Frequently Asked Questions
What's Right for Me? Surgery, Medication or Dieting?
Today, there are more weight loss options available than ever below. This is great news for patients and the providers that care for them.
Based on research studies and patient observations, diet and exercise alone are not able to deliver long-term weight loss for most people. In fact, up to 95% of people who are obese and who try to lose weight by diet and exercise will be unable to sustain a healthy weight. Sometimes, it just feels like an endless cycle of failure.
While there are new medications to help with weight loss, some require patients to take them indefinitely to maintain a healthy weight. While medications may be recommended for mild obesity, surgery is still an excellent option for people who are morbidly obese (BMI of 40 or higher, or BMI of 35 or higher with serious health conditions).
Medications typically deliver a weight loss of 8-15% of total body weight, while surgery can result in a loss of 20-40% of total body weight over time.
Every person is different. What might work for one patient might not be right for another. That’s why you should speak with your primary care provider and an experienced bariatric surgeon to make an informed decision, and one that gives you the best chance at a healthy life.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric (weight loss) surgery refers to a number of different procedures that help obese people lose weight. Your care team may recommend bariatric surgery if other weight loss methods have failed and you have a high risk of health complications from your obesity. At CHA, we focus on Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass procedures
Bariatric surgery makes changes to your digestive system to limit how much you can eat and/or reduce your ability to absorb fat and calories. This is done by modifying your stomach and sometimes your small intestine, preventing you from eating large meals and helping you feel “full” sooner.
Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?
Surgery can be a good choice for adults who are severely overweight, or when diet/exercise changes and/or medications haven’t worked. Generally, to qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
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Your body mass index (BMI) must be 40 or higher, called extreme obesity.
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Your BMI is 35 or higher, and you have a serious weight-related health problem, like diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea.
This surgery isn't for everyone who is severely overweight. You may need to meet certain medical guidelines to qualify, and you will have to undergo a screening process.
Certain health insurances may require you to show that you have completed a non-surgical weight loss program before they will cover the cost.
What to Expect Before and After Surgery
Before
After
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Immediately after surgery, you generally won't be allowed to eat for 1 to 2 days so that your stomach and digestive system can heal.
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Then, you'll follow a specific diet for a few weeks, starting with liquids only, then to very soft foods, and eventually, to regular foods. Most patients have restrictions or limits on how much and what you can eat and drink.
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In the months after weight-loss surgery, you'll have frequent check-ups to monitor your health. You may need lab testing, blood work, and various exams and take nutrition supplements.
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Long term, patients must maintain healthy eating habits or risk reversing some of the benefits of the surgery.
Is Bariatric Surgery Safe?
While every surgery has risks, bariatric surgery is considered very safe. Research shows that mortality rates range from 0.03% to 0.2%, which has improved significantly over the past 25 years and are much lower than the serious health risks associated with obesity. Over the long term, being morbidly obese is far more dangerous to your health than having bariatric surgery.
Today, most bariatric procedures are done laparoscopically or robotically, which is less invasive than traditional surgery and has better outcomes. During laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon uses small holes, thin tools and tiny cameras. This results in less tissue damage, leading to shorter recovery times and hospital stays, and less pain after surgery.