FAQs on Laparoscopic Procedures
Dr. Arif Ahmad is very cognizant of the questions asked by many patients. Some of them include the following:
1. What is obesity?
Obesity is a health condition that leads to accumulation of fat on the body and has adverse effects on the patient’s health. To determine whether a person is obese or not, then he or she should have their body mass index (BMI) checked. If it exceeds 30, he or she is obese.
2. Are there any risks associated with weigh loss surgery?
All laparoscopic surgeries have potential risk. This is why it is important to choose an experienced surgeon who has been trained to mitigate any emerging issues.
3. Can a patient exercise after surgery?
Exercising is important for general health and activity is important during the healing process. Please discuss the appropriate activity level for each stage of your journey with your surgeon.
4. What are the nutrient requirements for weight loss surgery?
Vitamin and mineral supplementation is important after bariatric procedures to prevent from nutritional deficiencies. Common supplements that may be recommended by your surgeon would be a multivitamin, calcium and b12.
5. Do insurance companies provide insurance coverage for weight loss surgery?
Most major insurance companies cover bariatric procedures. There may be out of pocket costs depending on your individual plan.
6. How does one calculate his or her body mass index (BMI)?
BMI calculators are the best way to get your estimated BMI. There are many apps and websites that will calculate this for you if you enter your height and weight.
After looking at the frequently asked questions, the next step is to learn more about weight loss surgery.
Every surgery carries certain risks; however, the risks associated with laparoscopic or robotic bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, are significantly lower than the risks of remaining obese. Potential complications from surgery may include bleeding, infection, damage to surrounding structures, leakage from anastomosis or intestinal joints, and in some cases, the risk of malnutrition. This underscores the importance of following the prescribed vitamin supplementation. Acid reflux is a common side effect for patients who undergo sleeve gastrectomy, affecting approximately 15% of individuals in some studies. The risk levels for weight loss surgery can vary from surgeon to surgeon, but in our practice, the most significant risks are generally less than 0.1%, with leak rates around 1%. We encourage you to discuss your specific risks with your surgeon, who can provide information about their results, including the total number of procedures they have performed and the incidence of specific complications. This will help you gain a clearer understanding of your own risk profile.
