Pros and Cons of Weight Loss Surgery

Many people ask the same questions when it comes to the pros and cons of weight loss surgery. One of the most common questions is how this procedure affects your overall health. The answers to these questions are not always clear. This is because there are many different types of cosmetic surgeries out there. The procedure we focus on in this article deals specifically with bariatric surgery, which is also known as the Roux en-Y surgery.

Bariatric surgery is definitely a life changing experience. No matter what weight loss diet or exercise regimen you take, the process is going to involve some changes in your lifestyle and is expensive. As with any other surgery, there are both pros and cons to weigh carefully before making a decision. This surgery cannot be reversed in most cases, meaning that you will have to work to keep off of alcohol use after the procedure. There is also a chance that excess skin can become loose or even lost entirely.

One of the main pros to this type of procedure is that a dramatic weight loss is often seen after the operation. In most cases, you will lose more than 100 pounds in less than three months. This drastic weight loss is one of the main reasons that people seek out this surgery. When a dramatic weight loss occurs, the risks associated with going through with the surgery become minimal.

One of the major cons to having a gastric bypass surgery is that excessive alcohol use and abuse may occur after the operation. Because gastric bypass surgery reduces the stomach's capacity to absorb food, some of the fat and calories from foods are absorbed by the body instead. Over time, the person may end up using illegal drug and alcohol substances to combat the hunger pangs and lose more weight.

When it comes to the risks of bariatric surgery, they are similar to many types of surgeries. Although there are fewer, they are risks nonetheless. These risks include infection, bleeding, nerve damage and excessive bleeding. Of all these side effects, however, damage to the nerves is the most serious, as the nerve connections between the brain and stomach are important for proper digestion. If nerves are damaged in a severe case, the body will not be able to function properly.

The third pro or con to bariatric surgery as an option is the loss of excess skin. During the weight loss surgery, the stomach's size is decreased, but it does not reduce the amount of stomach tissue that stays in the body. This means that after the operation, there will still be some stomach tissue left behind. A person who undergoes bariatric surgery will end up losing at least ten to fifteen percent of their total excess skin. Some individuals may lose more than twenty percent of their excess skin.

Another pro of bariatric surgery to consider is the potential for long-term complications. Even though the surgery reduces the amount of food a person eats, it does not eliminate hunger. A person who undergoes bariatric surgery often struggles with long-term diets. Individuals have reported difficulty gaining weight and even undergoing weight loss after having undergone bariatric surgery.

The third pro or con of bariatric to discuss is the dramatic weight loss. People have lost over one hundred pounds by bariatric surgery, but the loss of girth can make the loss more drastic than other procedures. Individuals who have had bariatric procedures have been known to lose four feet of their body weight in a matter of weeks.