Is weight loss surgery right for me?
Weight loss may be more difficult than quitting smoking. Morbid Obesity is not a will power issue. Morbid Obesity is a very complex disease that we have just started to investigate in the last decade or so. While more drugs are becoming available for weight loss the average weight loss on these drugs is only 30-40lbs. For most of our bariatric patients they are not a solution. These medications are mostly used to aid the weight loss operation to further or maintain the weight loss.
Choosing weight loss surgery is a very personal decision. Your loved ones will often not recommend it or encourage it. The main driving decision maker/influencer should always be your health. The most common comment patients make after weight loss surgery is “I wish I did it sooner”. Morbid obesity is a true disease associated with 30 other diseases.
By losing weight with weight loss surgery serious diseases are put into remission.
Diabetes type II 92% remission rate
High Blood Pressure 75% remission rate
Obstructive sleep apnea 96% remission rate
Cholesterol problems 76% remission rate
Cardiac disease 58% remission rate
Weight loss surgery is actually referred to by professionals as Metabolic Bariatric Surgery. The key word is “metabolic”. Even before any significant weight loss has occurred, patients already see improvement in their diabetes. If a patient has pre-diabetes that is in remission even before the patient leaves the hospital. Metabolic bariatric surgery does more than just cause weight loss – it affects the body’s metabolism and metabolic in such a manner that it prolongs our patients lives. Studies show bariatric surgery may reduce a patient’s risk of premature death by 30-50%. Bariatric surgery is as safe or safer than some of the most commonly performed surgeries in America including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, and knee replacement. Weight Loss Surgery is the most effective and long-lasting treatment for severe obesity, nothing comes close to its long-term success rates. While the cosmetics benefits of weight loss are obvious and a strong motivator, the health benefits are what you will notice and talk about the most. Choosing weight loss surgery can be a difficult decision for many – most will site the risks and the admission to themselves that they need weight loss surgery as the two of the more difficult obstacles.