Are weight loss surgeries safe?
Summary
Weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery, helps severely obese patients lose weight by reducing stomach size and altering digestion to limit food intake and nutrient absorption. It is typically recommended for patients with obesity-related conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. Common procedures include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and duodenal switch, each varying in effectiveness and risks. These surgeries are safe, with benefits like sustained weight loss, reduced obesity related risks and improved quality of life. However, they are not a quick fix solution and require lifelong commitment to healthy habits. Recovery involves dietary adjustments, starting with liquids and progressing to solid foods, alongside regular medical follow-ups. Bariatric surgery isn’t effective without addressing underlying health conditions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s a valuable option for those who’ve exhausted other weight-loss methods, but not a standalone solution.
What is a weight loss surgery?
Bariatric or weight loss surgery is performed to help extremely obese patients lose weight. There are several types of weight loss surgeries and the type the doctor decides on for you will depend on a number of factors. Weight loss surgery focuses on limiting the amount of food you consume and absorb by reducing the size of the stomach. Patients who suffer from obesity related conditions are candidates for bariatric surgery. This includes conditions like high cholesterol, hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndromes that contribute to chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea and non-alcohol related fatty liver disease. It is important to note that only patients who are at a high risk of suffering life threatening complications due to obesity are candidates for bariatric surgery. Your doctor is the best judge of whether your case qualifies for weight loss surgery or not. The surgery is not a “quick fix” for weight loss and should not be taken lightly. The surgery is one of the strategies to lose weight and is most effective when accompanied by consistent healthy lifestyle choices.
Types of weight loss surgeries and effects
The procedure for a weight loss surgery involves reducing the capacity of stomach so that the amount of food that it can hold becomes less. The intestine may also be shortened and this prevents absorption of broken down food molecules.
The common types of weight-loss surgery are:
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass – This is the most common type of gastric bypass surgery. This technique significantly reduces the patient’s stomach capacity, restricting how much they can eat before they feel very full. The patient’s stomach is typically reduced from about one litre to about 30 ml. The surgery also re-routes the food in such a way that the initial part of the small intestine is by-passed. This reduces the absorption of fat and calories into the patient’s body, helping them reduce weight. This technique typically cannot be reversed and hence is permanent.
- Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding – The adjustable gastric banding procedure involves placing a silicone band (like a tight rubber band) over the top part of the stomach, effectively reducing the stomach’s capacity to hold food. This leads to a greater feeling of fullness after eating small amount of food, preventing overeating and leading to weight loss in obese patients. This technique has no effect on absorption of nutrients, and hence is considered less effective than the other techniques mentioned. However, since no part of the stomach or digestive tract is cut or removed, it can be reversed if required. The procedure is performed laparoscopically, reducing the risk of complications.
- Sleeve gastrectomy – A sleeve gastrectomy reduces the stomach to about 20% of its original capacity. The smaller stomach cannot hold much food before the patient starts to feel uncomfortably full, reducing how much they can eat. The body also begins to produce less ghrelin (hunger hormone), leading to less hunger. This procedure does not re-route the intestines, which is a significant advantage when it comes to patient recovery. Patients typically recover faster and require shorter hospital stays when this technique is used.
- Duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion – This is a complex 2-part procedure that is performed in a single surgery. The first part of the surgery is basically a sleeve gastrectomy. During the second part of the surgery, the patient’s small intestine is divided and re-attached,connecting the first and last thirds of the small intestine directly to each other. This procedure limits the patient’s food intake and absorption of nutrition into the body. However, as effective as the procedure is, it comes with larger risks of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.
How safe are bariatric surgeries?
Doctors don’t take bariatric surgeries lightly. They will be suggested only if the patient’s weight causes them to be at high risk for obesity related complications. Most often, doctors will suggest a laproscopic bariatric surgery since it is minimally invasive. The actual procedure doesn’t take very long and the patient usually needs to stay in the hospital for only a couple of days.
In the long run, the benefits of weight loss surgery are many.
- It helps in long-term weight loss.
- Prevents excess weight gain
- Reduces the risk of obesity-related complications
- Increases the life span of the patient
- Improves the quality of life
- Improves mental health
Bariatric surgery is the safest option available if you are morbidly obese and suffer from life-threatening illnesses due to your weight and if all your attempts at losing weight have not worked. But, if you do decide to take this step towards bettering your quality of life, do your research and pick an experienced doctor and hospital. Talk to the doctor, get your questions and doubts answered and make sure that you are comfortable with your decision. Remember, this surgery is NOT for people who can reduce their weight by healthy eating and exercising.
What to expect when undergoing Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia, where the patient is unconscious during the procedure. The procedure may be performed laparoscopically or as an open procedure depending on the technique your surgeon chooses for your case. Laparoscopic surgery leads to less scarring and quicker recovery, but is not always the best option for all patients. You can discuss your options with your surgeon, so they can shed light on your specific case. This is a complex procedure and usually takes many hours. Patients may be required to stay in the hospital for a few days after, so they can be monitored during recovery.
Typically, the patient will be given a specific diet to follow during their recovery, starting with liquids and progressing slowly to soft foods and solid foods. There will be restrictions on the volume food they can eat as well, so as to not overload the digestive tract. Frequent check-ups with your doctor are crucial after bariatric surgery, to check for complications and address them early.
When do weight-loss surgeries not work?
The aim of wight-loss surgeries is to lose weight and keep it off in the long-term. The amount of weight you lose depends on the type of weight loss surgery. However, that’s not all – It also depends on the lifestyle changes you implement, and how consistent you are with them after surgery. In addition to the bariatric surgery, it is also important to address the underlying conditions that caused the obesity in the first place. This could be heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or eating disorders.
Bariatric surgery is not a final solution. It doesn’t work if you don’t commit to a healthier lifestyle. Patients can develop serious malnutrition if they are not mindful of what they eat. It is also possible to regain the weight lost, if you slip back into old patterns of not taking good care of your health. It is important to have regular follow-up visits with your healthcare team, to make sure you don’t develop complications.
Article Updated on February 19, 2025
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