A weight related complications are a result of an unhealthy lifestyle. One such complication is obesity or extreme weight gain, which can be a life threatening and sometimes disabling. When every attempt of weight loss like to plan diet, recommended exercises and prescribed medication goes in vain, then the last option is weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery is not like cosmetic surgery, which includes the removal of fatty acid, but it is much more complicated. Normally people look at weight loss surgery like a cosmetic counterpart and make wrong perceptions about it.
Weight loss surgery is just like cosmetic surgery so it is not a big deal.
Weight loss surgery or Bariatric surgery alters the structure of the digestive system, unlike cosmetic surgery which involves removal of fat tissues. Therefore, this surgery has real risks like any other surgery such as infection, weakness, low immunity, leakage, blood clotting and many more. Sometimes these risks are life threatening.
Some weight loss surgeries are irreversible and if it is reversible, then it has its own challenges. Reversing of the procedure can also cause side effects. Before surgery, your doctor tells you about the benefits and risks of the surgery along with the lifestyle changes you have to make post surgery. If you will not follow your medical consultant’s instructions, then you will not get the benefits and even reversal of surgery would not help in your case. It will worsen your situation because of the arrangement and rearrangement of the digestive tract which disturbs the body homeostasis.
Weight loss surgery will reduce your weight in months and then you can eat anything you like.
Weight loss surgery does help in weight loss, but in fewer amounts like 3-4 pounds in a month. You have to make modifications in your daily diet to recover from the surgery at first, then to maintain the body weight later on. The surgical procedure will limit the ability of your body to hold large amounts of food and if you even continue to do so you will feel uncomfortable and you can have small complications like nausea, vomiting, belching, gas, diarrhea etc.
You can choose the surgical procedure you want to go through.
Well, maybe it is possible in your dreams. Weight loss surgery is not like having your favorite candy, it is pretty risky. Your doctor will discuss all types of surgery, but will perform only that surgery, which will suit you the best. Every human body is different and therefore responds differently that is why, according to your body health index and statistics your doctor will recommend you the most appropriate procedure for you.
It is just like any other surgery and requires recovery time and precautions after surgery on the basis of the procedure used during your surgery. If it is an open procedure as in the case of gastrectomy sleeve, then you may feel abdominal pain and requires 4-6 weeks of time to heal when you are following the medical instructions regularly. In case of a laparoscopic procedure, you can go to your work in a week’s time since it is less invasive, but you will feel some digestion related problems and you have to take precautions as well. So, it is easy, but definitely not quick or painless.
It is real surgery and it is not to make you beautiful for heaven’s sake. It is for your health and to rectify obesity related complications. After surgery, you will lose weight at a slow and steady pace which helps in improving the health complications like Sleep Apnea, Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure etc. It can take 1 -2 years to make your weight moderate and in some cases, another set of surgeries are also required. You will have saggy skin because of drastic weight loss which can be rectified with body contouring surgery.
In an open procedure case, the patient is advised not to do heavy lifting or strenuous exercise to prevent any damage to the stomach incisions. But, in case of laparoscopic surgery or other procedures you can take up light exercises a week after and heavy workout after a few months under the guidance of your medical team. If you will keep yourself physically active then it will help you in losing more weight quickly and in maintaining ace of weight later on. Those people who do not take up exercises and eat unhealthy, even after surgery tend to regain weight.
The cost of weight loss surgery in the USA is between 10000 – 30000 dollars for the common procedures like a gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and gastric banding. So, it is indeed a costly procedure, but health insurance covers most of the expenses that is why many people go for it.
Weight loss surgery can only reduce your weight and your health is in your hands. The rearranged digestive systems have its own limitations like low absorption rate of nutrients which can cause a nutrient deficiency in the body and unless you take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly you will become weak and prone to diseases due to low immunity. Your digestive system will not able to hold food for a long time and hence dump it into the small intestine without proper digestion which will cause ‘Dumping Syndrome’ and you can have diarrhea and other digestion related problems. You can develop gallstones due to low absorption of nutrients and you have to take bile salt supplements after surgery to prevent such conditions. All these things indicate that your health will be compromised in some way or another.
So, these are common myths or perceptions which must be cleared after reading the realities. It will help you in understanding the concept of weight loss surgery and you will feel more confident while recommending it to anybody.