Close to 50 percent of the United States adult population suffers from obesity, leading to serious adverse health effects. Their excess weight proves to be a barrier in many daily life situations, and many of these people also gradually develop obesity-related health issues such as heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, mental illnesses, and even cancer.
Exercise and dieting (the usually recommended weight loss methods) don’t produce the desired results in many of these cases. Because of this, people turn to other weight loss approaches and often waste huge amounts of money on fake, ineffective ones they’ve picked up from TV advertisements and the internet. Some even end up damaging their health during these weight loss experiments.
This is why choosing medically approved, proven, and, most importantly, safe weight loss treatments, such as bariatric procedures, is important. Bariatric treatments are commonly recommended by healthcare professionals in severe obesity cases or when an obesity-related complication is getting worse. These procedures are minimally invasive, safe, complication-free, and result in quick, effective, and sustainable weight loss.
However, many people might doubt whether or not bariatric procedures are worth it, especially surgical bariatric procedures. Well, we’re here to clear all your doubts! Let’s discuss the benefits of bariatric weight loss treatments, assess risks, and decide whether or not these procedures are worth it.
Bariatric Procedures – An Overview
First, an overview of bariatric procedures, how they’re performed, their goals, and how they work. Generally, all medical procedures aimed to help patients fight obesity and lose weight by altering the structure of their digestive system are called bariatric procedures. Almost all bariatric procedures are FDA-approved and recommended internationally by weight loss experts, especially to people dealing with severe obesity (BMI in the range of 35 to 40 or above) or those who are suffering from serious obesity-related health complications.
There are two main types of bariatric procedures, which are:
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery, termed sleeve gastronomy or vertical sleeve gastronomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to reduce the stomach’s volume. The procedure is done laparoscopically, removing almost 80 percent of the stomach through small incisions until a banana-shaped slim stomach is left. This way, the patient has a much smaller stomach that fills up much more quickly when eating food, resulting in an automatic calorie deficit over time.
Board-certified bariatric surgeon Dr. Jorge Green has performed hundreds of gastric sleeve surgeries in his 17-year professional career with zero complications. Rest assured, you’ll be in safe, professional hands when choosing Dr. Green.
Gastric Balloon Treatment
Gastric balloon treatment is a non-surgical and reversible bariatric treatment involving placing a medical implant (silicon bariatric balloon or balloons) inside the patient’s stomach to reduce food storage capacity. The gastric balloon treatment is done under mild sedation with the aid of an endoscopy.
A distinctive feature of the gastric balloon treatment is that it is reversible, as the balloon or balloons can be removed after 6 to 12 months or when the set weight loss goal has been achieved. Book your consultation with Dr. Jorge Green to learn more about the treatment and its eligibility criteria.
Are Bariatric Treatments Worth It?
Bariatric treatments, thanks to the advancements in medical and surgical tech, are now exceptionally safe, and there are rarely any complications in these procedures, especially if an experienced, skilled bariatric surgeon like Dr. Green does them.
These treatments also produce long-lasting, sustainable, and quick results. With successful bariatric procedures, patients have reported up to 70 percent loss in their excess body fat over just 6 months. In addition, you can choose to reverse the procedure if you opt for reversible options (like gastric balloon treatment). Since the benefits outweigh the minimal risks, bariatric treatments are worth it.
Benefits of Bariatric Procedures
Here are some benefits of bariatric procedures:
#1. Quick and Effective Weight Loss
The primary benefit of bariatric procedures is that these treatments produce quick and effective results. You can expect results to appear within a month or two of the procedure (provided that you follow the post-operation instructions). Multiple cases show that 60 to 70 percent of the patient’s excess body weight is lost within 6 to 12 months post-op.
#2. Long-Lasting, Sustainable Results
The weight loss achieved by a bariatric treatment is long-lasting and sustainable. Since the stomach is now smaller, it will also affect the level of hunger hormones in the body. Fewer hunger hormones are released, which, in turn, results in less hunger and cravings. This causes a consistent, low to moderate calorie intake.
#3. Safe, Complication Free Treatment
Bariatric treatments are exceptionally safe and rarely involve any complications. Most bariatric procedures are done with laparoscopy or endoscopy to assist the surgeon during the procedure. Even if complications occur after the treatment, they have revisional bariatric procedures.
#4. Improvement and Cure of Obesity-Related Health Problems
In the majority of cases, a rapid improvement and even cure of obesity-related health problems is seen after the patient goes through a successful bariatric treatment. Conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, hypertension, and mental health problems are significantly relieved post-bariatric treatment.
Final Thoughts – Reach Out to Expert Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Jorge Green
Bariatric treatments are medically approved, safe, and complication-free weight loss solutions that produce quick, effective, and sustainable results. Considering these factors, we can say that the benefits of bariatric procedures greatly outweigh the minimal risks involved, making them worth it. You can reach out to Dr. Jorge Green’s team to learn more about the treatments and which one would be best for you.