11 Oct The Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
The Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Let’s explore the benefits of bariatric surgery and why it’s becoming more popular in the US!
Bariatric surgery is an incredibly popular weight loss plan in the United States. In fact, according to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the number of weight loss surgeries in American increased from 179,000 in 2013 to 228,000 in 2017. Evidently, bariatric surgery in the US is on the rise.
The most common bariatric surgery procedures are:
- Gastric bypass
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Adjustable gastric band
- Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch
As a cost-effective weight loss procedure, bariatric surgery can help people to transform their lives and reduce their risk of serious illness and disease such as type 2 diabetes. Over 70 million adults in American are considered obese, and shockingly, 99 million Americans are medically overweight. Since obesity can impact your physical ability and your mental health, thousands of people in the US, are looking at weight loss surgery as their chance to lead a healthy and happy life.
So let’s discuss the benefits of bariatric surgery and decide whether it’s a good weight loss plan for you.
Bariatric Benefits for Weight Loss
If you are considering undergoing life-changing bariatric surgery in the United States, you will be interested in the benefits that this type of weight loss procedure. Research has found that weight loss surgery can help reduce the impact that obesity-related diseases have on an individual.
Co-morbidites can include, but are not limited to:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Sleep apnea
- Gallbladder disease
- Hyperuricemia
- Gout
- Osteoarthritis
Therefore, if we consider a patient living with type 2 diabetes, we can clearly see the benefits of a bariatric operation. This medical condition can impact daily life as well as personal finances. Often diabetic patients rely on diabetic medication to control their blood sugar levels. Patients can be on this type of medication for the rest of their lives. This can have a big impact on their daily life and also potentially reduce their life expectancy.
In addition, type 2 diabetes can cost a patient a lot of money. As a chronic illness, diabetes can cost $13,700 a year on average. If you develop the condition early on in your life, the amount you might have to pay in medical bills alone is astounding. Plus, bariatric surgery can help to reduce the economic burden on American citizens suffering from this illness. For more information on weight loss surgery and type 2 diabetes.
Obesity & Financial Impact
Americans with a BMI, body mass index, of 30 or more are classed as obese. Sadly this is around 33% of the population in the US. 70% of US citizens are now overweight. Obesity can be caused by a lack of physical activity and a poor diet. Although mental illness and other medical conditions can be contributing factors.
With the rise of the obesity epidemic, healthcare in the US has adjusted accordingly. With annual national costs for obesity or obesity-related illnesses clocking in at between $147 billion and $210 billion. Perhaps unsurprisingly, insurance companies are therefore increasing their premiums for obese patients by more than 42% for their services (and morbidly obese patients by more than 81%). Also, American employers are feeling the financial burden, and are less inclined to hire obese employees because of these additional insurance costs. Moreover, obese employees account for $4.3 billion of lost profit each year due to personal health-related absences in the workplace.
Do you Qualify for Bariatric Surgery?
If you are struggling with obesity and are suffering from co-morbidities such as diabetes, you may well be a good candidate for bariatric surgery. A BMI of greater than 35 often is a strong indicator of a good candidate for bariatric surgery. If you’d like to read more about the benefits of bariatric surgery and discuss this weight loss procedure with a surgeon or a doctor, contact our team today. If you’d like more information on good candidates for weight loss surgery, read ‘Do I qualify for bariatric surgery?’
Bariatric surgery can radically improve the quality of life, especially for people living with morbid obesity.
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery Infographic
This useful infographic highlights some of the key benefits of bariatric surgery. From improving daily life to reducing the cost of obesity-related illnesses, let’s explore why thousands of Americans are choosing to have bariatric surgery. So, let’s take a closer look at bariatrics.
Are there any Disadvantages to Bariatric Surgery?
You may be wondering whether there are any potential risks or disadvantages to bariatric surgery. Well, with any operation, there are associated risks. Weight loss surgery is no different, however, we use medical robot systems to enhance our procedures and minimise risk and complications.
In the Denver area, the majority of weight loss surgeons now use the da Vinci medical robot to perform bariatric procedures. Medical robots add to the benefits of bariatric operations as they help surgeons perform safely and precisely. Medical robots provide 3D high-definition images of a patient on the operating table in real-time, allowing the surgeon to carry out complex medical procedures efficiently. Guiding the doctor, or operating surgeon, a medical robot helps prevent human error during weight loss surgery.
Plus, patients undergoing bariatric surgery with the help of medical robots can expect minimal bleeding and minimal pain post-surgery, with fast recovery too! Our surgeons see 100% of patients leave the hospital and return home within 48 hours of a bariatric operation thanks to the assistance of state-of-the-art robotic systems. For more information about medically assisted bariatric procedures.
With this being said, there are some disadvantages to Bariatric surgery that you should be aware of.
Disadvantages You Should Know- Weight Loss Surgery
First, explain some of the most common risks of life-changing bariatric surgery.
- Acid reflux
- Anaesthesia related risks
- Chronic nausea and vomiting
- Dilation of oesophagus
- Food aversion or inability to eat certain food
- Infection
- Obstruction of stomach
- Failure to lose weight
Weight loss surgery requires a patient to do their part too. Post-surgery, it’s important to change your lifestyle to effectively lose weight and keep weight off. Some patients fail to lose weight after undergoing a bariatric procedure as they continue to eat in the same way they did before surgery. Other patients continue to lead an inactive lifestyle and consume more calories than they’re burning.
So, choosing to have a bariatric procedure is beneficial to your health if you’re obese and suffering from other obesity related illnesses. In addition, choosing to have a weight loss surgery also means choosing to change your lifestyle and diet. But, it’s important to understand that being healthy is a lifelong commitment and one that will prolong your life expectancy and give you quality of life.
Long-term Bariatric Surgery Risks
Weight loss surgery can be beneficial to a lot of people, however, you need to understand that this complex surgery comes with some long-term risks. On rare occasions, some patients may experience the following post-bariatric surgery:
- Vomiting
- Low blood sugar
- Malnutrition
- Ulcers
- Hernias
- Bowel obstruction
Moreover, this is why a lot of patients are advised by medical professionals to take food supplements after undergoing a bariatric operation. Bariatric supplements may include but are not limited to:
- Multivitamins
- Vitamin B12
- Calcium with vitamin D
- Iron and vitamin C
- Vitamin D
To conclude, if you are interested in the benefits of bariatric surgery and you’d like to speak with a weight loss surgeon about your options and your weight loss goals, feel free to contact our medical experts today. Lastly, our team would be more than happy to offer guidance, advice and information about the benefits of bariatric surgery for US citizens suffering from obesity and other related illnesses.