The Importance of Follow-up Care for Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is used to reduce food intake in excessively overweight or obese patients. It is an alternative method of losing weight used when conventional diet programs have failed.

Benefits of Surgery

Bariatric surgery is useful in helping individuals lose weight quickly, thus reducing health problems associated with obesity such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

Type of Follow-Up Care

After bariatric surgery, patients need to meet with a psychologist and members of their surgical team up to four times during the first year following the procedure. These meetings ensure the patient develops no complications or other health problems.

Common Problems

Following the surgery, vomiting, nausea, dehydration, and dumping syndrome are common effects. These can be reduced or prevented with appropriate follow-up care, including the outlining of an appropriate eating plan.

Long-Term Complications

Research from the American Diabetes Association found common complications after the first year can also be reduced with appropriate follow-up care. These complications include B12 and iron deficiency, reduced nutrient absorption, ulcers, and abdominal pain.

Other Post-Surgery Care

Patients may continue to struggle with self-image problems, may develop other eating disorders, or may have excessive skin from the weight loss which requires further surgeries.

References

• Mayo Clinic
• American Diabetes Association