Weight loss surgery seemed like a magical solution to shedding unwanted pounds until I witnessed my mom go through the lengthy and difficult process in 2010. My perception of what weight loss surgery was and how it affected those who had the procedure done was based on reality television shows like My 600-lb Life, and the vague understanding I had of what the surgery actually entailed. I thought, "Your stomach gets smaller, you eat less, and 'Voilà!' you're skinny!" Little did I know this idea was simplistic and false.
The stigma of obesity can follow someone, even as they enter into the process of getting weight loss surgery, because of perceptions similar to my own. Delving into what people have to do in order to get weight loss surgery and the impact it has on their lives might give people a better understanding of the difficulties and effort it takes to lose weight using drastic methods — and to help inform those considering this path for themselves.
What exactly is weight loss surgery?
First, you should note there is more than one kind of weight loss surgery: gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric banding, duodenal switch, vBloc therapy, and gastric balloons. Two of the more commonly known procedures are gastric bypass, and gastric banding.
Dr. Moses Shieh, surgeon at the Surgical Healing Arts Center, in Naples-Fort Myers, Florida defines gastric bypass as, "a surgical procedure that divides the stomach into a small upper section and larger lower section, and redirects the absorption of calories and nutrients. This will cause you to eat less and absorb fewer calories."
Gastric banding, on the other hand, he says, "uses a silicone band that is wrapped around the upper stomach to restrict how much food it can hold. Since no part of the stomach or intestine is cut or removed, the band is considered to be the least severe of the types of bariatric surgeries."
An "easy way out"
People often think weight loss surgery is the "easy way out," or quick fix. However, any time major surgery is involved in an attempt to improve someone's health or quality of life, it should not be likely not taken lightly. Prior to having this surgery, my mom struggled with her weight. Being overweight damaged her knees and continues to cause her pain to this day. "I was heavy, so the doctor was always telling me I needed to diet and exercise to lose weight," she said. "Even if I dieted, I had a really hard time exercising because of my knee pain. Physical activity that put pressure on my knees for an extended period of time was out of the question, and I couldn't do lower impact workouts like swimming, because I don't know how to swim. I felt very stuck."
My mom's difficulty with working out due to the knee issues is one of the reasons her doctor strongly suggested she consider gastric bypass surgery. She said that while she was nervous about the idea of a gastric bypass, doing it was an easy decision — but it still wasn't a decision she made lightly.
Getting approved isn't easy
Once you've made the decision to go ahead with weight loss surgery, it's time to clear another hurdle — actually being approved for surgery. Dr. Shieh says there is an extensive screening process associated with surgery. First, "a team of health professionals must determine if you are medically and mentally prepared, and if you are motivated enough to change your diet and lifestyle. They do this by arranging a diet program, schedule pre-consultations, and may require you to participate in additional educational meetings."
For example, before my mom's surgery, she had to attend counseling sessions where she spoke about her reasons for wanting a gastric bypass. She was also prescribed a high-protein shake, meant to aid her in pre-surgery weight loss. Dr. Shieh says losing weight before surgery can be required, because it "shrinks the size of the liver, and improves safety and access for your surgeon." My mom was able to lose 10 pounds in two weeks, clearing her for surgery, but the protein shakes gave her bad breath and dry mouth — not to mention they tasted awful.
Weight loss surgery isn't for everyone
Though it's definitely possible to lose weight the old-fashioned way, with strict lifestyle changes, Dr. Shieh notes, "It can be very difficult to lose large amounts of weight without surgery." This is why he says it's important to keep in mind that weight loss surgery is a "major, life-changing decision that should not be taken lightly."
Unfortunately, even if it's something you really want, weight loss surgery may not be right for you. Your doctor's decision about whether or not you should get weight loss surgery will depend on many different factors.
Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Elliot Hirsch says that in general, "Patients who have a body mass index (BMI) over 40 are candidates. If the body mass index is between 35-40 and they have health problems caused by their weight, they may be candidates as well." He also says that despite a patient's desire to get the surgery and their current BMI, "If someone is not stable medically for surgery, such as if they have untreated coronary artery disease, they would not qualify for the procedure until they are medically cleared."
There are risks
Just like any surgery, you should know there are risks to procedures like gastric bypass and gastric banding. According to the Bariatric Surgery Source, the list of potential issues and complications from gastric bypass and gastric banding can include things like abdominal hernia, abscess, blood clots, bowel obstruction, deep vein thrombosis, gastro-intestinal leaks, and complications from general anesthesia. But don't panic, or at least, try not to — bariatric surgeries have a 0.1 percent mortality rate, only 7 percent of patients have complications, and not all complications are serious or life-threatening. Also, if you're in the process of having any kind of weight loss surgery, rest assured that your doctors and surgeons will go through any and all complications with you. And if you're unsure about anything, or you have concerns — ask!
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