Life After Surgery
Motivation of the patient and the cooperation of family, friends, and associates is important to success. In general, weight loss surgery success is defined as losing 50 percent or more of the patient's excess body weight and maintaining that level for at least five years. Clinical data will vary for each of the different procedures mentioned on this site. Results may also vary by surgeon. Ask your doctor about his or her results for the procedure being recommended for you.
Clinical studies show that, following surgery, most patients lose weight rapidly and continue to do so until two years after the procedure. Patients may lose thirty to fifty percent of their excess weight in the first six months and up to 77 percent of excess weight as early as one year after surgery. Another study showed that patients can maintain fifty to sixty percent loss of excess weight ten to fourteen years after surgery.
Patients with a higher initial body mass index (BMI) tend to lose more total weight. Patients with lower initial BMI's will lose a greater percentage of their excess weight and will more likely come closer to their ideal body weight. Patients with Type 2 diabetes tend to show less overall excess weight loss than patients without Type 2 diabetes. The surgery has been found to be effective in improving and controlling many obesity-related health conditions. A 2000 study of 500 patients showed that 96 percent of certain associated health conditions studied, such as back pain, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression, were improved or resolved. For example, many patients with Type 2 diabetes, while showing less overall excess weight loss, have demonstrated excellent resolution of their diabetic condition, to the point of having little or no need for continuing medication.