Weight Loss Surgery Side Effects

Weight loss surgery is a very sensitive issue today. It is basically aimed at obese people. An obese person is classified as a person who weighs more than 100 lbs or is double their ideal weight (measured with respect to the person’s height). While being obese is a serious health issue for some, it is also a social issue which many developing countries face.

 

[Read: Common Weight Loss Mistakes]

 

The technological advancement with regard to weight loss surgery claims to increase longevity and improve one’s health. It has further been refined to prevent complications and alleviate any sort of discomfort for the patients undergoing this procedure. Many individuals who are obese usually have associated health problems such as hypertension, diabetes and sleep apnea.

Some advocates of weight loss surgery argue that it can assist in managing all these problems that people face due to this state. On the other hand, many critics argue that there is presently no conclusive evidence to suggest that weight loss surgery can increase life expectancy or improve a a person’s health.

 

[Read: What is Weight Loss Surgery?]

 

These critics further purport that weight loss surgery often involves a second or third operation to the fix problems which arise after the initial surgery operation. They even contest that these after surgery operations are extremely dangerous and the surgery is very complicated. It is stated that if ever weight loss surgery goes wrong, it can be life threatening.

Some of the health risks to weight loss surgery are pulmonary embolism; liver disease; kidney disease; stomach cancer; ill effects on the oesophagus, pancreas and bowel; and vascular thrombosis – these are just to name a few.

 

[Read: Bariatric Diets without Surgery]

 

Weight loss surgery side effects may thus be listed as follows:

 

• Nausea and vomiting usually occurs in the initial one to two months after the operation, as during this period, patients are still getting used to their new eating habits and the overall diet. Ignoring the indications that you are already full or eating lesser amount of food after the bariatric surgery puts you at a higher risk for vomiting and other similar complications. Such condition can thus be avoided by paying attention to the body’s sign of fullness, and eliminating dry and tough foods from the diet.
• Dehydration occurs after surgery due to insufficient water intake by the patient. While this is a very common side effect, it can also lead to more serious problems that may require hospitalization. Dehydration can further result into nausea and vomiting whereby persistent vomiting may also cause electrolyte imbalance and vitamin deficiency.
• Transient hair thinning is also expected. This could typically transpire between 2 to 10 months after surgery. Hair loss and hair thinning can be minimized by taking an adequate amount of multivitamins and supplements with zinc and biotin as well as maintaining an adequate protein intake.
• Excess skin would most likely be the end-result of dropping weight too fast. These are usually found in thighs, breast and upper arms. Although this is a good sign that you are rapidly losing the extra pounds, it will also be a physical problem for the patient. Researches have shown that patients do not feel physically satisfied after weight loss surgery because of this excess tissue. It can also cause skin reactions, functional limitations and cosmetic discomfort. For this reason, patients opted to undergo cosmetic surgery to tighten such loose skin.

Thus, it is best to keep surgery as the last option. Try the various other weight loss options before this.

 

 

 

 

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