Can bariatric surgery help with weight loss?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 35-year-old male with obesity. I have been considering more aggressive options for weight loss, and I am curious about bariatric surgery. What are the different types available, and how do I know if I am a suitable candidate? I am particularly interested in the long-term impacts. How effective is it for sustained weight loss? Are there any potential complications or side effects I should be aware of? Also, how does the recovery process look, and when could I expect to return to work? I am concerned about the lifestyle changes I would need to make post-surgery. How drastically would my diet need to change, and are there any restrictions on physical activities? Lastly, what kind of ongoing support or follow-up care would I need after the procedure? I want to make an informed decision, so any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for posting your query.

One study found that after one year, people undergoing adjustable gastric banding, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass lost between 38 and 87 pounds. Of the three most common procedures, gastric bypass produced greater weight loss, on average, but had more complications in the month after surgery. The gastric sleeve, also called sleeve gastrectomy, is the most commonly performed bariatric surgery in many countries. This may be because it is relatively simple.

Gastric bypass and other types of weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric or metabolic surgery. It involves making changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight. Bariatric surgery is done when diet and exercise have not worked or when you have serious health problems because of your weight. Some weight-loss procedures limit how much you can eat. Others work by reducing the body's ability to absorb fat and calories. Some procedures do both. You can usually leave the hospital one to three days after having weight loss surgery. After four to six weeks start to return to your normal activities. If you have had a gastric band fitted, you will be given a follow-up appointment where the band will be adjusted based on your food intake and weight loss.

The post-surgical diet of mostly liquids and pureed foods facilitates rapid changes. On average, you could lose about five pounds a week. You may feel pain at the incision site or as a result of how your body was positioned during surgery. Some patients also experience neck and shoulder pain, which occurs when the body reabsorbs the gas used during surgery. Notify your care team if your pain prevents you from moving. It may take up to twelve weeks if you have open surgery. Walking is encouraged regularly to increase your physical activity level. You should increase the distance and intensity as you feel able and aim to walk 10,000 steps per day.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.