Ask a doctor - Is bariatric surgery worth it?

Q. Is bariatric surgery worth it?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

When it comes to bariatric surgery, the answer is a resounding “yes”. Bariatric surgery has been proven to be a successful and effective way to achieve long-term weight loss. Studies have shown that, on average, individuals who opt for bariatric surgery lose around 58% of their excess body weight over the course of 12 months following the procedure.

Moreover, studies also show that losing just 10 percent of your total body weight can help with both physical and psychological health improvement in many cases. Significant decreases in blood pressure can be seen alongside an increased sense of well-being and self-esteem after even slightly more modest amounts of weight loss from bariatric surgery. The fact that these effects are amplified with additional amounts of lost weight makes this form of treatment particularly efficient and beneficial for patients attempting to reach their goals when it comes to their overall health.

It’s important however to note that there are still some risks associated with undergoing any kind of surgical procedure; one such risk would include a possible chance at developing internal hernias afterwards or even having issues related to nutrition deficiency as your dietary intake may need significant adjustments post-surgery in order for you maintain proper levels required by your new lifestyle changes once the healing process is completed. Currently, researchers estimate that 2%-3% outpatients experience early side effects as a result postoperative care complications and about 1%-2% suffer from unexpected late medical mishaps like vitamin deficiencies or gallstones if they aren't properly monitored afterward by qualified professionals . That being said, those stats are still significantly lower than those involving other forms obesity treatments making any potential risks associated with bariatric surgeries worth considering when compared against its numerous benefits which includes reduced morbidity rates & improved quality amongst many others already mentioned above .

At the end it all boils down what you ultimately decide based upon your own individual convictions regarding body image , self confidence , & overall health in order make most informed decision possible so should look into understanding what exactly entails prior committing yourself towards undergoing it or otherwise pursuing alternative methods remain as uninvolved as see fit either route wishing you best luck finding out whichever works best case!!