Making the decision to have weight loss surgery is a major commitment to your overall health. It’s usually the last resort after years of struggling and trying other methods to lose weight and live a healthier life. Weight loss surgery, also known as Bariatric Surgery, is currently the only treatment available that has been found to be effective as a long-term treatment for morbid obesity. The results after surgery are, for the most part, extraordinary, not only in terms of appearance but also in terms of the improvement or removal of health risks associated with obesity.

If you’re considering weight loss surgery, being well informed about the procedure and how your life will change following surgery is essential. The procedure itself is only a tool to assist you in losing weight and modifying your behavior. Success is up to you. After weight loss surgery, you have to be careful about choosing foods wisely, taking your vitamins and supplements regularly, making exercise a part of your daily life, and being certain to follow your doctor’s directions. You’ll need a support system of family and friends to get through the emotional and physical ups and downs.

With any surgery, risks are involved. Before you decide to have weight loss surgery, you need to understand – and accept – the risks and benefits. For many patients the risk of death from not having the weight loss surgery is greater than the risks of having the procedure itself.

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You?

For people who are morbidly obese, trying to lose weight without surgery isn’t as effective when it comes to achieving significant long-term weight loss. The majority of morbidly obese people who try to lose weight without having weight loss surgery regain all the weight they’ve lost over the next five years. Surgical treatment is the only proven method of achieving long-term weight control.

So how do you know if you’re morbidly obese? In general, individuals are considered morbidly obese if their weight is more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight. But a more common way to define morbid obesity is to use the body mass index (BMI). If your BMI puts you in the morbidly obese category, you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery. If your weight is lower, but you have other health problems related to obesity; if you’ve tried to lose weight and failed; and if you’re aware of all the risks and rewards of weight loss surgery, it may be the solution for you.

(more…)