Resolution of Medical Problems

Bariatric surgery achieves excellent long term weight-loss for morbidly obese patients. In addition, a recent report from the Journal of the American Medical Association has detailed the numerous other health benefits of weight loss surgery.

Diabetes is cured in 77% of patients and resolved or improved in 86% of patients. Most patients are off all of their diabetes medications or have significantly reduced doses in the first three months after surgery. Blood sugar glucose levels and Hemoglobin A1c levels usually return to normal or near normal.

Hypertension(high blood pressure) is cured in 62% of patients and resolved or improved in 78.5%. Most patients are able to reduce their blood pressure medications to a single medication within a few months.

Hyperlipidemia(high cholesterol and high triglycerides) improved in more than 70% of patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea is cured in 86% of patients.

Risk of death is decreased by 89%.

Other potential benefits include:

Improvement in arthritis with reduction in pain and increased mobility.

Resolution or improvement of numerous other conditions, such as: skin infections, skin rashes, ankle swelling, obesity related heart failure, asthma, infertility and lymphedema.

Improved ability to participate in physical and recreational activities.

Improved social and economic opportunities.

Improved sense of well being.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Weight-Loss Results

As the surgery that has been performed for the longest time, and the most common laparoscopic surgery, this procedure has the most thoroughly documented weight-loss results. The laparoscopic Roux en Y procedure (or gastric bypass), while more recent than the traditional open gastric bypass, has shown excellent long-term weight loss. Weight loss 5-10 years after laparoscopic or open Roux en Y averages between 62-75% of total excess body weight. Regardless of the type of bariatric surgery, patients who lose a significant amount of weight can be cured of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and experience an improvement in overall quality of life.

Please Note:

Super morbidly obese patients (BMI >50) experience less dramatic weight loss results with Roux en Y surgery. 10 year post-op results for super morbidly obese patients show an average loss of 40-50% total excess body weight. These individuals may want to consider other weight loss procedures.

Duodenal Switch: Weight Loss Results

Compared to the Roux en Y gastric bypass, the duodenal weight loss procd achieves superior weight loss results for super morbidly obese patients. Although results for the relatively recent laparoscopic duodenal switch are currently unavailable, 10 year post-op results for the open duodenal switch show an average loss of 75-80% total excess body weight (even in super-morbidly obese patients). Regardless of the type of bariatric surgery, patients who lose a significant amount of weight can be cured of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnea. The duodenal switch procedure has the highest cure rate for diabetes.

Lap Band Surgery: Weight Loss Results

Weight-loss with Lap Band surgery comes about more slowly than with Roux en Y gastric bypass or duodenal switch, where patients achieve goal weight as early as  Weight loss results with the Lap Band occur gradually because the weight-loss is achieved with serial adjustments of the Lap Band. The need for adjustments of the Lap Band is determined by cooperation between patient and surgeon. The Lap Band affords weight-loss without dividing the stomach or rearranging the intestinal tract.

Regardless of the type of bariatric surgery, patients who lose a significant amount of weight can be cured of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnea.