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Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You in the Battle Against Obesity
Are you an adult whose BMI is 30 or higher, or are you carrying at least 30 pounds of excess weight, which may be impacting your health? If this applies to you, weight loss surgery could be a potential consideration. It's important to note that not everyone who is overweight is a candidate for surgery.
Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, is major surgery that definitively transforms the digestive system’s shape and functionality. Not only are there physical/medical factors to consider prior to undergoing this life-changing surgery, but psychological, emotional, and behavioral ones as well before determining if weight loss surgery is indeed an option for you.
While not a substitute for healthy eating and adequate exercise, weight loss surgery has proven instrumental in helping obese adults – and even teens – lose weight and manage medical challenges linked to obesity, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and more. Bariatric surgery encompasses a variety of different procedures, including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve (most popular), lap-band surgery, and others. Each is designed to help obese and severely overweight patients safely shed excess pounds by limiting how much food they can consume. However, surgery is only part of the weight loss solution. Patients will need to carefully evaluate if they’re emotionally, physically, and behaviorally ready to undertake and commit to a treatment plan involving a comprehensive overhaul to help achieve their long-term weight loss success.
Basic Medical Requisites: Do You Meet THESE Criteria?
Generally, patients with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or above are deemed ideal candidates for most weight loss surgeries, and patients who have a BMI of 30 or higher, who would not traditionally qualify for weight loss surgery, are candidates for Dr. Feiz’s signature procedure, the Cosmetic Sleeve. BMI is a tried-and-true formula that uses one’s height and weight to estimate their body fat percentage. Other medical prerequisites may include a patient suffering from at least one obesity-related condition and having endured at least six months of professional weight loss attempts to no avail. However, depending on the severity of an obesity-related disease, some patients with slightly lower BMIs may be cleared for traditional bariatric surgery. Every patient is medically evaluated on an individual basis to determine candidacy.
Are YOU Ready for Bariatric Surgery?
If you’re considering weight loss surgery, you’ll likely meet with an expertly curated team of weight loss professionals, such as:
- Primary care physician
- Surgeon
- Anesthesiologist
- Nutritionist
- Weight management specialist/nurse
- Psychiatrist/psychologist
Any of these knowledgeable, compassionate team members are dedicated to helping you prepare for what to expect before, during, and after surgery, as well as identify any medical, behavioral, or physical concerns you may be experiencing. Prepare to be aptly tested for any of the following conditions during this stage of the process:
- Sleep apnea
- Cardiovascular disease
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
Bear in mind, you may NOT be cleared for surgery if you have any of the following:
- Blood clot disorders
- Advanced heart disease
- Other conditions that prohibit safe use of anesthesia
Be prepared to discuss the following with your health care team:
- Incentive – Embrace lifestyle changes, while setting and sticking to lifelong, healthy diet and exercise goals
- Strategize Weight Loss Goals – Evaluate past weight loss hits and misses. What worked? What waned? This will help your team to recommend sound strategies sure to set you up for post-surgery success.
- Eating Habits – Identify common eating pitfalls, such as binge eating, emotional/stress eating, late-night noshing, etc. Determine if any of your poor eating habits may or may not be associated with a mental health condition that needs to be addressed.
- Mood Disorders – Do you suffer from anxiety/depression, mood swings, or bipolar disorder? Most of these conditions are directly correlated with obesity and extreme dieting. Untreated mood disorders can pose a challenge to committing to a long-term weight loss treatment.
- Substance Abuse – Alcohol/drug dependency are also commonly associated with unsuccessful weight loss. Untreated substance abuse can likely prohibit the option for weight loss surgery. It’s advised to be forthcoming about any demons you may be dealing with. The battle of the bottle can be just as onerous as the battle of the bulge.
The aforementioned is a basic guideline intended to help patients achieve a successful outcome and a lifetime of health, harmony, and happiness. Nevertheless, patients must be physically and psychologically prepared to face the challenge and commit to their weight loss treatment plan post-op. Your health care provider or surgeon may deem you unready or unwilling for bariatric surgery if they conclude:
- You’re NOT psychologically or medically sound
- You haven’t made the required changes in healthful eating and exercise habits ● You’ve gained additional weight during the imperative evaluation phase
Navigating the Path to Bariatric Surgery
For some patients, the number on the scale or the BMI reading may be feverishly beaming “READY” for bariatric surgery, but their body and minds say otherwise. Hence, why a team of weight loss pros are assigned to help you every step of the way during the consultation process. Unfortunately, not every obese patient gets cleared for surgery. Weighing the risks and rewards and being able to follow-through on all pre and post-surgery plans, as well as devoting to lifelong eating and exercise changes will help determine if weight loss surgery is an option for YOU.
