Bariatric surgery should not be considered until you and your doctor have evaluated all other treatment options. As with all surgeries, there are risks associated with weight loss procedures. If complications occur during a minimally invasive or laparoscopic (key-hole) operation, your doctor may choose to perform open surgery. Your doctor must determine if you are an appropriate surgical candidate.

Complications and Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

As with any surgery, there are operative and long-term complications and risks associated with weight loss surgical procedures that should be discussed with your doctor. Reported risks include, but are not limited to:(1)

Minor Complications (requiring less than 7 days postoperative hospitalisation)

• Respiratory
• Wound Infection
• Splenic Injury
• Other

Major Complications (requiring more than 7 days postoperative hospitalisation)

• Hepatic or Cardiac
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Subphrenic Abscess
• Gastrointestinal leaks
• Evisceration, Dehiscence
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Neurologic
• Renal
• Wound Seroma
• Small Bowel Obstruction
• Death has also been reported following morbid obesity surgery.

If weight loss surgery is performed laparoscopically (key-hole) and complications occur during the operation, your doctor may choose to perform open surgery.

Important Considerations

Bariatric surgery should not be considered until you and your doctor have evaluated all other options. The proper approach to bariatric surgery requires discussion and careful consideration of the following with your doctor:

• These weight loss procedures are in no way to be considered as cosmetic surgery.
• The surgery does not involve the removal of adipose tissue (fat) by suction or excision.
• A decision to elect surgical treatment requires an assessment of the risk and benefit to the patient and the meticulous performance of the appropriate surgical procedure.
• The suggested weight loss surgical procedure may not be reversible.
• The success of bariatric surgery is dependent upon long-term lifestyle changes in diet and exercise.
• Problems may arise after surgery that may require reoperations.

Success of surgical weight loss treatment must begin with realistic goals and progress through the best possible use of well-designed and tested operations.