Benefits and Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

To compare the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery, a large group of people who qualify for the operation must be compared: one group undergoing an operation and one group undergoing the “best non-surgical therapy.” Studies with this design show unequivocally that those undergoing bariatric surgery have a large survival advantage over 5 to 25 years (25-89% fewer people die if they have the operation). There are approximately 30 diseases that are caused or worsened by morbid obesity.

The advantage is clear in people with a BMI greater than 35 with medical problems or in all people with a BMI greater than 40. A couple of recent articles suggest that people with Type II Diabetes and a BMI between 30 and 35 have better overall outcomes with an operation versus those who do not have an operation.

No operation is without complications. Death may occur. In the best centers across America, the mortality rate (death rate) is 0.5% or, in other words, 1 in 200 operations. The WeightWise death rate since Dr. Broussard and Dr. Walton opened the doors in 2006 is 0% (having done almost 2000 patients since then). Major complications occur in approximately 1-2% of patients. To bring this into perspective, compare the mortality rate with other procedures:
 

• CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT – 3% mortality
• LUNG RESECTION – 6% mortality
• ESOPHAGEAL RESECTION – 9% mortality
• LAPAROSCOPICALLY REMOVED GALLBLADDER – 0.3%
   

The improved survival after bariatric surgery is primarily due to the improvements in two disease areas: cardiovascular (heart attacks, stokes, etc.) and cancer (decrease in breast cancer, uterine, prostate, colon, stomach, esophagus, kidney, and some types of lung cancer).

About 70% of people undergoing bariatric surgery can lose half of their excess weight and keep that weight off for 10 years. Although 70% is not perfect, it should be compared to the 2-3% of people who can have success by any other means available, showing that operation is the only viable option for most patients.