Weight loss surgery is a revolutionary procedure that has changed the lives of millions of people. While the benefits of this operation are numerous, it’s not without its risks. Before considering surgical intervention or gastric bypass, you and your physician must carefully weigh the benefits and risks, which we’ve outlined below.

• Weight Loss – We currently offer two different types  of weight loss surgery, and results vary by procedure. On average, bariatric surgery patients can expect to lose 70 to 80 percent of their excess weight within one year.
• Blood pressure – Patients with high blood pressure or hypertension typically see improvement within a few days of surgery. Bariatric surgery completely resolves hypertension in about 75 percent of patients. 
• High cholesterol – Around 80 percent of patients with high cholesterol or triglyceride levels revert to normal levels just a few months after bariatric surgery.
• Physical activity – Most patients find it easier to perform physical activity that was exhausting or impossible prior to their procedure. Their significant weight loss means the heart and respiratory system do not have to work as hard to support body movement.
• Metabolic Syndrome – Resolved in 80 percent of patients 
• Type 2 Diabetes – Resolved in 82-98 percent of patients.
• Sleep Apnea – Snoring is completely eliminated in most patients, and 85 percent of patients with sleep apnea who use CPAP machines at night are symptom-free a year after surgery.
• Asthma – For patients with asthma, attacks are less frequent, less severe, and sometimes completely eliminated for 70 percent of patients.
• Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease (GERD) – More than 90 percent of patients with GERD experience no symptoms after bariatric surgery.
• Back pain, arthritis, joint pain, etc. – Bariatric surgery has shown to relieve or eliminate several types of musculoskeletal pain. This is because weight-bearing parts of the body are under less stress.
• Migraine Headaches – Resolved in 57 percent of patients.
• Depression – Reduced in 47 percent of patients.
• Interacranial hypertension (pseudotumor crebri) – Resolved in 96 percent of patients.
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease – Reduced in 90 percent of patients.
• Venous stasis disease – Resolved in 95 percent of patients.
• Gout – Resolved in 72 percent of patients.
• Urinary stress incontinence – Resolved in 44 percent of patients.
• Quality of Life
  • Higher self-esteem
  • More confidence facing certain social situations
  • Increased energy, participation in sports
  • New interests (hobbies, travel, recreation, etc.) back to top

Risks

The Weight Loss Surgery Program at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital has some of the lowest complication rates in the country. And because of that HealthGrades®, a leading health care ratings agency, has given Fresno Heart & Surgical a 5-star mark of approval and named its bariatric surgery program “Best in the Region.” But as with any major operation, there are risks involved. The nationwide mortality rate for bariatric surgery patients is less than one percent. Only 5 to 10 percent of patients will experience some sort of post-operative problem that requires medical attention and in our program it’s even lower – less than 1%. But when you consider the amount of life-threatening illnesses that this surgery can prevent, the benefits far outweigh the risks. back to top

General risks of weight loss surgery:

• Mortality Rates - Weight loss surgery is an extremely safe procedure, but as with any operation, there is a risk of death involved. Current nationwide mortality rates for bariatric surgery patients are about 1 in 500, or 0.2%. For the morbidly obese, the chances of dying from a co-morbidity associated with their excess weight are much higher than the risk  of death from weight loss surgery.
• Injury to internal organs - The spleen, liver, intestines and esophagus are all major organs that are located near your upper stomach. Since these organs often must be moved out of the way during surgery, bleeding or tearing can happen. On rare occasions, the spleen or gallbladder may have to be removed.
• Anastomotic leak - A rupture in the new connection between the created stomach pouch and the small intestine, or a leak in the stomach pouch itself, is also known as an anastomotic leak. Though leaks are extremely serious if left untreated, our surgery teams perform frequent leak tests to minimize their occurrence.
• Bleeding - Post-operative bleeding is a possibility with any surgery. In weight-loss surgery, bleeding usually occurs due to the division of blood vessels necessary for a successful procedure. However, excessive bleeding is rare, and all bleeding usually stops within 24 hours of surgery. Transfusions for patients are rarely necessary, though a return to the operating room is sometimes required if bleeding continues.
• Bowel Obstruction - Intestinal blockage, though rare, may occur in the weeks, months and sometimes years after surgery.
• Wound Seroma - After surgery, fat tissue under the skin liquefies, and the body usually absorbs it. However, in some rare cases, this liquid may escape through the incision, causing a large amount of discharge. Such a sight can be alarming to patients, but it is nothing to be overly worried about. Your surgeon should be contacted if you experience wound seroma.
• Chronic Gastrointestinal Dysfunction - A very small amount of patients experience intolerance to food long after surgery. This is a rare but serious problem that can often only be resolved by reversing the weight-loss surgery.
• Wound Infection - As in any surgical procedure, wounds can be susceptible to infection as they heal. Minimally invasive procedures such as weight loss surgery have a very low prevalence of wound infection. This complication can usually be treated in an outpatient setting.
• Ventral Hernia - Ventral hernias typically happen in traditional open-incision procedures, and are not associated with the minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures done here at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital. Surgical intervention to repair the hernia is necessary, but usually only done once the patient’s weight has stabilized. Ventral hernias happen in less than one percent of laparoscopic surgery patients.
• Other Risks - Morbidly obese patients are typically more at risk for complications from surgery than a person with a healthy body weight. This is because the bodily systems are under extreme stress caused by excess weight. These systems must work even harder when a patient undergoes the surgical process. The lungs, heart and kidneys are especially susceptible during and immediately after surgery, and our care team closely monitors these systems throughout the process. A complete physical is performed on all weight loss surgery candidates to ensure their bodies can handle the stress of surgery. back to top

Other Factors to Consider

Expectations vs. Results
About 85 percent of weight loss surgery patients will achieve their desired weight loss goals. That means 15 percent will not. Failure to lose significant weight is due to a number of factors, many of which can be fixed through “fine-tuning” the gastric bypass or lap band.

However, it’s important to understand that weight-loss surgery is not, and never will be, a complete cure for obesity. Patients must realize that drastic lifestyle changes are needed in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Your eating habits must change, your exercise regimen must improve, and you must make the day-to-day sacrifices necessary to achieve your weight loss goals.  We can refer to a specially trained dietician if needed.

Psychological Factors
With the stigma of being overweight no longer a burden to your life, you must mentally prepare for your relationships to change. People will look at you differently because, well, you look different. Most of the time these changes are for the better, but it may take awhile for you and your loved ones to adjust to “the new you”. Often times, counseling is helpful, and our support team will be happy to provide you with a referral to a qualified psychologist. back to top