Risks & Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

What are the risks of weight loss surgery?

Serious complications can occur with any surgery; fortunately complications remain extremely low.  Specific and proper patient preparation, selection along with Dr. Feng’s experience markedly reduces the risk and complications of weight loss surgery.

Risks of LAP-BAND® System or REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band Procedures

• Nausea/vomiting
• Food getting stuck, needing deflation of band
• Overstretched, abnormally widened esophagus
• Excessively tightened
• Infection
  
• Inadequate weight loss
• Weight regain
• Device malfunction
  
• Balloon, tube access port breakage
• Access port flipping over
• Slippage of down along the stomach causing vomiting
• Erosion of the silicone band creating a hole in the stomach
• Gallstones

Advantages of LAP-BAND® System or REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band Procedures

• Only procedure that can be reversed if necessary
  
• Usually done laparoscopically (minimally invasive)
  
• Easier to perform and generally safer than other weight loss options
  
• Outpatient surgery
  
• Results in fewer nutritional deficiencies

Risks of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure

• Leakage
  
• Nausea/vomiting
• Acid reflux
• Weight regain
• Rarely, allows for second surgery for more weight loss
• Gallstones

Advantages of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure

• Usually done laparoscopically (minimally invasive) with robotic-assistance in patients.
• Allows patients of any weight, including the super super obese and high risk patients, to undergo surgery with small incisions
• Rapid weight loss
• Patients do not experience diarrhea or significant “Dumping Syndrome” symptoms
• The portion of the stomach producing hunger-stimulating hormones (Grehlin) is removed
• The smaller stomach maintains normal function with no rearrangement of the intestines, reducing risks of protein and vitamin deficiency and thus no significant "Dumping Syndrome" symptoms
• Minimal patient effort to lose and maintain weight loss
• Better weight loss than the Adjustable Gastric Band procedures
• Safe in patients needing long term aspirin, NSAID such as Motrin, Advil, naprosyn, steroid use

Risks of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure

• Leakage
• Infection
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  
• Anemia
• Osteoporosis
• Strictures at the stomach pouch connection to intestine
• Intestinal ulcers at margin of connnection to stomach pouch
• Bowel Obstruction from internal intestinal scars, internal hernias or telescoping small intestine (intussusception)
  
• Dumping syndrome
• Gallstones
• Possible nesideoblastosis disease causing severe hypoglycemia issues
• Combined operations are more likely to lead to complications then restrictive operations
  
• Weight regain

Advantages of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure

• May be more effective in in some studies in improving obesity-related health problems than some restrictive procedures
• Rapid weight loss
• The portion of the stomach producing hunger-stimulating hormones is bypassed, and thus less hunger is experienced in the first year after surgery but hunger usually returns after about 9 months after surgery
• Better weight loss than the Adjustable Gastric Band procedures

Risks of Duodenal Switch Procedure

• Excessive or too much weight loss
  
• Leakage
• Infection
• Diarrhea
  
• Anemia
  
• Bowel obstruction
  
• Gallstones
  
• More vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  
• Abdominal hernia
  
• Combined and more malabsorptive operations are more likely to lead to complications then restrictive operations
• Inadequate weight loss
• Weight regain

Advantages of Duodenal Switch Procedure

• Patients are able to consume larger meals
• Rapid weight loss
• Stomach function remains intact with normal stomach emptying, and thus “Dumping Syndrome” seldom occurs, like the sleeve gastrectomy
• The portion of the stomach producing hunger-stimulating hormones is removed, like the sleeve gastrectomy
• Better weight loss than the Adjustable Gastric Band procedures
• Safe in patients needing long term aspirin, NSAID such as Motrin, Advil, naprosyn, steroid use

Bariatric surgery has provided lift-changing benefits, when the post surgery guidelines are followed, patients can expect to see the following improvements after surgery.

• 89% reduction in mortality over 5 years following surgery
  
• Your lifestyle and quality of life improves
  
• Greater participation in family and social activities
  
• Decrease in appetite
  
• Weight loss of 40-80% of excess body weight depending on the surgery and patient effort - Sleeve gastrectomy is 60-80%
  
• Dramatic reduction in medical related conditions:
  
• Hyperlipidemia
  
• Hypertension
  
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  
• Diabetes Mellitus
  
• Esophageal reflux
  
• Leg swelling improves
  
• Low back pain and joint pain relieved or improved

Bariatric Surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, and can markedly improve health and lifestyle.

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