Weight-loss surgery has gotten a lot of attention lately, thanks to many celebrities who have undergone the procedure. However, it is not something that should be done on a whim. Consider the possible complications before “going under the knife.”
The most common complications that occur immediately after weight-loss surgery are:
Infection: As with any other surgery, it is very possible for the surgical site to become infected. Redness, swelling, drainage and tenderness are signs of infection. To prevent it, the surgical site must be kept clean and dressings changed regularly.
Constipation/diarrhea: Because weight-loss surgery affects the digestive tract, your body may react with either constipation or diarrhea. Constipation can be relieved with mineral oil. Diarrhea sometimes occurs because the surgery affects the duodenum, that part of the digestive tract that processes sugars, including milk sugars. This diarrhea can be relieved by avoiding milk products in the early days after the surgery.
Gallstones: Did you know that about half of those who undergo gastric bypass surgery develop gallstones (according to the WebMD.com website)? Of these, 15 percent to 25 percent require gall-bladder removal because of the nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain caused by gallstones.
Dumping Syndrome: Dumping occurs when your newly smaller stomach dumps food from large or sugary meals directly into the small intestine, which cannot handle such large amounts of food. Dumping symptoms are very similar to a heart attack: racing heart, cramps, cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gas.
Bile Reflux Gastritis: In about 6 percent of cases, bile will flow back into the stomach, causing irritation and infection. Left untreated, bile reflux gastritis can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding.
Leaking: In any abdominal surgery, leaks can occur between the stomach and the abdominal cavity or between the stomach and the intestines. This can result in peritonitis, an infection of the abdominal wall, which is potentially life-threatening.
Blood clots to the lung (pulmonary emboli): While these occur in less than 1 percent of weight-loss surgery patients, they are life threatening.
Vitamin deficiency: Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble, meaning they are absorbed through the intestinal tract with the help of lipids (fats). Likewise, some B-complex vitamins, Vitamin D, calcium and iron may also need to be supplemented after surgery.
These are the main risks of weight-loss surgery. So, it is worth it? If you just want to lose a dress size or two, obviously not. You’d be better off changing your eating and exercise habits sensibly: Cut out junk food, exercise daily, drink water etc.
On the other hand, if you have a body mass index of 40 or more and are more than 80 lbs overweight (women) (100 lbs for men), or have weight-related health problems (sleep apnea, diabetes or heart problems), then the risks of the surgery may be far less than your current condition.
For surgery to succeed, it is essential to be committed to a new lifestyle. You must change your eating and exercise habits for good, not just to maintain the weight-loss but to prevent these potentially serious complications.
Weight-loss surgery is not for the faint of heart. But for the severely overweight, it can be a gamble worth taking.
Technorati Tags: weight loss, lose weight, surgery, weight loss surgery
Lose Weight Now with The Banana Diet
You must log in to post a comment.