Q. What are the complications of obesity surgery?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Obesity surgery, also known as bariatric or weight loss surgery, is a surgical procedure that helps people with extreme obesity to lose weight. Although it can lead to significant health improvements and long-term weight loss for many people, it is not without risks and complications.
The most common risks associated with obesity surgery include nausea, vomiting, malnutrition (insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals), anemia (low red blood cell count), micronutrient deficiency (lack of necessary vitamins and minerals) due to malabsorption of nutrients from food, dehydration due to reduced fluid absorption in the body caused by altered anatomy after the operation. Furthermore there's potential risk of leakage from staple lines leading to infection or abscess formation. Other potential complications are hernias at the incision sites; dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); bowel obstruction; dumping syndrome; gallstones; pancreatitis; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or cirrhosis related to nutritional deficiencies; cardiovascular problems due to sudden changes in hormones responsible for controlling appetite after the operation like ghrelin etc.; depression or other mental health issues that might be precipitated along with physical body changes associated with rapid sustained weight loss etc..
It’s important that those considering obesity surgery speak extensively about these risks with their doctor before undergoing any type of procedure. For best results close follow up care should be done afterwards too.