Realistic Weight Loss-Related Surgeries

Cosmetic surgeries should not be considered a quick-fix weight loss solution. In fact, patients need to make sure their health and BMI qualifies to pursue procedures like liposuction and tummy tucks. However, there are a number of options for bariatric surgery that you could look into.

There are four major types to consider:

1. Lap band surgery: A plastic band is wrapped around your stomach to restrict the amount of food that is allowed into your stomach. You can lose up to 25 to 80 percent of your excess weight. Complication rate (mostly re-operation for malposition of the band) can be up to 33 percent.
   
2. Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery: This is a procedure that combines restriction of the amount of food going to your stomach with a malabsorptive procedure that decreases the amount of calories absorbed. You can lose 50 to 70 percent of your excess weight. Complication rate can be up to 15 percent, including blood work abnormalities such as anemia due to the inability to absorb essential nutrients.
   
3. Duodenal switch procedure: This is a procedure that decreases the amount of absorption of calories by bypassing a large portion of your intestine and stomach. This is a complex procedure that requires an expert bariatric surgeon. You can lose up to 65 to 75 percent of your excess weight. The complication rate is higher (up to 24 percent), but this is because it is used most commonly for very morbidly obese people with a BMI of over fifty.
   
4. The gastric sleeve: This is the new go-to procedure for weight-loss surgery. Basically, this works by excluding a large portion of the stomach, leaving only a small “sleeve” to connect your esophagus to your intestines. The low complication rate (up to 10 percent) and great amount of weight loss (65 to 75 percent of your excess weight) has made this one of the most popular procedures for weight loss.

Learn more about if cosmetic surgery is right for you in my book, “Making the Cut” available for purchase on Amazon.

---