Risks of Surgery

It is important to remember that surgical weight loss is not an easy cure for obesity. It is a tool to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise to achieve a healthier and fuller life.

Surgery to produce weight loss is a serious undertaking, and you should clearly understand what the proposed operation involves. No major surgery is without risk, and you should carefully consider the following benefits and risks before deciding to undergo any surgical weight loss procedure.

Mortality Rate
Nationally, there is a 1 percent mortality (death) rate for obesity surgery. The complication rate nationally for this surgery is about 10 percent. This means that one in 10 patients will experience a complication related to the surgery.  Thankfully, Dr. Lord has had no weight loss surgery-related deaths to date, but this does not mean that this surgery should be taken lightly, and some risks may still occur.

Potential Post-Surgical Complications
As with any major surgery, there are some common potential complications that may occur, such as bleeding, blood clots, infection, pneumonia and breathing problems, and/or injury to internal organs. 

The most serious complications related specifically to weight loss surgery include leakage and peritonitis. When the intestines are sewn together, this connection normally heals quickly. If not, a leak of intestinal contents can occur, and this can cause peritonitis and possible death. Other potential complications include stoma blockage, narrowing of the stomach pouch outlet, and, in the case of Lap Band surgery, band slippage or erosion.

Additional Complications
In addition to these immediate post-surgical complications, surgical weight loss patients may develop several other problems three to 12 months after surgery. These problems may include:
• Abdominal hernias (in one in four patients with the open technique)
• Certain nutritional deficiencies.
• Increased risk of developing gallstones

Pregnancy After Surgery
Because rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can harm a developing fetus, it is strongly recommended that women of childbearing age should avoid pregnancy for 18 months or until their weight becomes stable In anticipation of pregnancy, taking needed supplements for protein, folate, calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12 at all times is essential even before pregnancy occurs. Patients should notify Dr. Lord, as well as their obstetrician, as soon as they do become pregnant.