The decision to undergo weight loss surgery may be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Before you decide to get bariatric surgery, you want to know that it will be successful–especially given the costs and what you may have heard about the risks.

In this blog we’ll go through what bariatric long-term outcomes look like, what percentage of patients are successful, and what you can do to maximize your success. By the end of this blog you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether or not bariatric surgery is right for you.

What Does Success After Bariatric Surgery Look Like?

Most patients undergo bariatric surgery in order to lose their excess weight. They are tired of feeling like prisoners in their own bodies and tired of years or even decades of struggling to lose weight. Measured this way, bariatric surgery is extremely successful. While specific weight loss varies by procedure, our bariatric surgery success rate is very high: most patients at the BMCC lose between 60-100% of their excess weight. Imagine how that would feel.

Many patients also define success as being able to get their life back. They want to be able to go for runs and hike Colorado’s beautiful mountains, and have super soaker fights with their kids. Measured this way, too, bariatric surgery is extremely successful. Many of our patients have gone on to run 10k races or even marathons. They report feeling better in their own bodies and even an improved love life.

Conditions That Can Be Reduced By Bariatric Surgery

Many patients also hope that bariatric surgery can help them to resolve medical issues such as high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and joint pain. Excess weight contributes to many health problems, including all of the above as well as other issues such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Partially because of this, the bariatric surgery success rate when it comes to resolving these conditions is very high. Weight loss surgery has helped many of our patients to find relief from problems such as sleep apnea, joint pain, and high blood pressure.

Two specific surgeries (gastric bypass and duodenal switch) are also very effective at curing type 2 diabetes.

Which Bariatric Surgery Is Most Successful?

The duodenal switch is considered the gold standard for bariatric surgeries. It is the primary surgery recommended for patients suffering from ‘super-obesity’ (BMI > 50); however, due to its safety and efficacy it is also the gold standard for patients who have a lower BMI. Most of our duodenal switch patients lose 80-100% of their excess body weight within the first 9 months after surgery. Duodenal switch surgery is also the most effective procedure for curing type 2 diabetes (up to 98% success rate).

Is Bariatric Surgery Safe Long-Term?

It is important to note that while there is a small risk of complications in any surgery, bariatric surgery is extremely safe. At a certified ASMBS comprehensive MBSAQIP center like the BMCC, bariatric surgery is as safe as any minor outpatient procedure such as gallbladder surgery. In fact, for many of our patients, weight loss surgery is an outpatient surgery, and they leave the hospital the same day that they had the surgery. Our double-board-certified bariatric surgeon has some of the lowest complication rates in the nation; and if any complications do occur, he is 100% committed to working with you to resolve them.

The biggest worry for many patients is that they’ll gradually regain the weight. While weight regain is a risk for some patients, it can be very effectively mitigated by adhering to the strict diet and exercise regimen that our team will work with you to create. Most of our patients see lasting weight loss, and minimal to no weight regain, even ten years down the line. The long-term success rate of bariatric surgery at the BMCC is close to 100%.

Some other patients worry that their weight loss will continue indefinitely, and that they will simply waste away into skin and bones. Please be assured that this will not happen. After weight loss surgery, most patients lose most to all of their excess weight; but they do not waste away or lose healthy body weight. Instead, most patients’ bodies stabilize at a new lower weight that is much healthier for them.

How to Maximize Your Success After Weight Loss Surgery

It’s important to note that weight loss surgery is a powerful tool that can help you to level the playing field in your battle against obesity, but it is not a magical cure. After surgery, you will need to be extremely dedicated to the diet and exercise regimen that our team will help you to create in order to maximize your opportunity to lose weight and keep it off.

It is also important to take advantage of the ongoing support and guidance that our team offers you after surgery. After surgery, we will ask you to come in for consultations at the 6-week mark, the 3-month mark, the 6-month mark, the 1-year mark, and annually thereafter. These consultations are an opportunity for our team to support and motivate you, and identify any areas where you may be stuck so that we can help you get back on track. Our entire team is deeply committed to your weight loss journey, which is why it is so important that you attend these consultations.

The bariatric surgery success rate for patients who practice compliance in these areas is very high. It is very rare for patients who diet and exercise after surgery, and come in for their scheduled consultations, to experience weight regain or even insufficient weight loss.

Taking the Next Step On Your Weight Loss Journey

If you’re considering weight loss surgery and have any other questions for our team, we encourage you to schedule a bariatric assessment with us or just give our friendly staff a call. 

The benefits of weight loss surgery are immense, and you deserve to enjoy them. Our patients routinely say that the decision to get surgery changed their life.

“The best decision I have ever made was to have this surgery. Not only did I improve my health, I have my life back again with my family.”—Georgette Camacho, patient.

If you’re suffering, don’t wait. Contact our Denver office today.