Weight Loss Surgery – Is It The Right Option For Me?

weight loss surgeryWeight loss surgery is a big step; it is really important to gather as much information as you can before you decide to take that step.

There are several surgical procedures used as a weight loss option, so look into each one.

It is important to be well-informed to be better able to make the right decision.

There are several areas you need to research in weight loss surgery. You should understand what is actually done to your body during the surgery.

Ask lots of questions and make sure you fully understand the answers. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if there is something you don’t understand. It is your body you are talking about and you need to be comfortable with what is going to be done.

Find out how long the recovery period will be – how long will you be in hospital, how long you will need to take off work, do you have to be on a special diet after the surgery and how long this will have to last.

The recovery period will possibly have a greater impact on you than the actual surgery, so make sure you understand the process and are completely comfortable with it.

Be realistic and honest with yourself; if you have any doubts discuss them with your surgeon, family and friends. It is better to be hesitant now than have regrets later.

Be prepared to have several consultations with the surgeon, and seek a second opinion if you are not completely comfortable. You need to have absolute confidence in your doctor.

Try and talk to people who have already had weight loss surgery to discuss their experiences; maybe your doctor can give you the names of some of his patients whom you could contact.

It is interesting how weight loss surgery came to be. Surgeons discovered that patients who had surgery to remove large parts of their stomach or intestines were unable to retain their pre-surgery weight.

Surgeons then studied the possibility of using a similar procedure to safely produce weight loss in obese people [Safe Weight Loss]. Weight loss surgery has been continually refined over the last decade with the aim of minimizing risks and improving the results.

So, who is a candidate for weight loss surgery?

If your BMI (body mass index) is 40 or higher you are considered severely obese and are a potential candidate for weight loss surgery. This BMI represents being 100 pounds overweight for a man or 80 pounds overweight for a woman.

Other people who would be considered for obesity surgery are those with a BMI of 35 to 40 who have obesity related problems like diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.

Most surgeons require their potential patients to prove that they have tried different weight loss methods, and have been unsuccessful, before they will consider them for weight loss surgery.

Surgery is considered the last resort. There will also be a psychological evaluation, nutritional counseling, tests to check heart and hormonal functions.

You will have to show serious motivation towards weight loss and to the ongoing dietary and exercise requirements that follow weight loss surgery [Weight loss motivation].

There will be medical guidelines that you will have to follow for the rest of your life. You will need to convince the surgeon of your absolute commitment to the post-operative lifestyle, which you may not find easy.

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks with weight loss surgery, and there could be unwanted side effects.

You are the only one who can make the final decision about weight loss surgery; do this in consultation with your surgeon and your family to help you reach the right decision for you.