Are you a candidate for obesity surgery?

Am I a candidate for obesity surgery?

Although, at present obesity surgery has been clearly shown to help with lasting major weight loss in the majority of severely overweight people, it is, nevertheless, a major step and you must be sure that it is the best way forward for you.

You may very well be a good candidate for obesity surgery if your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or more, or if it is more than 35 but you are already experiencing serious consequences of being overweight.

What are the main types of obesity surgery available?

If changes to diet and exercise are not effective, your doctor may consider medicines for weight loss. Beyond this, if you are morbidly obese, or if you have a BMI between 35 and 40 and have a risk factor for an obesity-related disease, you can be considered for obesity surgery, such as:

Gastric Banding

Gastric banding (lap banding) limits the capacity of the stomach. This means that after eating a small amount of food, you feel full. Keyhole surgery is used to tie an inflatable band around the top part of the stomach, creating a small pouch at the top. This limits the amount of food your stomach can hold. Food then slowly passes from the pouch into the lower part of your stomach and on into your digestive system.

The operation is reversible.

Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass is permanent surgery on the stomach to reduce the length of the digestive tract and stop food being absorbed.

A small pouch is created at the top of the stomach. Then, so that food bypasses the stomach and much of the intestine (meaning it can't be digested), part of the intestine is then grafted to the top of this pouch.

Important questions to ask yourself...

The following questions can help you decide if gastric banding or a gastric bypass might be of benefit for you:

1. Have you established how much weight you need to lose? Obesity surgery is an option for people who have a body mass index (BMI) above 40. However, obesity surgery may also be considered for people with a BMI between 35 and 40 who have health problems like type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
2. Because obesity surgery is considered a last-resort solution for people who are unable to lose weight by any other means, have you tried other weight loss methods, such as diets and exercise, without success? Have you tried such methods repeatedly?
3. As with any operation, there are risks and potential side effects of obesity surgical procedures. So you need to ask yourself if you are prepared to undergo the risks of a major surgical procedure.
4. Are you in a state of good emotional health? If you are suffering from depression or other emotional conditions you may be advised to receive treatment for these conditions before making the decision to undergo obesity surgery.

Also, if you suffer from a serious heart or lung condition you may not be a good candidate for surgery.

Are your expectations realistic?

Most people who undergo obesity surgery can expect to lose two-thirds to three quarters of their excess weight. However, before committing to surgery it is essential to bear in mind that up to 25% of obesity surgeries are unsuccessful. This is because patients regain weight by slowly ingesting high-calorie foods or even eating quantities significant enough to stretch the stomach pouch after gastric bypass.

Excess skin (post-surgery)

Another aspect of extreme weight loss is the problem of excess skin or unattractive fat pockets and the possible need for plastic surgical procedures to correct these problems. The good news is that we are able to offer a comprehensive range of body contouring procedures to help correct the problems associated with dramatic weight loss.

Are you prepared for significant lifestyle changes?

Your eating patterns and practices will change drastically following obesity surgery. Nutritional supplements are necessary and extreme attention to diet is required. You will have to eat numerous small portions of food throughout the day rather than large meals. You may be also asked to stop smoking prior to the surgery or to begin physical exercise.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about obesity surgery, or arrange a consultation, contact us today on 08707 606 555, or by completing our online enquiry form for an immediate response.