Benefits and Results of Weight-Loss Surgery

Resolution of Medical Problems

Bariatric surgery achieves excellent long term weight-loss for morbidly obese patients. In addition, a recent report from the Journal of the American Medical Association has detailed the numerous other health benefits of weight loss surgery.

Diabetes is cured in 77% of patients and resolved or improved in 86% of patients. Most patients are off all of their diabetes medications or have significantly reduced doses in the first three months after surgery. Blood sugar glucose levels and Hemoglobin A1c levels usually return to normal or near normal.

Hypertension(high blood pressure) is cured in 62% of patients and resolved or improved in 78.5%. Most patients are able to reduce their blood pressure medications to a single medication within a few months.

Hyperlipidemia(high cholesterol and high triglycerides) improved in more than 70% of patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea is cured in 86% of patients.

Risk of death is decreased by 89%.

Other potential benefits include:

Improvement in arthritis with reduction in pain and increased mobility.

Resolution or improvement of numerous other conditions, such as: skin infections, skin rashes, ankle swelling, obesity related heart failure, asthma, infertility and lymphedema.

Improved ability to participate in physical and recreational activities.

Improved social and economic opportunities.

Improved sense of well being.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Weight-Loss Results

As the surgery that has been performed for the longest time, and the most common laparoscopic surgery, this procedure has the most thoroughly documented weight-loss results. The laparoscopic Roux en Y procedure (or gastric bypass), while more recent than the traditional open gastric bypass, has shown excellent long-term weight loss. Weight loss 5-10 years after laparoscopic or open Roux en Y averages between 62-75% of total excess body weight. Regardless of the type of bariatric surgery, patients who lose a significant amount of weight can be cured of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and experience an improvement in overall quality of life.

Please Note:

Super morbidly obese patients (BMI >50) experience less dramatic weight loss results with Roux en Y surgery. 10 year post-op results for super morbidly obese patients show an average loss of 40-50% total excess body weight. These individuals may want to consider other weight loss procedures.