Life After Bariatric Surgery

Published on September 6, 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the worldwide obesity rate has doubled since 1990, with more than a billion people diagnosed with obesity in 2022. Even more troubling, obesity rates in children are skyrocketing, with quadruple the rate of obesity compared to 1990. The medical community now considers obesity a chronic disease with co-morbidities, higher healthcare costs, and increased mortality. Many people who struggle with obesity turn to bariatric surgery—often as a last resort when dieting and exercise programs fail or do not result in permanent weight loss.

What Is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a category of surgical procedures intended to induce weight loss in obese patients. Medical providers typically only recommend bariatric surgery to patients suffering significant comorbidities and decreased life quality due to their obesity, and for whom traditional weight loss methods have failed. The most common types of bariatric surgeries include the following:

• Gastric bypass: surgery reducing the size of the stomach by creating a small pouch out of a portion of the stomach and then connecting it to the lower part of the small intestine, bypassing part of the digestive system. If errors occur during the procedure or in post-operative care, patients may face serious complications. In such cases, a gastric bypass malpractice attorney can help hold negligent medical professionals accountable and seek compensation for the harm caused.
• Sleeve gastrectomy: surgery reducing the size of the stomach by removing a portion and reshaping the remainder into a small “sleeve” about the size of a banana while leaving the intestines intact
• Gastric band (LAP surgery): an adjustable and reversible surgery installing a silicone band (LAP band) around the stomach to reduce its capacity and slow the passage of food through the stomach and into the intestines
• Duodenal switch: surgery to remove part of the stomach to reduce its capacity and then rerouting it to bypass most of the small intestine

Doctors typically choose which type of bariatric surgery is best for each patient’s unique health and lifestyle circumstances.

Living With the Changes of Bariatric Surgery

After surgery, patients face a new way of life in their approach to food, beginning with a temporary liquid diet and then a transition to soft foods and then solid foods. They become full very fast, resulting in a dramatic decrease in caloric intake. As they move forward after surgery daily changes include the following:

• They must take in at least 64 ounces of fluids daily to avoid nausea, constipation, and kidney problems
• They must consume 60 to 100 grams of protein daily to avoid weakness and muscle loss
• They must avoid or minimize intake of sugar and starch
• They must take over-the-counter supplements for calcium and vitamins such as vitamin D and B12 indefinitely
• Doctors may decrease or stop prescribing medications the patient previously took for chronic conditions related to obesity
• They should avoid bread, rice, raw vegetables, fresh fruits, and meat that’s not ground up or easy to chew
• They must avoid alcohol or drink only small amounts because it will have a much stronger effect

Post-bariatric surgery patients must prioritize high-protein foods, take nutritional supplements indefinitely, and undergo regular testing to detect nutritional deficiencies and anemia which are common after-effects of bariatric surgery.

What Are the Positive Effects of Bariatric Surgery On Patient’s Lives?

Studies show many beneficial health effects on bariatric patients’ quality of life as they move forward, including dramatic weight loss and improvements in obesity-related conditions such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. Many patients go on to change their overall lifestyles through diet and fitness regimens.

Are There Negatives to Life After Bariatric Surgery?

Studies following bariatric surgery patients show that the emotional benefits from the surgery do not always match the physical ones. Some patients experience depression and anxiety. Doctors attribute this to many factors, including the dietary restrictions that leave them facing what is essentially a chronic medical condition. The rapid weight loss also commonly leaves bariatric surgery patients with extra skin which may impact their self-image. They may deal with chronic fatigue, feeling cold often, nutritional deficiency, dry skin, and thinning hair. They may also face short and long-term complications such as bleeding, infection, stomach leaks, blood clots, malnutrition, ulcers, gallstones, and “dumping syndrome” which occurs when food moves too quickly into the intestines.

In cases where medical negligence may contribute to these complications, consulting a Phoenix medical malpractice attorney can help patients explore their legal options and seek compensation for their suffering.