Is Bariatric Surgery Safe?

For individuals struggling with severe obesity, bariatric surgery can seem like a great option. It offers the chance for lasting weight loss and a reversal of many debilitating health conditions. But it is a major surgery and that comes with the critical question of safety.

The short answer is that for most eligible patients, bariatric surgery is considered safe, often safer than living with the health consequences of severe obesity. But “safe” does not mean “without risk.” The decision to pursue this path requires a clear understanding of what the surgery entails, its effectiveness, and the other options available that may suit you better.

What Is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight-loss surgery, helps people lose weight by making changes to their digestive system. These procedures work in one or both of two ways:

Restriction involves physically limiting the size of your stomach, reducing the amount of food you can eat at one time, making you feel full sooner.

Malabsorption changes the path food takes through your digestive system, which bypasses a portion of your small intestine. This reduces the number of calories and nutrients your body can absorb.

The most common types of bariatric surgery performed today include:

• Sleeve Gastrectomy, a popular procedure that removes 80 percent of the stomach, creating a small “sleeve” to restrict food intake and reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin.
• Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which creates a small stomach pouch and bypasses the upper small intestine to restrict food intake and reduce nutrient absorption.
• Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS), which is a complex, two-part surgery that combines a stomach sleeve with an extensive intestinal bypass, offering maximal weight loss but carrying the highest risk of complications and nutritional deficiencies.

Is Bariatric Surgery Effective?

Yes, bariatric surgery is a highly effective, long-term treatment for obesity. Most patients lose 50 to 70 percent of their excess body weight, with many maintaining significant weight loss for decades. Beyond the numbers on the scale, its greatest impact is often on health, dramatically improving or even sending obesity-related conditions into remission. The success rate falls around 90 percent.

How Safe Is Bariatric Surgery?

When bariatric surgery is performed safely and accurately, it has a very low mortality rate—the risk of death in the first 30 days after bariatric surgery is very low at about 1 in 1,000 patients.

All surgeries do have risks and short term ones include bleeding, infection at the incision site, blood clots, and leaks from the new staple lines or connections in your stomach or intestine, among others.

Your doctor should discuss all of the short and long-term risks during your consultation and subsequent appointments.

Who Is Not a Safe Candidate?

Bariatric surgery is not for everyone and your doctor will assess your candidacy for the procedure. You may be disqualified if you have:

• An active substance or alcohol abuse problem.
• An uncontrolled psychiatric illness, such as severe depression or an eating disorder.
• Certain medical conditions that make surgery too risky.
• An inability or unwillingness to commit to the required lifelong dietary changes, supplements, and medical follow-ups.

Our Innovative Bariatric Weight Loss Procedure

In the ongoing search for effective weight loss solutions, our minimally invasive procedure known as Bariatric Artery Embolization (BAE) is an innovative, non-surgical option. But what exactly is it, and how does it work? 

We use a tiny entry point in your wrist to access the part of your stomach that produces ghrelin, your “hunger hormone.” Using safe, microscopic particles, we can suppress this hormone so you ultimately desire less food.

Possible benefits of BAE include:

• Reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer
• Improved diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and cholesterol
• Weight loss
• Increased self-esteem
• Decreased appetite
• Reduce the amount of medication
• Less stress
• Overall better mood and health
• Improved quality of life

At the Obesity Institute, we don’t stop at the procedure. We understand that weight loss is a journey, one best taken with someone by your side. Our holistic, expert-guided approach then gives you the tools to achieve sustained weight loss results seen after 12 to 18 months, and beyond.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with a qualified bariatric surgeon and doctor to discuss your personal health situation and to determine if bariatric surgery is right for you.