Q: Why should someone consider a bariatric surgery procedure?
A: Current research suggests that one in three Americans is obese. In this country alone, about 300,000 deaths per year can be linked to obesity. Obesity is associated with serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea (serious sleep disorder), heartburn or reflux, cerebral artery disease (stroke), diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), asthma, osteoarthritis, infertility, or cancer of the breast, colon, prostate or uterus. Usually within the first six months after a bariatric surgery procedure, patients will no longer need to take medications for these conditions.
Q: Who is eligible for bariatric surgery procedure?
A: A person may be a candidate for bariatric surgery procedure if he or she is at least 100 pounds overweight and traditional weight loss methods have failed.
Q: What is involved in bariatric surgery procedures?
A: The most commonly performed bariatric surgery procedure is called the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This method makes the stomach smaller and alters digestion. It is referred to as a combine restrictive and malabsorptive procedure because less food can be eaten and fewer calories can be absorbed. The laparoscopic adjustable band, or LAP-BAND is a restrictive procedure. This device works by limiting the amount of food that can be eaten.
Q: What is the recovery time following weight loss surgery?
A: Most patients recover from bariatric surgery procedure without complications. Patients are encouraged to get out of bed and start walking by the next day. The hospital stay for patients who undergo the Roux-en-Y procedure is usually two to four days. Patients who have the LAP-BAND procedure may stay one to two days. Most individuals return to work in two to three weeks following their bariatric surgery procedure.
Q. When is weight loss surgery considered successful?
A. Weight loss surgery is considered successful when a person loses 50 percent of his or her excess weight. Although few people lose all of their excess weight, they do gain numerous health benefits, which may be lifesaving. It’s important to remember that there are no guarantees with any method of weight loss, even surgical procedures. Success hinges on your ability to become part of the plan to support the surgical tool you've chosen and make lifestyle changes with exercise and dietary adjustments.
Q. Are there activity restrictions following bariatric surgery procedure?
A. Yes, strenuous activity after a bariatric surgery procedure should be avoided until you are healed. Walking, however, is a required activity at this stage of recovery. You are advised not to drive, if you are taking pain medication other than Tylenol. At your first follow-up visit, your doctor will determine when you can return to work, but most people return to work three to six weeks after the initial bariatric surgery procedure.
Q. Do insurance companies cover bariatric surgery procedures?
A. Many insurance companies now recognize obesity as a substantial health risk and are paying for bariatric surgery.
Q: What are the dietary restrictions following weight loss surgery?
A: Following weight loss surgery, you will need to follow specific eating guidelines. Registered dietitians at Cleveland Clinic work directly with bariatric surgery patients to provide dietary education before and after surgery.
Q. What about exercise after weight loss surgery?
A. Light exercise, such as walking, should begin immediately after bariatric surgery procedure. Vigorous exercise will be gradually introduced in six to eight weeks. Exercise will not only keep you feeling well and energized, but it also helps burn fat and calories. For many people, returning to physical exercise is an important step toward feeling better.
Q: How long will it take to lose excess weight after weight loss surgery?
A: Excess weight loss begins right after surgery and continues for 18-24 months after surgery.
Q: Is it possible to gain the weight back after a bariatric surgery procedure?
A: Bariatric surgery has an excellent long-term track record for helping morbidly obese individuals maintain weight loss. If you are committed to making permanent dietary and lifestyle changes, your chance of weight re-gain is minimized.
Q: What are the bariatric surgery risks?
A: All surgical procedures have risks, particularly when the patient is morbidly obese. Different weight loss surgery procedures involve different risks, and depending upon your individual circumstances, your risks may be higher or lower than average. It’s also important to know that surgeons with more experience performing bariatric surgery techniques have fewer complications. Potential bariatric surgery risks of weight loss surgery should be discussed with your surgeon so you can make an informed choice.
Q. Can weight loss surgery be reversed?
A. Both weight loss procedures are considered permanent weight loss measures. However, the LAP-BAND is removable via laparoscopic surgery. Gastric bypass surgery is potentially reversible. Reversal requires another operation of the same, or greater, magnitude with the same, or greater, risks. Reversal of this operation is very uncommon and the procedure rarely occurs beyond six weeks from the time of surgery.
