5 Complications after weight loss surgery that can occur

You may have been doing various types of diets that are said to be effective in losing weight. But sometimes, your body remains unchanged and far from being slim. You may be thinking about trying weight loss surgery that promises instant results. Although it is said to be effective in losing weight, it turns out that there are several risks of complications after surgery that you need to be aware of.

What are the types of weight loss surgery?

When all the ways to lose weight have been done and nothing works, most people will easily be tempted to try weight loss surgery. Some are tempted by liposuction, while a handful of other people are interested in trying bariatric surgery.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), bariatric surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that is performed by changing the shape of your digestive organs. The methods vary, from binding the stomach, gastric bypass, to removing some parts of the digestive organs (sleeve gastrectomy).

All of these methods are done to limit food intake in the body while suppressing hunger. In the end, you will lose weight faster as expected.

A number of complications after weight loss surgery

Despite the tantalizing benefits, don't rush into surgery without careful consideration, huh. Just like other types of surgery, weight loss surgery also saves side effects and risks of complications that you should be aware of.

Various complications after weight loss surgery that can occur include:

1. Scar tissue arises in the digestive tract

A researcher from the University of Oslo in Norway, Karen Synne Groven, revealed that a complication after surgery that often occurs is the appearance of scar tissue in the digestive tract. Instead of making the body healthier and slimmer, patients actually need further treatment because of digestive problems.

2. Malnutrition and anemia

It is undeniable that weight loss surgery can improve one's self-image. If previously you often received ridicule from others about your weight, now you can appear confident with a slim body.

But on the other hand, you are still hesitant when you want to eat a lot for fear of gaining weight again. As a result, you become picky about food types and eat only a little in order to maintain an ideal body weight.

Because of this concern, some people are prone to experiencing fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. Lack of nutritional intake also makes patients prone to malnutrition after weight loss surgery.

Anemia is also one of the most frequent complications after surgery. Surgery that involves changing the size of the intestine causes nutrient absorption to be less than optimal. As a result, too little iron is absorbed and the patient becomes anemic.

3. Hernia

Of the many complications after weight loss surgery, you must be aware of the possibility of a hernia. Reporting from Very Well Health, 1 in 5 patients with weight loss surgery experience a hernia. In fact, this condition makes these patients have to undergo further surgery to treat the hernia.

A hernia, aka drooping, is a condition when part or all of an organ or tissue (such as the intestine) protrudes from a weakened area of the body's muscles. Any type of surgery performed on the abdomen can weaken the muscle walls that cover the abdomen. This causes the digestive organs to push out and protrude at the incision site.

4. Gallstones

As many as 1 in 3 patients develop gallstones after undergoing weight loss surgery. After weeks after surgery, patients usually still can't eat much. In the end, they tend to eat little by little to adjust to the size of their new stomach.

This rapid weight loss, coupled with low food intake, increases the risk of gallstones forming. It's best to talk to your surgeon about the types of medications that can minimize the risk of complications after this surgery.

5. Leaking stomach or intestines

After weight loss surgery, stitches in the incision scar can leak, even months or years after surgery. This condition causes the contents of the stomach or intestines to seep into the abdominal cavity and lead to serious infection.

This complication after weight loss surgery is an emergency that needs immediate treatment. The doctor will usually perform further operations to repair and seal the leak.