Bariatric Surgery

Anybody with a BMI score of more than 32.5 kg/sq m can undergo the surgery

A surgical weight loss operation is a useful tool for weight loss that requires lifelong commitment

Bariatric surgery has become as safe as a hernia surgery with mortality risk of 0.05% & re-operation rate of 0.01%

surgeries are also called bariatric surgeries in which no fat is removed from body.

Even people with 25 kgs extra weight (BMI > 32.5) are suitable candidates & benefit substantially for management of associated diseases like diabetes, snoring, irregular periods & infertility.

Weight loss surgery is an ideal option for people who have faced repeated failures and physical weakness in attempts to lose weight.

The satisfaction or satiety after every meal, post surgery, increases considerably. Rather, most of the obese usually avoid eating adequately to avoid further weight gain.

Surgery is done to reduce risk associated with obesity. In experienced hands & evolved bariatric programs, the risk associated with surgery is extremely small.

Weight loss surgery results in control of many diseases, improvement in Quality of Life & prolongation of life span too. Nausea may be present in few patients for a short duration only.

Post Weight loss surgery, the medicines consumed before surgery for other diseases like diabetes, high BP, irregular periods etc. can completely stop. However, certain minerals like iron, calcium & B12 may be required as supplements for 1-2 years after sleeve gastrectomy & lifelong after gastric bypass surgery.

The cost of surgery is usually recovered within 1.5 – 2 years due to reduction in expenditure on associated medical problems besides the benefit from improved quality of life. The cost of surgery is no more than the cost of any other major surgery.

Possibility of weight regain is only 10% compared to over 98% after other weight loss measures like diet, medicines etc.

Patient is allowed to eat food of his choice till he is full. This can include fish, chicken, eggs, dal, rotis, rice etc & there is no need to eat salads etc.

The understanding of altered intestinal system has shown no major changes in terms of digestion & absorption with most of surgical procedures.

With better technique & improved safety, surgery is advisable in 13 year old adolescent & 70 year old person too.

Annual follow up may be required for certain mal-absorptive procedures. However, most commonly performed procedures like sleeve require follow up for 2 years only.

Contrary to this energy levels go up significantly within a short span after surgery due to reduced breathlessness, less joint pains & better nutrition.

Sagging of skin only happens in extremely obese people, over 60 yrs of age or patients on poor nutrition.

After bariatric surgery, the cycles become regular & fertility improves. Pregnancy is to be avoided for 1 year after surgery as it is a period of weight loss.