THE SAFE OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
The most frequently asked question when deciding to have surgery is whether it is safe.
Is Weight Loss Surgery Safe?
It is safe with a 99.9% survival rate. Further, the long-term risks of remaining morbidly obese are much greater than the risk of weight loss surgery. For example, people suffering from morbid obesity are 85% more likely to die over any 5 year period than weight loss surgery patients.
However, as many as 1 in 10 patients do experience non-life-threatening complications.
Before reviewing the risks and complications of weight loss surgery, let us consider the implications of being morbidly obese and NOT having the surgery. Factors include the following:
• Obesity discrimination
• Depression
• Health-related quality of life is significantly lower than those of normal weight.
• Obesity health problems ranging from minor to severe
Bariatric surgery may be the best (or only) treatment for those who are morbidly obese. For example, following weight loss surgery, etc.
• Quality of life improved in 95% of patients.
• Asthma – 82% improved or resolved
• Cardiovascular disease – 82% risk reduction
• Depression – 55% improved or resolved
• Dyslipidemia hypercholesterolemia – 63% resolved
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease – 72 – 98% resolved
• Hypertension – 52 – 92% resolved
• Metabolic syndrome – 80% resolved.
• Migraines – 57% resolved
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – 90% improved steatosis; 37% resolution of inflammation; 20% resolution of fibrosis on repeat biopsy
• Orthopedic problems or degenerative joint disease – 41-76% resolved
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome – 78% resolution of hirsutism; 100% resolution of menstrual dysfunction
• Pseudotumor cerebri – 96% resolved
• Sleep apnea – 74 – 98% resolved
• Stress urinary incontinence – 44 – 88% resolved
• Type 2 diabetes – 83% resolved.
• Venous stasis disease – 95% resolved
Besides, morbidly obese patients who received bariatric surgery were 89% less likely to die over any 5 year period than morbidly obese individuals who did not have the surgery.
BARIATRIC SURGERY RELATIVE MORTALITY RATE
The risk of dying from bariatric treatment does exist. However, advances in medicine have made its safety equal to that of any other routine surgical procedure. Here is a comparison of bariatric surgery to heart surgery and common causes of death in the U.S.
The chart that compares weight loss surgery risks to other causes of death
Risk of Complications from Weight Loss Surgery
• About 1 in 10 patients experience complications.
• Complications range from minor to severe but are rarely fatal.
• Possible complications and side effects vary by procedure.
The risk of complications can be both during and after surgery range from minor to severe. About 10% of bariatric surgery patients (1 in 10 people) have some complication, with the most common nausea and vomiting.
Our article on weight loss surgery complications will help you fully know and compare the complications related to each type of weight loss surgery.
Feb 12, 2021
HUNG M. DO, MD, PhD