Weight loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, gastric banding or obesity surgery, typically is performed on people who are 80 pounds or more overweight and have not lost weight by other methods. The surgery can help people lose weight but also carries risks.
Types
The most popular type of weight loss surgery is a bypass procedure that builds a small pouch for food to pass through and carries the risk of bleeding. Another procedure that involves removing as much as 80 percent of the stomach can cause vitamin deficiency and malnutrition. Lap-band surgery, though lower in risks, is a slower way to lose weight.
Considerations
Other common side effects that can occur from weight loss surgery include infection, hernias, gallstones and leakage.
Effects
Mayo Clinic doctors report that dumping is a serious risk that can occur following weight loss surgery. Dumping occurs when food is emptied into the small intestine too quickly and can cause nausea, vomiting and cramps.
Potential
By limiting the amount of food the body can digest, people who have weight loss surgery can expect to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. Patients can regain the weight if they return to former eating habits.
Warning
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that overweight people are more likely to develop blood clots that are embolisms released from the blood stream and can cause strokes or lung damage following surgery.
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