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<< What is Weight Loss Surgery?

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For Me?

Weight loss surgery is an effective tool that can help you lose weight and improve your health. It works best when you, your primary doctor, and your surgical team can work together to achieve optimal outcomes. You will need to commit to changing your life for the better and be willing to work for your goals.

In general, weight loss surgery is for:

• Patients with a BMI over 40 [see BMI discussion], or
• Patients with a BMI of 35 or greater along with significant weight-related medical problems such as diabetes, heart disease, or severe sleep apnea.

You should also:

• Have been overweight for more than 5 years;
• Have had only short-term success with your previous serious attempts to lose weight;
• Have a primary physician who is willing to work with you and your surgeon;
• Be willing to make needed changes in eating habits. You need to want to change to lose weight;
• Be prepared to make substantial changes in your eating habits and lifestyle.

You should not:

• Have other medical problems that would make surgery too risky.
• Smoke at all. Gastric surgery cannot be done until you have not smoked for one month. If you have smoked recently, you will need to write a letter, saying you have not smoked for a month and you will not start again.
• Have any other untreated disease that may have caused your obesity;
• Be actively abusing drugs or alcohol.

Weight Loss Surgery may not be right for you if:

• You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohn's disease.
• You are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant in the near future. Pregnancy is possible and safe after both gastric bypass and gastric banding, but should be delayed until weight loss has stabilized. This is typically at least 2 years.
• You cannot or do not want to follow the dietary rules that come with this procedure.

Choosing a weight loss operation >>

Contact the Weight Loss Surgery Program at the University of Washington >>

 

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