Weight Loss Surgery Risks
Like any medical procedure, weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, has risks. If you have a serious weight problem, physicians will usually tell you that the risks of not having the surgery outweigh any risks of having it. But this is a big decision. It's important that you understand both the benefits and the risks to make you more comfortable with your decision.
There is the possibility of common surgical complications as well as complications specific to weight loss surgery. The specific weight loss surgery risks or conditions include:
- Leaks from staple-line breakdown (Roux-en-Y)
- Marginal ulcers
- Spleen injuries
- Gallstones
- Gastric fistula (where the stomach reconnects after gastric bypass surgery)
- Premature loss of life
The most common weight loss surgery risks are a result of not following through with your physician program after the procedure. These include:
- Malnutrition from not eating properly
- Not taking supplements
- Chronic vomiting
- Gaining weight
Does your medical insurance cover weight loss surgery?
What do I do next?