Weight loss surgery

Weight loss surgeries are known as bariatric surgeries, which focus on altering your metabolism and food intake. It is performed on obese patients who have tried diet and exercise but have not seen much results. Read our blog on weight loss surgeries to know more about types of weight loss.

Although several types of bariatric surgeries are practiced, they all have some level of side effects post-surgery. No matter how safe the procedure is, there are always risks or potential side effects.

Common side effects

There are many side effects and risks linked with bariatric surgery. Your bariatric surgeon will discuss these side effects and risks with you well before the surgery to let you make a choice and be prepared. These side effects were about post-surgery immediate or short-term side effects.

Acid reflux or heartburn
Anesthesia-related risks
Dilated esophagus
Post-surgery infections
Obstruction of stomach
Constipation
Failure to lose weight
Chronic nausea and vomiting
Inability to eat few types of food

Long term risks

Apart from the above-mentioned side effects, there are few long-term side effects which might even deteriorate your health.

Malnutrition
Low blood sugar
Ulcers
Gallstones
Bowel obstruction
Hernias
Vomiting
Dumping syndrome ( food from the stomach is dumped into the large intestine without proper digestion)

Risks associated with the type of weight loss surgery

Here some side effects or risks involved in a weight loss surgery according to the surgery.

Sleeve gastrectomy

Gallstones
Internal bleeding
Leakage
Perforated stomach
Perforated intestines
Skin separation
Stricture
Hernia
Vitamin and nutrient deficiency
Blood clots

Adjustable gastric band

Blood clots
Vitamin deficiencies
Perforated stomach
Malnutrition
Food intolerance
Band slippage
Leakage of saline solution from the band
infections

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Dumping syndrome
Gallstones
Hernia
Leakage
Malnutrition
Perforated stomach
Perforated intestines
Bowel obstruction
Cardiac or pulmonary problems
Spleen or organ injuries
Skin separation
Breakage

Biliopancreatic diversion

Bowel obstruction
Dumping syndrome
Gallstones
Hernia
Infection
Low blood sugar
Malnutrition
Vomiting
Ulcers
Perforated stomach
Leakage
Breathing problems
Excessive bleeding
Blood clots

Intragastric balloon system

Stomach-ache
Nausea
Vomiting
perforated stomach
The balloon can be over inflated with air or fluid.
It might cause acute pancreatitis as the balloon presses surrounding organs.
Caution: FDA reported 5 deaths by this procedure.

Other options to lose weight

Here are some other options for weight loss which are either non-invasive or minimally invasive.

Non-invasive

Options under this category are not invasive; they involve few lifestyle changes to boost weight loss. Here are some non-invasive weight loss options for you.

Diet changes

If you cannot lose weight or gain weight, it might be due to the wrong diet. There are several diets such as Mediterranean diet, plant-based diets, low carb diet, keto diet, intermittent fasting diet, etc. All you need to do is test and trial which one suits your body and gives you satisfying results. Seek help from a dietician, which could get you a more balanced diet.

Here is our take on a good diet plan for weight loss.

Weight loss pills

Most weight loss pills containing extracts of Garcinia Cambogia, L-carnitine, Green tea extracts, and so on are beneficial and very effective for weight loss. These weight loss pills focus on suppressing appetite and boosting metabolism to shed pounds. Most weight loss pills that contain extracts of natural ingredients have no or minimal temporary side effects.

Try our weight loss max pills enriched with the goodness of Garcinia Cambogia, apple cider vinegar, green tree extracts, and more.

Boosting metabolism

There are many ways to boost metabolism, which could increase the rate of calorie burning. Getting enough sleep, high-intensity workouts, regular, timely meals, green tea, protein foods, and so on methods help in boosting metabolism naturally. The more the metabolic rate, the more fat or calorie you burn.

Partially invasive

These options might be partially or minimally invasive and might need to be done under anesthesia. Some of them are also reversible and focus on controlling the food intake. Here is some minimally invasive weight loss procedure.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty

This is a relatively new option for weight loss. It is performed for patients with a BMI of 30 or higher. In this procedure, the patient is kept under anesthesia, and the surgeon puts an endoscope down the throat. The surgeon places 12 stitches in the stomach to make the stomach into a tube-like shape and limit the food intake.

Aspire Assist

It is a reversible and minimally invasive weight loss procedure for those who don’t chew their food correctly. A tube is connected to your digestive tract to remove some of the food you eat. It is suitable for obese patients with BMI 35 to 55. Although it works well and is effective, some side effects like indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are observed.

Lap Band

The minimal and reversible invasive weight loss procedure is suitable for patients with BMI over 30. It involves the placement of a balloon outside the upper stomach near the esophagus and stomach. The patients can leave the lap band for years till they see desirable results, but they need to change their diet within the initial years.

Take Away

Weight loss surgeries or bariatric surgeries, although they reduce weight, comes with many post-surgery complications and side effects. Several newly emerged options are non-invasive or minimally invasive and have low side effects and complications involved. This article will discuss the side effects of weight-loss surgeries and other options for weight loss.