Benefits & Drawbacks of Weight Loss Surgery

If you are considering weight loss surgery it is important to first discuss this with your doctor and/or specialist so they can provide you with guidance on the best treatment for your individual circumstance. In the meantime we have listed some basic benefits and drawbacks of the different weight loss surgery options offered here at Upper GI Surgery.

 

Gastric Banding – Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Permanent but reversible.
• Can be easily removed
• It’s safer with a quicker recovery time (Compared to other procedures)  
• Adjustable, so can be tightened or loosened by your Doctor

 

Drawbacks

• Weight loss takes more time than other surgical options
• Requires dedication to lifestyle change in order to achieve weight loss.
• Small yearly risk of device related complications. 1-2% for patients who eat well, up to 10%+ in patients who “abuse” their band.
• Intolerance to some “lumpy” foods. Patients are unable to eat quickly.
• Possibility of developing gallstones

 

Gastric Bypass – Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Permanent but reversible.
• Rapid weight loss, in 6 months can generally expect to lose about 50% of their excess weight.
• Weight-loss continues out to two years after surgery
• Faster recovery from weight related co-morbidities
• Results tend to last longer
• Excellent for people with bad diabetes or bad reflux.
• Food intolerances are less common than band.

 

Drawbacks

• Lifelong nutritional supplementation required
• Major surgery which carries significant risks (0.5%) at the time of surgery
• Possibility of  developing gallstones

 

Gastric Sleeve – Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Rapid weight loss.
• Suitable for patients that may be at higher surgical risk
• Lowest side effect profile of the available procedures.
• Lose weight faster than a gastric band (though not quicker than a gastric bypass)
• In 1 year can generally expect to lose 60-80% of excess weight

 

Drawbacks

• Irreversible
• Patients will not lose much weight after 1 year.
• Major surgery so significant risks (05%)
• Poor dietary decisions and snacking will lead to weight regain
• Possibility of developing gallstones

As with any major surgery your individual circumstances needs to be taken into consideration, these are discussed during your specialist consultations and interactions with our team. If you would like more information on any of these surgery options, or would like to discuss whether you are eligible for weight loss surgery, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss this further with you.