What are the bariatric surgery facts?

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is a safe and effective method to achieve sustainable long-term weight loss. There are a number of different types of bariatric procedures that involve either reducing the size of the stomach or bypassing part of it to limit calorie intake and reduce the amount food taken in. Here are some facts about bariatric surgery that you should know:

• Bariatric surgeries can result in significant long-term weight loss – according to studies, average excess body mass index (BMI) reduction is between 30% and 40%.
• Success rates for bariatric surgeries vary depending on the procedure chosen, but they are generally quite high. Studies show that patients who undergo gastric sleeve surgery have 75%-85% success rate after five years from their operation date.
• Recovery time depends on the type of procedure undertaken; however most surgeons advise being able to return to daily activities within two weeks after the operation date.
• The risk associated with obesity far outweighs those associated with bariatric surgical procedures: heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension etc., all these conditions have been proven to be improved dramatically following successful treatment with a bariatric procedure.
• Bariatric procedures offer not just physical benefits but psychological ones too – depression scores drop significantly even one year after an operation compared to preoperative levels; self-esteem improves as well as overall quality of life satisfaction due to improved look and lifestyle changes following successful treatment with a weight loss intervention such as this one.