Bariatric Surgery Indications
Bariatric surgery is intended for people who are 100 pounds or more overweight (with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater) and who have not had success with other, less risky weight loss therapies such as diet, exercise, and medications.In some cases, a person with a BMI of 35 or greater and one or more co-morbid condition may be considered for bariatric surgery.

• Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic surgery.
• Bariatric surgery does not involve the removal of adipose tissue (fat) by suction or surgical removal.
• Together, you and your doctor should discuss the benefits and risks.
• You must commit to long-term lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, which are key to the success of bariatric surgery.
• Complications after surgery may require further operations.
• Patients who underwent bariatric surgery have significantly reduced rates of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases, endocrinological disorders, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and respiratory disorders.

• Bleeding
• Pain
• Shoulder pain
• Pneumonia
• Complications due to anesthesia and medications
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Injury to stomach, esophagus, or surrounding organs
• Infection
• Pulmonary embolism
• Stroke or Heart Attack
• Death

• Abdominal hernia
• Chest pain
• Collapsed lung
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Enlarged heart
• Gallstones, pain from passing a gallstone, inflammation of the gallbladder, or surgery to remove the gallbladder
• Gastrointestinal inflammation or swelling
• Stoma obstruction
• Stretching of the stomach
• Surgical procedure repeated
• Vomiting and nausea

Note: Your weight, age and medical history play a significant role in determining your specific risks. Your surgeon can inform you about your specific risks for bariatric surgery.

Risks Associated with Gastric Banding

• Migration of implant (band erosion, band slippage, port displacement)
• Tubing-related complications (port disconnection, tubing kinking)
• Band leak
• Esophageal spasm
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Inflammation of the esophagus or stomach
• Port-site infection

Note: Complications may result in reoperations. Refer to the Realize™ Band Patient Guide for a full description of risks and side effects. To order a patient guide click here.

Risks Associated with Gastric Bypass

• Dehiscence (separation of tissue that was stitched or stapled together)
• Leaks from staple lines
• Ulcers
• Dumping syndrome, an unpleasant side effect that may include vomiting, nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and diarrhea
• Required supplementation of diet with a daily multivitamin, calcium, and sometimes vitamin B12 and/or iron
• Inability to detect the stomach, duodenum, and parts of the small intestine using X-ray or endoscopy, should problems arise after surgery such as ulcers, bleeding, or malignancy
• Increased gas

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 2004 Consensus Statement, the operative morbidity (complications) associated with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the hands of a skilled surgeon is roughly 5%, and the operative mortality (death) is roughly 0.5%.9

For gastric banding, the same consensus statement reported that, in the hands of a skilled surgeon, the operative morbidity is approximately 5% and operative mortality is approximately 0.1%.9

Why Would I Have an Open Procedure?
In some patients, the laparoscopic or minimally invasive approach to surgery cannot be used.

• Prior abdominal surgery that has caused dense scar tissue
• Inability to see organs
• Bleeding problems during the operation