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Considering Weight Loss Surgery? Here are 5 Things to Consider
Many people across this country and internationally consider having Weight Loss Surgery every year. A step to take if other methods simply aren’t working, it’s something that you need to be certain of before you take the leap. This isn’t a decision that you should take lightly – like other invasive procedures or treatments it can drastically change your life.
Even though your doctor and surgeon will talk you through the procedure, it’s important that you take certain things into consideration. So to help with this process, here are 5 key factors you should pay attention to:
The Eligibility Requirements
Many people don’t realize this, but there are specific eligibility requirements for those wanting weight loss surgery. To be considered for it, not only do you need to have a high BMI (body mass index) usually around the 40 mark but typically you’ll have to have a health condition that’s related to your weight – i.e. diabetes or high blood pressure. Upon meeting with your doctor, they will discuss your eligibility for the surgery.
If it’s discovered that surgery is not the best course of action, then they will instead recommend alternatives for you to help decrease your BMI in the long term. However, if it’s suitable for you, they might suggest one of the following:
- A laparoscopic gastric bypass
- Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
- Gastroparesis
The Recovery Time
Another key thing you’ll want to consider is how long the recovery period is for the surgery in question. This will depend heavily on the type of surgery that you have – ranging from a recovery period of one month up to four months or more. Your doctor will advise you as to what activities you can do and what you should avoid, along with a guide as to what food/drink is suitable.
You’ll want to be prepared for this ahead of surgery so that you can adjust your expectations to be more realistic. As this type of surgery is big in comparison to others, it’s clear that your lifestyle won’t be the same for some time afterward.
The Costs
This might sound like an obvious one, but it’s still an important factor in the process. It’s no secret that weight loss surgery can be expensive – with costs running from $10,000 up to $30,000 depending on what you’re having done/where you’re located.
Along with the initial costs, however, you’ll want to think about the additional costs associated with it. This includes your surgeon’s fee, hospital fees, anesthesiologists fee, consultant fees, any follow-up procedures that are required, etc.
Even though some health insurance providers will cover particular necessary surgical treatments, this isn’t always the case. So make sure that you check the costs and whether your insurance covers it/you can afford it beforehand.
The Type of Surgery
As aforementioned, there is a variety of weight loss surgeries to choose from. You therefore need to find the best type for you before beginning the process. You can choose one that you’re comfortable with, that your doctor also thinks is suitable.
The Risks
Of course, with all types of invasive surgical procedures there are related risks with weight loss surgery. You’ll therefore want to identify these so that you’re in the know from the beginning. Although these tend to be uncommon, it’s still vital to look into these.
Final Thoughts
So, there you go! Those are 5 key things that you’ll want to consider ahead of weight loss surgery. Of course, this decision is yours and yours alone. So along with the above, it’s critical that you do your own research into it and take your doctor’s advice.
