Elective Surgery After Bariatric Surgery



sharma-obesity-surgery14While we are now well aware of all the positive effects of bariatric surgery on metabolic, mental and functional health, one of the lesser discussed aspects is that, as a direct of the substantial weight loss and improvement in health, many elective procedures that could not be carried out prior to weight loss are now possible.

Thus, the recent report on bariatric surgery in Canada, released by the Canadian Institute of Health Information points out that (in Ontario),

“For example, compared with the three years before bariatric surgery, the number of knee and hip replacements increased by 139% and 275%, respectively, in the three years after surgery. Similarly, therapeutic interventions on the muscles of the chest and abdomen (including hernia repair) grew by 298% in the three years following surgery.’

Other elective procedures, however, become necessary as a direct consequence of the weight loss,

“For example, 137 removals of excess skin were performed during that time, compared with 7 in the three years preceding surgery.”

These procedures are often a reason why health care costs following bariatric surgery actually go up rather than down.

I, however, don’t see these as costs, but rather as important benefits of undergoing bariatric surgery.

I am sure, some of my readers who have undergone bariatric surgery will relate to this – happy to hear your story.

@DrSharma
Edmonton, AB