss Surgery?

Successful weight loss will depend entirely on you making good dietary choices and being as physically active as possible. On average, bariatric surgery can result in a 50 to 70 percent reduction in overweight over three years. The amount of weight you lose after surgery will depend on the type of surgery, but it is more important to change your eating habits and lifestyle. Gastric bypass patients will lose about 70 percent of their excess body weight, sleeve gastrectomy patients will lose about 60 percent and gastric band patients will lose about 50 percent¹.

If you lose more than 50% of your extra (excess) weight and you don't put it back on, it will be classified as a success. In general, weight loss was more rapid after gastric bypass and arm gastrectomy surgery with most of the weight loss in the first 6 months and stable after 12 to 18 months. Gastric band surgery leads to a slower but steady weight loss.

You May Get Depressed Post-surgery.

There is a link between obesity and depression, and while most patients undergoing bariatric surgery experience an overall improvement in their well-being after surgery, feelings of depression can worsen for some. Researchers from Yale University published a study in the Obesity Journal in which 13 percent of the patients studied reported improvements in the Beck Depression Inventory -- a numerical rating that measures eating disordered behavior, self-esteem, and social function -- six to 12 months after gastric bypass. surgery, the time frame in which the authors conclude is an important period for assessing depression and related symptoms. (everyday health)

Corrective Weight Loss surgery is Costly and Excess Skin Can be a Problem

While postoperative weight loss may be gradual enough for your body and skin to adjust slowly, many people are so overweight that they need cosmetic surgery to correct it. And unless it's medically necessary, your insurance company won't cover the bill. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2013 member surgeons performed nearly 42,000 body contouring surgeries - reshaping the breasts, arms, thighs, and abdomen - for patients who had lost a significant amount of weight. Body contouring surgeries can cost anywhere from $4,000 to much, much more.

What Can U Eat After Weight Loss Surgery?

In the early postoperative period, you will only be able to eat very small portions and you may not feel hungry, but this can change over time. Here are some dietary guidelines for weight loss patients:

• Eat small meals. After surgery, if you overeat, it will stretch your stomach pouch and cause discomfort and may make you throw up. It will take your brain a while to adjust to the small size of your pocket. Using a side plate can help you control your portions.

• Do not drink with meals². Make sure that you have at least 2 liters of fluids a day. Avoid all carbonated drinks.

• Keep eating 6 small meals a day and avoid snacking between meals unless you are really hungry. Eating regularly stops you from getting too hungry and eating too fast and results in more weight loss than if you eat irregularly, graze and snack all day long.

• Put some food in your mouth, eat slowly and chew well.

• Choose foods that have a texture to satisfy your stomach instead of high-calorie liquid foods or 'melt' foods. These foods escape right away, don't fill you up and result in a very high calorie intake.

Certain foods can be problematic for some. This can include chewy meats, soft white bread, rice, fibrous fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds. These should be avoided initially and reintroduced slowly after a 'normal' diet has been established. Everyone's conditions are different and you need to find out what's right for you.

Your multi-disciplinary team will provide you with a lot of help and information about postoperative diet.

You have to say goodbye to soda.

Carbonated drinks are strictly prohibited because they introduce air into your stomach, creating gas that can put pressure on your stomach and cause it to enlarge unnecessarily, thereby canceling the result of the surgery. Instead of soda, drink lots and lots of water, as dehydration is the most common reason for patients being readmitted to the hospital.

It Will Not Solve All Your Problems

Weight loss procedures can help you lose weight at first, but staying healthy requires a lifelong commitment to a healthy diet and exercise. Since you'll be eating less because of your surgery, you'll need to stick to a permanent regimen of additional nutritional supplements to provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs.

This surgery is not a way to quit healthy eating and exercise, it is a way to take control of your health.

Summary

Deciding to go for a weight loss procedure is a big decision, but it is one that can improve your life in every way. By taking these 5 things into account and maintaining open and honest communication with your doctor, you can determine if this is the right choice for you.

Have you considered a weight loss procedure?