The Pros and Cons of Weight Loss Surgery

When most people think about the pros and cons of weight loss surgery, their first thoughts turn to gastric bypass surgery and lap-band surgery. However, both of these invasive surgical procedures are invasive surgeries and there is often additional surgery required afterwards. Patients who have undergone one of these two types of surgeries might be able to recover completely in a week or so, but there are still risks involved after the procedure. After all, we're talking about removing large amounts of food from your stomach.

The first of the two most common pros and cons of this treatment for weight loss involves the dramatic weight loss that occurs. Once the stomach is completely removed, a patient typically loses approximately 80 pounds in a relatively short period of time. This is often accompanied by changes in body appearance, as patients often report losing significant amounts of body fat. This can be a very attractive situation for many patients, but some patients do report feeling self-conscious about their looks when they have lost significant amounts of weight, even if it was only through diet and exercise.

Another pro is the drastic weight loss that occurs. There are many patients who undergo this type of surgery for health reasons, but there are also many patients who undergo this type of procedure in order to help them manage certain health problems, such as type 2 diabetes. Because the amount of food that a patient can eat is severely limited, when the stomach is completely removed, the person will typically experience severe hunger pangs throughout the day. However, when the stomach is partially or fully repositioned, there is usually no difficulty experienced with eating. This is a huge plus for people who undergo bariatric surgery in order to control obesity or other health conditions.

A few disadvantages of gastric bypass surgery or other forms of bariatric surgery exist, however. One of the biggest pros and cons of weight loss surgery is the fact that the patient must follow a strict diet after the operation. In most cases, the diet requires the patient to eat very small meals, which can cause several issues, such as dizziness and nausea. Patients who eat small meals may also experience increased hunger, which can lead to uncontrollable eating. Other pros and cons of weight loss surgery include the fact that a patient can generally begin normal physical activities again in a relatively short period of time.

One con of bariatric surgery is related to the patient's alcohol use. Some alcohol users are more susceptible to developing conditions after having a procedure performed on their digestive system. Bariatric surgeons often recommend the use of nutritional supplements after the surgery in order to avoid this risk. It can be very difficult for individuals to get enough nutrition after having a surgery like this done, but it is important for anyone to eat properly after recovering from the procedure. The patient should also be sure to avoid alcohol use after recovery to help minimize this additional risk.

Another pro and con of bariatric surgery is related to excess skin. In general, excess skin is removed during the surgery and this is one of the most common reasons why there is an increase in healthcare costs after the surgery. Fortunately, many of these procedures can be reversed with time. This excess skin can pose risks to the person's health in the long run. Bariatric surgeons do not recommend surgeries that remove excess skin and other such items until the person has had a few years of recovery from their surgery.

One of the more dramatic weight loss pros is related to how quickly people recover from having the procedure done. A lot of people want to lose weight as quickly as possible and they often find that it can be very difficult to stay on a diet and exercise routine after having a procedure done. Lap band technology, however, can sometimes help a patient achieve dramatic weight loss within a few weeks or months after the surgery has been done. People who have had this type of surgery often find that they feel better about themselves because of the fact that they are able to keep off food.

When speaking of the pros and cons of weight loss surgery, it is important to remember that there are also some cons to consider as well. It should be noted, for example, that gastric bypass patients can be at a higher risk of developing diabetes later on in life. The presence of a duodenal switch, which is an adjustable device used to open up the stomach, can sometimes contribute to this risk. It should also be noted that lap band technology can cause gastrointestinal problems in some patients. As with any medical procedure, people who have lap band need to carefully consider the pros and cons of this before undergoing the procedure. It is important to take a long, hard look at the positives and negatives before deciding on this treatment option.