Weight Loss Surgery for Dachshunds What You Need to Know
VIDA Wellness and Beauty
Have you been struggling with obesity for a long time? If you have tried to lose weight and had little to no success, it can be very frustrating. You can follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Or, you can consider Bariatric Surgery, one of the most effective options that could be a total life changer for the right candidate. Which approach to dealing with obesity is better? Is weight loss surgery vs. diet and exercise a fair comparison?
A healthy diet and an exercise routine seem to be the easiest, simplest methods for losing weight. But if you are reading this, youve probably tried a diet program or two, signed up at your local gym, and still havent been able to make progress. What added benefits does bariatric surgery have? And, are the benefits worth it? Is Bariatric surgery more effective than regular dieting and exercising?
Our expert bariatric surgeons shared with us some of the pros and cons of both approaches and offered some advice on how to decide if weight loss surgery is for you.
Bariatric Surgery vs Natural Weight Loss
First, no bariatric surgeon underestimates the benefits of following a healthy lifestyle. Apart from maintaining a healthy weight, it can help prevent many diseases, improve your mood and boost your energy.
Some of the pros of exercising regularly and eating healthy foods are: Increase your metabolic rate; improve your circulation, heart, and lung function; sleep better; decrease your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure; decrease the risk of certain cancers; prevent brain disorders and mental conditions. Furthermore, doing these as part of your daily routine means developing healthy habits for life. A major con to choosing only diet and exercise is that your progress might be incredibly slow. And your metabolism might not respond to this natural weight loss approach.
Following a balanced diet and exercising regularly are the most valuable habits anyone can have in order to live a long, fulfilling life. It is a mistake, however, to think that Bariatric Surgery is opposed to this, explained Dr. Oscar Lumban, one of the Bariatric Surgeons at VIDA. A healthy diet is vital, whether you are dealing with obesity or not. The same goes for exercising. But, its an unfair misconception to assume that these alone will help people beat obesity for good. Some patients have success with a new diet at first, but end up stalling or gaining the weight back. Patients who are obese need extra help, and that is the biggest advantage of choosing weight loss surgery.
Patients who dont respond to diets can find unrivaled benefits in a bariatric procedure, either a Gastric Sleeve, a Gastric Bypass, or a Lap Band.
I always remind patients that weight loss surgery does not undermine their efforts to eat healthily and be more active. On the contrary, they complement each other. One couldnt be successful without the other! And, for most of my bariatric patients, the weight they lost after having surgery and committing to living a healthy life, is priceless, adds Dr. Rodriguez, who for years has been helping patients get their lives back through Bariatric Surgery.
Is weight loss surgery more effective than diet and exercise?
Weight loss surgery actually makes diet and exercise effective for those who have been battling obesity for years but havent thrived on conventional methods. If your BMI is over 35, you diet, lose weight, and gain it all back within months, then bariatric surgery might be for you!
The biggest con our doctors hear from their patients is that bariatric surgery is risky and recovery might be uncomfortable. While any surgery does have certain risks, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Our bariatric doctors opt for a laparoscopic method, making surgery and recovery less invasive and less uncomfortable for patients. A little discomfort and an adjustment period are expected post-bariatric surgery, but for patients, beating obesity is finally possible. These surgeries, when paired with a balanced diet and exercise, will improve their quality of life indefinitely.
Do you think you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery? Is this something you have explored with your physician? Call us now at 619 610 1667 and lets finally beat obesity, together!
More Info About Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss
Dr. Gabriela Rodriguez specializes in General and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery. She brings to VIDA Wellness and Beauty a wealth of experience in bariatrics. Dr. Rodriguez is a founding associate of the Mexican College of General Surgeons. A world-class bariatric surgeon with double certification in the US and Mexico.
Weight loss
Weight-loss surgery: Is it an option for you?
Learn about the criteria you must meet to have weight-loss surgery.
By Mayo Clinic StaffWeight-loss surgery changes the shape and function of your digestive system. This surgery may help you lose weight and manage medical conditions related to obesity. These conditions include diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Weight-loss surgery is also known as bariatric surgery. There are various surgical procedures, but all of them help you lose weight by limiting how much food you can eat. Some procedures also limit the amount of nutrients you can absorb.
In the U.S., the most common weight-loss surgery is sleeve gastrectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon removes a large portion of the stomach to create a tubelike sleeve.
Weight-loss surgery is only one part of an overall treatment plan. Your treatment will also include nutrition guidelines, exercise and mental health care. You'll need to be willing and able to follow this long-term plan to achieve your weight-loss goals.
If you're considering weight-loss surgery, you'll meet with a number of specialists to help you decide if weight-loss surgery is an option for you.
Medical guidelines
The general medical guidelines for weight-loss surgery are based on body mass index (BMI). BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. Weight-loss surgery might be an option for an adult with a BMI of 40 or higher.
The surgery may also be an option for an adult who meets these three conditions:
- BMI of 35 or higher
- At least one obesity-related medical condition
- At least six months of supervised weight-loss attempts
In some cases, weight-loss surgery may be an option for adolescents. The guidelines include:
- BMI of 40 or higher and any obesity-related medical condition
- BMI of 35 or higher and a severe obesity-related medical condition
Instead of using these BMI numbers as a guideline for surgery, a surgeon may use growth charts for adolescents. These charts show the standard BMI range for each age. The surgeon may recommend the procedure based on how much the adolescent's BMI is above the standard BMI range.
Depending on the type or severity of an obesity-related illness, some adults or adolescents with lower BMIs may be able to undergo weight-loss surgery.
How to know if you're ready for surgery
If you're considering weight-loss surgery, you'll meet with a health care team that may include the following:
- Primary care doctor
- Surgeon
- Anesthesiologist
- Dietitian
- Nurse specializing in weight management
- Psychologist or psychiatrist
- Other specialists depending on your medical conditions
Members of your team will explain what to expect before and after the procedure. They will evaluate whether you're ready for surgery and help you decide if it's an option for you. They may identify concerns to address medical, behavioral or psychological before you're ready for surgery.
Medical concerns
You'll have a medical exam to diagnose any unknown obesity-related conditions. Your doctor also will test for problems that could make surgery more complicated. You may undergo tests for:
- Sleep apnea
- Cardiovascular disease
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
You'll likely not be able to have surgery if you have these conditions:
- Blood-clotting disorders
- Severe heart disease that prohibits the safe use of anesthesia
- Other conditions that increase the risk of using anesthesia
Behaviors and mental health
Weight loss after surgery depends on your ability to change behaviors in eating and exercise. Also, being in good mental health is important for the demands of following your treatment plan. Your team's goals are to identify psychological or behavioral risk factors, address any problems, and decide whether you're ready for surgery.
Your health care team will talk with you about the following:
- Motivation. Are you motivated to embrace lifestyle changes, set goals and educate yourself about healthy nutrition? Your team will track your ability to follow recommended changes to your diet and exercise routine.
- Weight-loss history. What dieting and exercise plans have you used in the past to lose weight? Did you lose weight or regain weight? Patterns in weight loss and weight gain can help your team understand challenges for you and recommend strategies for post-surgical plans.
- Eating behaviors. Irregular eating behaviors or eating disorders may contribute to obesity. These include binge eating, nighttime eating and unplanned grazing between meals. Some eating disorders are associated with other mood disorders and other mental health conditions.
- Mood disorders. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or other mood disorders are associated with obesity, and these conditions may make it difficult to manage your weight. Also, people with untreated mood disorders often find it difficult to stick with new diet and exercise habits after surgery.
- Alcohol and drug use. Problems with alcohol or drug use, as well as smoking, are associated with poor weight loss and continued substance use problems after surgery. Untreated or unmanaged problems likely prohibit the option of weight-loss surgery.
- Suicide risk. There is an increased risk of suicide among people who have undergone weight-loss surgery. The risk is higher among people with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, schizophrenia or other disorders.
Pre-surgery expectations
If your team members recommend bariatric surgery, they will work with you to develop a treatment plan. This may include:
- Nutrition guidelines. The dietitian will help you with nutrition guidelines, vitamin supplements and menu planning. The guidelines include changes before and after surgery.
- Exercise plan. A nurse, occupational therapist or other specialist will help you learn appropriate exercises, develop an exercise plan and set goals.
- Weight loss. You may be encouraged or required to lose some weight through diet and exercise before you can have surgery.
- Psychotherapy. You may be required to begin talk therapy, drug treatment or other mental health therapy to treat an eating disorder, depression or other mental health condition. Your therapy may include developing new coping skills or addressing your concerns about body image or self-esteem.
- Smoking. If you smoke, you'll be asked to quit smoking or participate in a program to help you quit.
- Other treatments. You'll be expected to follow treatments for other medical conditions.
These requirements are intended to help you achieve the best possible weight-loss outcomes after surgery. Also, your ability to follow through on these plans will show your team how motivated you are to follow guidelines after surgery. Weight-loss surgery can be delayed or canceled if your health care team determines that:
- You're not psychologically or medically ready for surgery
- You haven't made appropriate changes in your eating or exercise habits
- You gained weight during the evaluation process
Paying for surgery
Your insurance company may cover the costs of weight-loss surgery. Your team will need to show that the procedure is medically necessary. Also, you may need to provide documented evidence that you weren't able to lose enough weight with a supervised program of diet and exercise. Medicare and some Medicaid programs may cover the costs.
It's important to research your insurance coverage and your expected out-of-pocket costs. Your hospital may have services to help you explore options for financing your surgery.
Is bariatric surgery right for you?
A team of doctors, nurses and other specialists will help you determine whether this is an appropriate option for you.
The process the team uses to determine if you're ready for weight-loss surgery is also there to help you make an informed decision. You will need to consider the benefits and risks, follow through with pre-surgery and post-surgery plans, and make a lifelong commitment to a new nutrition and exercise program.
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
ErrorEmail field is required
ErrorInclude a valid email address
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Thank you for subscribing!
You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.
Sorry something went wrong with your subscription
Please, try again in a couple of minutes
Oct. 13, 2022- Feldman M, et al., eds. Surgical and endoscopic treatment of obesity. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 20, 2020.
- Lim RB. Bariatric operations for management of obesity: Indications and preoperative preparation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 20, 2020.
- Inge TH. Surgical management of severe obesity in adolescents. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 4, 2020.
- Potential candidates for bariatric surgery. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery/potential-candidates. Accessed Nov. 5, 2020.
- Cheroutre C, et al. Contributing of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the context of bariatric surgery: A review of the literature. Obesity Surgery. 2020; doi:10.1007/s11695-020-04627-9.
- Brode CS, et al. Problematic eating behaviors and eating disorders associated with bariatric surgery. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.psc.2019.01.014.
- Raman J, et al. The clinical obesity maintenance model: A theoretical framework for bariatric psychology. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2020; doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.00563.
- Telem D. Outcomes of bariatric surgery. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 20, 2020.
- Kauppila JH, et al. Risk factors for suicide after bariatric surgery in a population-based nationwide study in five Nordic countries. Annals of Surgery. 2020; doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000004232.
- Definition & facts for bariatric surgery. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery/definition-facts. Accesssed Nov. 5, 2020.
- Lim, RB. Bariatric procedures for the management of severe obesity: Descriptions. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 9, 2020.
