Surgery to produce weight loss is a serious undertaking. And we are committed to educating each patient about what the proposed operation involves. Patients should carefully consider the following benefits and risks before having weight loss surgery.

Benefits

  • Following surgery, most patients lose weight rapidly and continue to do so for 18 to 24 months. Approximately 85% of patients will lose and keep off 50% - 80% of their excess weight.
  • Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, elevated cholesterol, gastroesophageal reflux disease, urinary incontinence and sleep apnea commonly improve and in most cases disappear, after the surgery.
  • Improvements in longevity.
  • Significantly improved energy level for daily exercise, a positive sense of hope and increased self-confidence.

Risks

  • No major surgery is without risk.
  • Nationally, there is a ½ -1% mortality (death) rate for obesity surgery. Our mortality rate at Commonwealth Surgeons is better than the national average.
  • The overall complication rate for this surgery nationally is about 10%. This means that one in ten patients will experience a complication related to the surgery. Click here for more information on complications of this surgery.

 

"