Why choose bariatric surgery for weight loss | Benefits
A significant surge has been observed in obesity, and it has been a major global concern. Hence, obesity categorizes as the most underrated pandemic. More importantly, obesity is a major concern for health professionals because it is closely related to other health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney issues, joint pain, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, depression, etc. The first go-to option for treating obesity is diet and lifestyle change. Many people achieve success to some extent. However, it does not work for people suffering from severe obesity. For such people, healthcare professionals recommend either prescribing weight-loss medicines or weight loss surgery, or both. Studies indicate the significant success of bariatric surgery for weight loss. However, due to lack of awareness, only 1% of obese patients who qualify for surgery get the procedure.
Hence, we shall take a detailed look into the working principle, risks, and benefits of bariatric surgery.
Who is a candidate for bariatric surgery?
One may check their severity of obesity using a BMI calculator. If the BMI lies between 35 to 39 and is accompanied by one or two related morbidities such as diabetes and sleep apnea, the person qualifies to get laparoscopic surgical services. However, one qualifies for the surgery even without any morbidities if they have a BMI of more than 40.
One thing that must be clarified here is that the weight loss experts do not recommend bariatric surgery for just anyone whose BMI lies within the lines of severe obesity. Furthermore, BMI is not the ultimate scale to calculate obesity. Definition of overweight varies along the lines of BMI results. The exceptions include bodybuilders, older people, and children. In fact, before the recommending bariatric surgery for weight loss, the surgeon would conduct a keen screening diagnosis that may include the blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, smoking habits, blood pressure, and lifestyle habits.
A brief intro to weight loss surgery
Before making such a bold decision about your health and physique, you must know what is bariatric surgery so that you may look for the best bariatric surgeon in Pakistan. Bariatric surgery just is another name of weight loss surgery that works by changing the anatomy of your stomach and small intestine and rerouting the digestive system. With this, the weight loss surgeons aim to help the patient lose weight by increasing the satiety, metabolism, and appetite pattern.
If you have chosen the best bariatric surgeon in Pakistan, he would probably recommend pharmacotherapy and diet & lifestyle changes in surgery follow-up. Furthermore, with the advancement of medical technologies, laparoscopic surgical services are rising due to various benefits. There are the following three options for bariatric surgery for weight loss.
- Roux-Y gastric bypass
- Mini gastric bypass
- Sleeve Gastrectomy
Advantages of bariatric surgery
According to the best weight-loss professionals, bariatric surgery in Lahore is the best and promising treatment for the severity of obesity and related morbidities. Concerning how bariatric surgery works be, it offers the following benefits in the process of weight loss.
Minimally invasive
Opting for laparoscopic bariatric surgery in Lahore is the best decision you can take for yourself. The bariatric surgeon makes only a half-inch wide four incisions. He inserts a laparoscope with a camera and the other surgical instruments inside the abdomen to perform the surgery. Therefore, laparoscopic and bariatric surgery offers a quick recovery, reduced risk of infections, sepsis, post-operative pain. Due to such small incisions, the risk of hernias also reduces.
Long term weight loss
If you have decided to go for bariatric surgery for weight loss, you can expect a dramatic change in your BMI. You will lose about 30% to 40% of your excess body weight within six months after surgery. Furthermore, you can expect to lose about 100 pounds by the end of 12 to 18 months after your weight loss surgery.
Quality of life
As bariatric surgery promises long-term weight loss, and so it improves the quality of life. For example, it improves physical limitations, improves the joints & body pain. Moreover, it helps deal with depression by improving self-image. According to the survey studies, approximately 95% of obese patients report improved quality of life after bariatric surgery. A 32.7% decrease in depression is observed right after surgery, and within 12 months, it is expected to drop by 16.5%.
Diabetes Mellitus
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is closely related to obesity as 90% of diabetes patients are obese. Alarmingly, obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women by 93 folds and 42 folds in men. At the same time, utilizing the advanced laparoscopic surgical services helps in reducing insulin resistance. Furthermore, according to the studies, weight loss surgery in Lahore enables you to manage your diabetes better than ever. You may even expect to get rid of insulin and other medication all along.
Sleep apnea
As bariatric surgery for weight loss promises long-term weight management, one can expect to stop using the CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea. Following the surgery, approximately 80% to 85% of the patients report relief in sleep apnea
Fertility
Undoubtedly, obesity is a gateway to a bundle of other health problems and reproductive systems. Consequently, the best bariatric surgeon in Lahore is quite capable of helping you improve your fertility. Furthermore, research studies indicate a significant decline in the risks of miscarriage in obese women after the surgery. Losing weight with surgery also proves to help improve the menstrual cycle and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Other medical conditions
Weight loss cast a wide-ranged impact on the overall health of your body. Besides all the benefits of weight loss surgery mentioned above, it helps improve metabolic syndrome, gallbladder disease and keeps you from various complications of pregnancy.
Well, every picture has two sides, and so does bariatric surgery. With lots of benefits, the surgery poses some risks as well. However, you would see the advantages of bariatric surgery for weight loss overweighs the risks.
Risks of Bariatric surgery
Some of the risks that bariatric surgery poses are mentioned below.
- No surgeon can promise the amount of weight loss after the surgery.
- Losing excessive weight can lead to various issues, especially cosmetic problems such as loose skin, which can be very irritating.
- As bariatric surgery restricts the stomach capacity of nutrient absorption that leads to malnutrition. Therefore, you must be wary of the condition as well as ulcers after the bariatric surgery for weight loss.
