Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most common types of weight-loss surgery. It has a long history of success in the U.S., and this includes many patients of Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery.
While it does often sound like a great option to many, there are qualifications that each patient must meet in order to have gastric bypass surgery. This is a major, life changing procedure.
It’s also important to understand that the long-term success of gastric bypass surgery very much depends on your ability to make permanent lifestyle changes for the better. For those who do want to be considered for gastric bypass surgery, we will do a thorough exam and evaluation to find out if you are indeed a good candidate. Here are some of the things we will assess.
Gastric bypass surgery qualifications
Generally speaking, gastric bypass surgery could be a good option for you if you meet any of these requirements:- Your previous efforts to lose weight with diet and exercise have been unsuccessful
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher
- Your BMI is 35 or higher, and you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea
- You’re a teenager who’s gone through puberty, your BMI is 35 or more, and you have serious obesity-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or severe sleep apnea
Other considerations to determine if you are a candidate for gastric bypass surgery
While the above are the technical requirements for gastric bypass surgery, there is more to every story. Our team likes to consider several other factors before determining the best course of treatment for our patients, such as:- Nutrition & weight history — Weight trends, previous diet attempts, eating habits, exercise regimen, stress level, time constraints, motivation, and other factors are very important to consider and discuss.
- Medical conditions — Some health problems increase the risks associated with having gastric bypass surgery or may be worsened by the surgery, such as blood clots, liver disease, heart problems, kidney stones, and nutritional deficiencies. We will look at which medications you take, how much alcohol you drink, and if you smoke. Other conditions, such as sleep apnea, are also considered.
- Psychological status — Gastric bypass surgery is not just about what’s on the outside. It’s also about what’s going on inside. Certain mental health conditions may contribute to obesity or make it more difficult for you to maintain health benefits after the surgery. We consider conditions, such as binge-eating disorder, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, major depression, schizophrenia, severe bipolar disorder, and others.
- Motivation. It should go without saying that having great willingness and ability to follow through with recommendations for lifestyle changes will play a huge part in the success you see.
- Age — There is no specific age limit for gastric bypass surgery, but this can impact our recommendations.
