Choosing Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is major surgery. Although most patients enjoy an improvement in obesity-related health conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea and improved mobility, self image, and self-esteem) after the successful results of weight loss surgery, these results should not be the overriding motivation for having the procedure.
The goal is to live better, healthier and longer.
That is why you should make the decision to have weight loss surgery only after careful consideration and consultation with an experienced bariatric surgeon or a knowledgeable family physician. A qualified surgeon should answer your questions clearly and explain the exact details of the procedure, the extent of the recovery period and the reality of the follow-up care that will be required. They may, as part of routine evaluation for weight loss surgery, require that you consult with a dietician/nutritionist and a psychologist/therapist. This is to help establish a clear understanding of the post-operative changes in behavior that are essential for long-term success.
Ultimately, the decision to have the procedure is entirely up to you. After having heard all the information, you must decide if the benefits outweigh the side effects and potential complications. This surgery is only a tool. Your ultimate success depends on strict adherence to the recommended diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.
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