For morbidly obese patients who are committed to reaching their weight loss goals, gastric bypass results can be quite remarkable. The success of the surgery varies according to the individual, but patients can lose as much as 90 percent of their excess body weight. Many patients with diabetes or hypertension are even able to stop taking their medications. During the first year following gastric bypass surgery, most patients will lose about 20 pounds each month. Patients who follow their doctor's recommendations and combine exercise with a healthy diet will be the most successful. Patients who don't make the necessary dietary modifications and continue to eat sugary snacks and fried foods may never see a substantial weight loss. Patients who relapse into their unhealthy snacking habits may see a weight gain of about 10 percent between years two and five.
As with any other weight loss method, it is recommended that patients lose their excess weight slowly. Rapid weight loss is not good for the body. If it took you several years to put on the weight, it's not realistic to expect the pounds to melt away overnight. It can be frustrating to not see immediate results from your gastric bypass, but you must have faith that you will be able to lose weight.
What Are the Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Despite the relatively low risks of this surgery, they're important to know about. Research shows that 1 in 300 patients die as a result of the gastric bypass procedure. Other complications can include pulmonary embolism, bowel obstruction, injury to spleen, or nutritional deficiency. Age and pre-existing medical conditions increase your risks. However, many people believe that a chance to improve their quality of life is worth the risk, and this surgery works well for the vast majority of patients.
