{"id":13826,"date":"2021-08-07T08:35:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-07T13:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=13826"},"modified":"2022-04-20T11:07:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T16:07:40","slug":"is-weight-loss-surgery-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/is-weight-loss-surgery-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Is weight-loss surgery safe?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve tried everything. The fad diets. The fad exercises. You\u2019ve even tried the ones that weren\u2019t fads. But nothing has worked. And you\u2019re not just carrying \u201ca few extra pounds.\u201d You\u2019re obese and suffering from a number of other health issues as a result.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s still hope. You\u2019ve heard about bariatric surgery<\/a> and the success it\u2019s brought to so many people in your predicament.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re just asking yourself one question: \u201cIs it safe?\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe<\/h2>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very safe,\u201d said Karen Keller, an advanced practice nurse<\/a> at OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park, Illinois<\/a>. \u201cWhile every surgery carries some level of risk, the risk of complications from bariatric surgery is very low, and depending on the procedure, people are usually able to go home the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Are you a candidate?<\/p>\n

>Bariatric Surgery<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

While bariatric surgery has existed in the United States since the 1950s, today\u2019s modern methods trace their roots to the early 1990s. Performed as laparoscopic surgery with very small incisions in the abdomen, there are five different bariatric procedures<\/a> endorsed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of these surgery options can deliver significant weight loss for the patient,\u201d Karen said. \u201cEach procedure delivers results by reducing the size of the stomach and\/or bypassing part of the stomach and part of the small intestine. The type of surgery a person ultimately undergoes is a decision they would make in consultation with a physician based on their desired outcomes and the current state of their health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Potential risks<\/h2>\n

While bariatric surgery has proven to be safe and effective, some of the most common complications a patient may encounter include:<\/p>\n