Is Bariatric Surgery Safe?

June 3, 2021

Is Bariatric Surgery Safe?

Bariatric surgery is a modern solution to a very common nutritional imbalance among the population that is suffering from Obesity. It is a specialized procedure involving the operation on the stomach and gut to cause specific changes, which later on causes weight loss. The first bariatric surgery was done in the 1950s but open. Modern technique is anesthesia and laparoscopic surgery. These recent techniques ensure safety for bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery treats metabolic syndrome associated with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and complications of Obesity like cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, PCOS, depression, etc.

With the gaining popularity of bariatric surgery for the treatment of Obesity, such concerns have been nullified. This is because bariatric surgery is a very safe procedure with minimal side effects. It ensures effective and efficient results for losing weight. Around 1 million bariatric surgery procedures are performed in one year. So, is Bariatric Surgery safe?

How is bariatric surgery safe?

The modern technique of laparoscopic surgery is used for bariatric surgery. This involves operating in a more skilled manner by using a laparoscopic camera and specialized instruments. Small incision sites or ports are created, and a camera is inserted to give the surgical site a magnified view. This minimizes the chances of infections by minimal exposure to the outside environment and decreases the recovery time. The patient’s hospital stay is 1 day in the majority of cases and he is discharged within 2-3 days.

Essential benefits of surgery

Some worth mentioning benefits of surgery are as follows:

Treatment of Obesity

Obesity is a disease pandemic, which if becomes severe, may even become difficult to control. Bariatric surgery is a reliable option for the treatment of Obesity when other options to lose weight have failed. This procedure allows operating on the part of the gut. After surgery, both anatomical and hormonal changes are produced, and the stomach’s storage capacity is reduced. This enables weight loss over a period of time. This surgery requires monitored postoperative management of lifestyle for effective results.

Treatment of diabetes

Obesity and diabetes go hand in hand. Diabetes is a significant factor for both microvascular and macrovascular complications. These include eyes, heart, kidneys, vessels, etc. Bariatric surgery is a potential cure for such deteriorating conditions of the body. Insulin resistance is improved after the elimination of Obesity. This promotes better glycemic controls. Most diabetic patients require fewer insulin doses or may shift from insulin to oral glycemic agents after surgery. Some may even get rid of their medicines. According to studies, bariatric surgery is associated with 45-95% of remission of diabetes.

Improvement in cardiovascular health:

Raised cholesterol levels are a consequence of Obesity. This cholesterol deposits as free fatty acids in the blood vessels and disturb the normal physiology of the heart, contributing to the risk factor for hypertension, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Treatment of Obesity eliminates excess free fatty acids from the body. Hence promoting a healthy body. In patients undergoing any bariatric surgery, compared to baseline, there were significant reductions in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and a significant increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol at one year.

Prevention of cancers:

Obesity is a risk factor for numerous kinds of cancers. Obesity is associated with increased fat content in the body. Some examples include breast cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, gastric cardia cancer, kidney cancer, etc. Prevention of Obesity through bariatric surgery allows prevention of such cancers.