Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?

Bariatric surgery is a tool that can help you lose weight that you have been unable to lose with any other method. Its success rate is very high, but it is not a journey to be undertaken lightly, and it is not appropriate for everyone. In general, you will need to consider the physical, emotional and financial components of this weight loss option before choosing to pursue it.

Determining whether or not you are a candidate for bariatric surgery depends on a careful evaluation of a number of different factors.

Step 1

The first step is to determine if you meet the weight and health criteria necessary to qualify for bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is a weight loss technique designed to treat morbid and super morbid obesity.

Morbid obesity is defined as having a:

• A body weight 100 or more pounds above the upper limit of the healthy weight range for your height
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater
• A BMI between 35 and 39.9 that is accompanied by severe weight-related health problems like diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure

According to some weight classifications, morbid obesity begins at a BMI of 40. Super morbid or malignant obesity begins with a BMI at 50, and super super morbid obesity begins with a BMI of 60.

Step 2

The second step is to demonstrate that you have not been able to achieve and/ or maintain a healthy body weight for a prolonged period of time, even by following a medically supervised weight loss program.

Step 3

The third step is to determine if you meet the standard age criteria. As a general rule, patients who meet criteria 1 and 2 listed above may qualify for bariatirc surgery if they are between the ages of 18 and 60 years.

Patients whose age puts them outside of this age range guideline may still qualify for bariatric surgery; however, these special situations will need to be evaluated and considered on a case-by-case basis. You may even be referred to a surgeon who specializes in performing bariatric procedures on younger or older patients.

Step 4

The fourth step is to be sure you are free of behavioral issues that may make it difficult for you to safely and successfully lose weight after surgery. Bariatric surgery is not advisable if you:

• Have a drug or alcohol dependency
• Have been diagnosed with psychosis or another unstable psychiatric disorder

Milder forms of emotional illness like depression and anxiety disorders can often be treated with medications and therapy while you are preparing for bariatric surgery. This simultaneous treatment option is up to the discretion of your surgeon.

Step 5

The fifth step is to make sure you are willing to permanently change your lifestyle to ensure a successful post surgical outcome. With the exception of laparoscopic gastric banding (Lap-Band) and some simple stomach stapling procedures, bariatric surgery procedures are generally irreversible. This means they make permanent changes to your anatomy and to the function of your gastrointestinal tract, and you must be willing to live with these changes for the remainder of your life.

Many bariatric surgeons and insurance companies require patients seeking weight loss surgery to demonstrate their commitment to the necessary lifestyle changes by losing some weight before the surgery and, in some instances, by participating in a pre-surgical education program to help prepare them for the challenges they will face after surgery.

 Step 6

The sixth step is to be well informed about the risks and long-term adverse side effects of the surgery. No surgery, regardless of how noninvasive or minimal it is, is without risk. Risks include a spectrum of events from minor infections at the wound site, to serious medical complications that may require additional time in the hospital or more surgical procedures to, in rare instances, death.

There are a variety of different weight loss surgery procedures. Some involve simply restricting the size of the stomach opening, others require rerouting of the intestinal anatomy to reduce the amount of calories and nutrients your body can absorb, and some use a combination of both restrictive and rerouting (malabsorption) techniques to reduce calorie intake. Your bariatric surgeons will take into account a number of factors including your weight, health, health risks, and personal preferences when deciding which procedure is most appropriate for you.

As a general rule, the more aggressive the procedure, the greater are the associated risks and side effects. Some patients’ medical histories require a more aggressive approach.

Step 7 

The seventh step is to develop a plan to pay for the surgery, especially if insurance reimbursement is not an option. It is likely that the surgeon that you select for your surgery can help you with financing options if you need them.

If you have read all of the steps and feel that you can meet all the requirements, it is time to seek a bariatric surgeon. You can find a bariatric surgeon in your geographical area by contacting your local medical society or hospital, your personal physician, or an online physician directory.

Each surgeon has his or her own system for determining if you qualify for surgery. Some require you attend an information session to see if their approach is right for you. Others may send you a simple questionnaire or direct you to an online quiz that asks many of the same questions contained in this criteria list.

Once you and the surgeon are comfortable that you meet their basic criteria for weight loss surgery, you will be scheduled for a medical exam. During that exam, you may be given a battery of physical and psychological tests to make sure that you are in the best physical and mental shape to undergo the procedure and have a successful post-surgical outcome.

Keep in mind that bariatric surgery is a life changing procedure. It will improve your health, change your social situation, and even affect your employment opportunities. Still, it has many potential risks and side effects and should not be entered into without considerable soul searching, education, and preparation. If you wholeheartedly commit to the process of change, you can be on your way to becoming a weight loss success story.