Obesity is a condition where the body fat of a person is above optimal levels. Commonly indicated by body mass index (BMI), a BMI of 30 or above is considered to show obesity in patients. Morbid obesity increases the susceptibility of a person to various complex diseases which can only be controlled by weight reduction. There are various means to lose weight and surgery is a promising option. In case you are considering undergoing weight loss surgery in Dallas or a nearby area, consult a leading bariatric surgeon or weight loss specialist in the region. Getting a specialist on board will be of assistance as weight loss surgery is a complex procedure with severe consequences. Apart from consultation with a specialist, patients are recommended to learn all the ins and outs of weight loss surgeries beforehand to make a sound decision. Read this blog to know all the things you should be aware of before opting for weight loss surgery.
Reasons To Opt for Weight Loss Surgery
Diet and exercise are not always sufficient or enough to help lose weight. Many times, surgical intervention is needed to catalyze the weight loss process. Weight loss surgery is also opted to help eliminate a number of serious health conditions that might occur because of obesity including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease, liver diseases, certain lung diseases, arthritis, stroke, and even certain cancers. It’s not just about looking slimmer but being healthier, weight loss surgery allows patients to live healthy lives.
Things To Expect At Your First Visit
On the first visit, a bariatric healthcare provider makes an inquiry related to the patient’s medical history including food addictions, and eating disorders and activity levels followed by physical examinations related to BMI, blood pressure, and body measurements. The doctor then investigates the presence of obesity-related health problems and checks the patient’s willingness to start an exercise and diet program. All this is done to know whether surgery is the only option or whether simple dieting and exercise can bring in the desired changes. The weight loss specialist will order certain tests and based on the evaluation will suggest a suitable surgery.
Relevant Tests That Might Be Ordered by Your Doctor
A weight loss specialist might order tests to check diabetes, and the functioning of thyroids, liver, cholesterol, and kidney. The test results help doctors make better decisions regarding weight loss options. An electrocardiogram may be ordered to detect the heart rhythm. Additionally, resting metabolic rate tests and exercise tests are conducted to check the rate of calorie burn at rest and heart function during exercise. Certain other tests may also be ordered to determine the patient’s eligibility for the surgery and the precautions that are to be taken during the surgery.
Risk Involved
Weight loss surgery, as any other surgery, carries certain risks including the development of kidney stones, dumping syndrome, inadequate weight loss and even weight regain. Patients must consider all the possible complications before opting for a surgical procedure to reduce weight. Patients should compare the risk involved in the surgery with the risk of living with obesity to make a better decision.
Recovery Procedure
Recovery from bariatric surgery happens in two stages; one in the hospital and the second at home. Patients may be required to stay admitted in hospital depending upon the complexity of the surgical procedure. Patients undergoing minimally invasive bariatric surgeries spend at most one to two days in the hospital. During their stay at the hospitals, they remain under the direct supervision of the doctors. Supervision is required because patients undergoing bariatric surgery are expected to feel pain around the incision area, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and many other symptoms as an aftermath of the surgery for the initial few days. In case of any particular concern, the patients must reach out to the bariatric surgery team for proper medication and care. Patients are also expected to be active after surgery, simply lying down in the bed may not help in recovery, they are required to walk at short distances slowly in the hospital area and change bed positions for promoting blood circulation. Make sure to follow the guidelines from your doctor.
The second stage of recovery happens at home when the patients are approved for hospital discharge by the surgeon. The patients are advised to not perform any strenuous activity at home as their bodies are still in the healing phase. Even after going home, patients need to be in constant touch with the bariatric surgeon to report their recovery. Patients are advised to increase their water intake and restrict travel to only short distances, if necessary. When at home, patients need to take care of incisions to avoid developing any infection and maintain personal hygiene. It is important to follow dietary and lifestyle recommendations by your doctor to achieve healthy recovery.
Conclusion
Obesity is emerging as an expensive, common, and significant issue in the U.S. About one-third of U.S. population is obese, which may be a reason for elevated interests in weight loss surgeries. That said, it is important to keep in mind that weight loss surgery is not recommended for every obese person. There is a certain set of criteria to determine whether surgical solutions are the best course of action for you. Consult a leading weight loss specialist in Dallas, Fort Worth, or anywhere else in Texas to determine your eligibility for weight loss surgery.