Things You Should Know About Weight Loss Surgery

Things You Need To Know About Weight Loss Surgery

If you're considering weight-loss surgery, there's a good chance you're getting plenty of pre- and post-op guidance from a doctor you trust. But that's not always the case, and for many people who have this type of procedure, life after surgery can be full of surprises,  the bad, the good, and even the downright embarrassing. If you're thinking about undergoing bariatric surgery, here are a few things you should know that the doctor may forget to mention..

You’re planning to have weight loss surgery such as gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy or a gastric bypass it’s best to get prepared so that you can rest and recover properly following your operation. The advice below is offered to help you think ahead about what you will need before, during and after your procedure.

How Will Weight Loss Surgery Help You Lose Weight?

There are 2  types of weight loss surgery :malabsorptive surgeries and  restrictive surgeries . Each helps with weight loss in different ways.

Restrictive surgeries work by physically restricting the stomach's size, limiting the amount of solid food you can eat. A normal stomach can hold about three pints of food. After weight loss surgery, a stomach may only hold one ounce of food, although over time it may be able to hold two or three ounces of food.

Malabsorptive surgeries work by changing the way your digestive system absorbs food. This type of weight loss surgery is more complicated. The surgeon removes parts of your intestine, creating a shortcut for the food to be digested. This means that fewer calories get absorbed into the body. The combined malabsorptive/restrictive surgery also creates a smaller stomach pouch, which restricts the amount of food you can eat.

Should You Consider Having Weight Loss Surgery?

Weight loss surgery is not for everyone. Doctors generally recommend it only for people who:

Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more -- about 100 pounds overweight for men and 80 for women

Have a lower BMI (35 to 40), but also have serious health problems related to obesity such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or severe sleep apnea

Have tried and failed to lose weight by nonsurgical means such as diet and exercise

You should fully understand the risks associated with weight loss surgery and are motivated

How much weight will You lose?

Successful weight loss will be entirely down to you making good dietary choices and being as physically active as possible. On average bariatric surgery can result in a 50 to 70 percent reduction in excess body weight over three years. The amount of weight lost after surgery depends on the type of operation, but more importantly on changing your eating habits and lifestyle. Gastric bypass patients will lose around 70 percent of their excess weight, sleeve gastrectomy patients will lose around 60 percent and gastric banding patients will lose around 50 percent¹.

If you lose more than 50% of your extra (excess) weight and you don’t put it back on again this will be classed as a success. In general weight loss is faster after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy surgery with most of the weight lost within the first 6 months and stabilising after 12 to 18 months. Gastric band surgery causes a slower more gradual but steady weight loss.

You may get very depressed post-surgery.

There's a  link between obesity and depression, and while the majority of patients who undergo bariatric surgery do experience an overall improvement in their well-being after surgery, feelings of depression can worsen for some. Researchers from Yale University published a study in the Obesity Journal in which 13 percent of patients studied reported an increase in Beck Depression Inventory – a numerical rating that measures eating disorder behavior, self-esteem, and social functioning – six to 12 months after gastric bypass surgery, a time frame that the authors conclude is an important period to assess for depression and associated symptoms.

Corrective surgery is costly and Excess skin can be an issue

Though the post-surgery weight loss may be gradual enough that your body and skin can adjust slowly, many people are left with such an excess that it requires cosmetic surgery to fix. And unless it's deemed medically necessary, your insurance company will not be footing the bill. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2013 member surgeons performed nearly 42,000 body contouring operations — reshaping of breasts, arms, thighs, and stomachs — for patients who lost substantial amounts of weight. Body contouring operations can cost anywhere from $4,000 to much, much higher.

Eating after bariatric surgery

In the initial period after surgery you will only be able to eat very small portions and you will probably not feel hungry, but this may change with time. Here are some eating guidelines for weight loss patients:

• Eat small portions. After surgery, if you overeat it will stretch your stomach pouch and cause discomfort and may make you vomit. It will take a while for your brain to adjust to the small size of your pouch. Using a side plate can help you keep your portions under control.

• Don’t drink with meals². Make sure you have at least 2 litres of fluid a day. Avoid all fizzy drinks.

• Keep to 6 small meals a day and avoid snacking between meals unless you are genuinely hungry. Eating regularly stops you getting overly hungry and eating too fast and results in more weight loss than if you eat irregularly, graze and snack all day.

• Put a small amount of food in your mouth, eat slowly and chew very well.

• Choose foods that have texture to satisfy your stomach rather than high calorie liquids or foods that ‘melt. These foods slip straight through, don’t make you full and result in a very high calorie intake.

Certain foods can be a problem for some people. These can include chewy meats, soft white bread, rice, fibrous fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds. These should be avoided initially and re-introduced slowly once a ‘normal’ diet has been established. Everyone is different and you will need to find out what is right for you by trial and error.

Your multi disciplinary team will give you lots of help and information about post-operative diets.

You'll have to say goodbye to soda.

That's right: Carbonated beverages are a big no-no because they introduce air into your belly, creating gas that can put pressure on your stomach and cause it to expand unnecessarily, thereby undoing the surgery results. Instead of soda, drink lots and lots of water, as dehydration is the most common reason for a patient's readmission to the hospital.

 It Won’t Solve All Your Problems

Weight loss procedures can help you lose weight initially, but staying healthy requires a lifetime commitment to a healthy diet and exercise. Since you’ll be eating less due to your surgery, you’ll have to stick to a permanent regimen of additional nutritional supplements to give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs.

This surgery isn’t a way to get out of eating healthy and exercising, it’s a means of taking control of your health.

Summary on Weight Loss Surgery

Deciding to get a weight loss procedure is a big decision, but it’s one that could enhance your life in every way. By considering these 5 things and keeping open and honest communication with your doctor, you can determine if this is the right option for you.

Are you considering a weight loss procedure?

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