Which weight loss surgery is safer?

Any kind of surgery is daunting and if you’re considering weight loss surgery you may be wondering how safe the various procedures are. Mr Bruno Sgromo, a highly-skilled consultant bariatric surgeon who specialises in weight loss surgery, answers some questions we have on the types of weight loss surgery available.

What is the least invasive weight loss surgery?

Nowadays, the main types of weight loss surgery (gastric band, gastric bypass, etc.) are minimally invasive and carried out under general anaesthesia. The surgeon makes a small incision in the stomach area and inserts a flexible viewing tube to see inside while they operate.

Merely choosing one operation over another because it’s the least invasive type, may lead you to choose the least effective operation for your specific needs. All types of weight loss surgery can help you lose weight and your surgeon will talk through the advantages and disadvantages of all of them during your consultations.

What is the safest form of weight loss surgery?

In general, bariatric surgery is safe as long as it’s carried out in the hands of an expert surgeon in a fully equipped hospital. The morbidity and mortality rates associated with bariatric surgery are very low.

Like all procedures, there are some risks to bariatric surgery. Often the long-term complications and side-effects are not considered enough at the time of surgery, which is why compliance to multivitamins and a good follow up plan is essential. At Oxbariatric, we have designed our own follow-up plans adherent to the internal guidelines.

At our clinic, we have had no mortality associated to bariatric surgery, the lowest complication rates and our patients have a very short length of stay in hospital after surgery – which testifies how safe bariatric surgery is.

Are there any new weight loss surgery options on the market now?

At the moment, not really, but the medical world is ever-changing and evolving rapidly. At our clinic, we offer all the well-known bariatric procedures that have stood the test of the time.

What is the most successful weight loss surgery procedure?

Some patients need to lose more than others, hence at times, we offer a two-stage approach where the patient receives two separate procedures in order to reduce risks and complications.

Some studies have shown that gastric bypass surgery produces the greatest weight loss, however, it depends on every patient and their individual case. It can also be the case that gastric bypass surgery won’t produce the results you want, so it isn’t the most effective for you. We evaluate your requirements and decide on the most effective procedure for you during your consultations.

Some weight loss procedures can also lead to malabsorption. This is where the body isn’t able to break down food or absorb it correctly. We advise against these procedures as the health and quality of the patient’s life is compromised.

Before opting for surgery, are there any non-surgical weight loss procedures that can help?

On average, my patients try four diets before coming to see me. The main problem is not losing weight but maintaining their weight loss.

I trust my patients’ past attempts at losing weight. While some have been supervised, others have not been, but the message is always the same - they all lose weight but can’t maintain the weight loss in the long-term. This is why bariatric surgery is a very useful tool to achieve long-lasting weight loss and improve your overall health. It reduces your chance of death associated with cardiovascular pathologies, such as heart attack, stroke and cancer.

If you are considering weight loss surgery, visit Mr Bruno Sgromo’s profile here and book a consultation to talk through your options.