Bariatric Surgery Saves Lives!

Bariatric Surgery, or Weight Loss Surgery, is today a life-saving solution. Contrary to what many mistakenly think, namely that it is a dangerous procedure, its risk is lower than operations that are considered “routine” surgeries. That is, it fluctuates at 0.08%, when for cholecystectomy the risk is 1.1%, for a heart bypass operation it is 2.4% and for a hip operation 3.9%. It is obvious, that a center must have expertise in bariatric surgery to have such good results.

So the benefits of an operation for laparoscopic weight loss surgery they are impressive. A recent study published a few months ago in the prestigious international medical journal Obesity by Ted Adams of the University of Utah, shows that in a total of 22,000 people, patients who underwent some type of bariatric surgery had 43% lower risk of developing any type of cancer compared to those who did not undergo the procedure. In addition, female patients who underwent weight loss surgery had a 41% lower risk of developing obesity-related cancers such as uterine, ovarian, colon and breast cancer, and 47% lower risk of death compared to female patients who did not undergo surgery.

The same study which it should be noted concerned benefits up to 40 years after surgery – showed 16% reduction in deaths from any cause. This converges with the SOS study from Sweden (for the treatment of obesity), which showed 23% reduction in deaths from any cause at 24 years after surgery. Also, a recent pooled study of 174,775 patients in the prestigious Lancet from the University of Singapore showed 49.2% reduction in risk of death from any causea rate that was even higher if patients had diabetes at the time of surgery.

Especially, for deaths from the heart“our own” Nicolas Christou from McGill University in Canada had published a few years ago 89% risk reduction. Many studies have also shown a large reduction in cardiovascular risk, most recently by Andrew Brown of Stony Brook University in New York, where in 328,807 patients the benefit was a 50% reduction in the risk of death from heart attack and stroke.

In addition, it is very important reduction in diabetes-related deaths by up to 92% (Ted Adams – University of Utah). Type 2 Diabetes is now treated with laparoscopy, when medication do not regulate it sufficiently and especially when it is accompanied by obesity.

We all need to understand that we shouldn’t blame a fellow human being who suffers from diabetes because he ate some sweets or someone who has a heart problem because he ate at fast food. We must ALL now understand that Obesity is a very serious Disease and our fellow human beings who suffer are NOT to blame. No one chose to be severely obese.

At Athens Obesity Center and in Department of Bariatric Surgery, Athens Medical School we have weight loss solutions, customized for every situation. Treating obesity is vital for our entire body. This is why the various types of bariatric surgery require bariatric surgery expertise. The Athens Obesity Center of Athens Medicine is Center of Excellence of Bariatric Surgery and Mr. Pappis Surgeon of Excellence certified by the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity.

Weight loss surgery leads to treatment of obesity. Thus, it improves and often eliminates the problems that accompany the many extra pounds, but above all it gives quality to the lives of those undergoing the procedure and saves their lives.