The best reason to have bariatric surgery

This is not about looks - although I know you’ll look better than ever. It’s not about pleasing other people - although they will be pleased, and so will you.

The biggest benefit of weight-loss surgery is… drumroll… you’ll be healthier.

And you’ll live to see your grandchildren!

There’s no doubt about it – losing weight naturally helps keep blood sugar under control. That prevents a whole cycle of serious health problems related to diabetes - like vision, kidney, circulatory, nerve and other problems.

If you’ve had diabetes for less than five years, there’s an 80% chance the diabetes will go away following weight loss surgery - especially if you’re only taking pills to control blood sugar. Many patients can cut back on pills, but not completely. The surgery is just that effective! If you’re on insulin however, there’s less chance of completely getting off of it. Your blood sugar control will be better after the surgery, and with a few meds it can be even better. That’s good stuff!

Bariatric surgery has also been shown to:

• Reduce sleep apnea by 90%
• Reduce blood pressure in 60% of patients – with the rest taking fewer or lower-dose meds to control blood pressure
• Decrease joint pain by 60 to 70%
• Cut high cholesterol by 60 to 80% – with some getting off all meds, or significantly cutting the dose or number of meds

But wait, there’s more!

Migraines:

Patients with migraines tend to have fewer and less severe migraines. We believe that carrying all that weight pushes on the spinal fluid, which pushes on the brain, causing the headaches.

Asthma:

If you have asthma, you will likely have fewer asthma attacks. This is probably related to heartburn and reflux. When stomach acid gets high enough in the esophagus, it affects vocal chords and gets into lungs—causing asthma attacks. After surgery, heartburn goes away in 80-90 percent of patients. That should give you a better night’s sleep!

Cancer: 

Cancers are linked to obesity—especially colon, breast, and endometrial cancers. We don’t have long-term studies to show that people who have been obese for 20 years, and then have weight-loss surgery, will have lower risk. However, we believe that operating earlier (and keep people leaner for 20 years) will reduce these cancer risks.

Bariatric:

Bariatric surgery patients also have fewer hospitalizations overall, shorter hospital stays, and are less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit. That’s compared to obese patients who don’t have bariatric surgery. Studies show that a higher percentage of bariatric surgical patients are alive five years later, compared to those who didn’t have surgery.

We’ve also seen improvements in women with polyscystic ovary disease… infertility… ulcers… leg swelling. Every time we turn around we find health improvements!

In my office, we talk realistically about the risks of surgery – balanced with the risk of NOT having surgery. For many patients, it’s a risk they’re willing to take. In some ways, the sicker you are because of your weight, the bigger the benefit of having surgery.

People come to me with all types of reasons for wanting surgery. But almost always, one of them is, I want to see my children and grandchildren grow up and have fun with them. Bariatric surgery will get them closer to that goal.