Understanding the After Weight Loss Surgery

It is not a secret that in our country the term "weight loss surgery" can be used loosely. A quick Google search will bring up articles that refer to weight loss surgery as a cure all for obesity, while more specific terms such as gastric bypass surgery are barely tolerated in the medical world. Yet weight loss surgery has indeed helped thousands of Americans to achieve their weight loss goals. What most people fail to realize, however, is that weight loss surgery should only be one part of any comprehensive weight loss plan.

For example, many of us have turned to taking weight loss pills for years, and while they can give you a boost when you are dealing with a serious weight problem, the pills can also be quite dangerous. In fact, when you use weight loss surgery as an adjunct to your overall weight loss plan, you may find that the surgery makes your weight loss problems worse. For instance, gastric bypass surgery can reduce your food intake by a large amount, and because the stomach is also significantly smaller, you will often consume more calories than you normally would. This is especially true if you perform the surgery after being overweight for a long time. Also, you run the risk of nutritional deficiencies as your body absorbs fewer nutrients and begins extracting them from the fat around your stomach.

Fortunately, there are other factors to consider before deciding on a weight loss surgery as an option. The first thing is to make sure that your surgeon is board certified. During the consultation period, he or she should explain all of the risks and complications associated with the procedure, as well as all of the potential alternatives. The first few months to a year of this new weight loss surgery may result in severe complications, and you should not put yourself at any further risk by proceeding with the procedure.

Once you have received an approval for surgery, you should meet with a nutritionist to determine the best weight loss surgery regimen for you. You may be required to follow a special diet or take supplements. Depending on how much weight you have to lose, your doctor may recommend that you begin taking medication to help reduce your appetite, as well as a pill known as omeprazole.

After surgery, it may take some time for you to return to work. Many doctors in Baton Rouge recommend that you stay off your feet for about eight weeks. This means you cannot walk around freely, but you can get around town using a cane or a walker. The surgery itself may cause bruising, and you may experience an unpleasant odor at first. However, these side effects subside as your body adjusts to the surgery.

After weight loss surgery Baton Rouge, you may find that eating is not always easy to do. This procedure was designed to correct issues with your digestion, so the pain from the procedure will be felt most directly in the lower abdomen. In addition to this problem, you will also have trouble sleeping for a few days after the procedure. Your physician will discuss with you what you can do to overcome these difficulties and to eat normally once you are home. However, it is important that you remain diligent in your efforts to maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of rest if you expect to gain weight afterward.

As with many procedures involving the body, your surgeon will tell you of the likely outcome before he carries out any surgical procedure. The same is true for you, should you decide to have the surgery. He or she will tell you ahead of time whether the procedure will restore you to your original weight or whether you will need additional procedures to aid you in your weight loss efforts. With many procedures, including liposuction, the procedure is permanent. However, sometimes it can be corrected.

If you are obese and are interested in a weight-loss surgery, your first step should be to find a physician who is willing to perform the procedure. It is important that you research your surgeon, your hospital and the procedure itself carefully before agreeing to the procedure. You may even want to speak to other patients who have had the same surgery. It is also wise to ask about the post-operative support you will need and about how often you can return to work and live a normal life afterward. Weight loss surgery can be a wonderful way to go about losing weight, but it is important to understand all the possible complications so you can choose the surgery that is right for you.