Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You?

One of the quickest ways to lose excess pounds is weight loss surgery. However, this option isn’t suitable for everyone. You should be at least eighty pounds overweight to qualify as a potential candidate for weight loss surgery. And perhaps the most important question you should be asking yourself is, do I really want to do this and is weight loss surgery worth it?


The right answer to that depends on several things. There are a number of factors to take into consideration. Initially can you afford it, weight loss surgery doesn’t come cheap and can set you back several thousand dollars. Most insurance companies will not cover weight loss surgery costs as it falls in most cases under the category of cosmetic surgery, unless obesity can be established by your physician to be life and health threatening. You also need to meet the criteria previously mentioned in being over a certain weight.



Many surgeons will refuse to perform weight loss surgery if you don’t fall into the obesity category taking into account your weight and height. Even if you are able to find a surgeon who will make an exception, it doesn’t necessarily follow that weight loss surgery is the best way to go about losing weight.



It’s a good idea to consider all your options before making any final decisions. Do you have the time and willpower to lose weight by dieting and exercising? Even if it takes longer, it is both healthier and more sustainable in the long run then undergoing weight loss surgery. It will also help you develop good exercising and nutrition habits which can be worth their weight in gold, especially as you grow older. Plus you shouldn’t overlook the saving to your wallet in not having to pay for surgery.



Whilst it is acknowledged that weight loss surgery will enable you to lose surplus pounds virtually instantly there are some downsides, the first being that your food intake will be much reduced; in fact very limited initially. If you are one of those people who enjoy a big meal having to cut back on what you eat will take some adjustment. Worse, if you ignore the doctor’s instructions, you risk not only putting the weight back on, but also endangering your health.



However it is undeniable that weight loss surgery has proven to be a life saver for many overweight people, who would not have been able to lose weight if left to themselves. If you are considering having weight loss surgery it is important that you look at both the advantages and disadvantages before making any commitment. Apart from the initial surgery there may also be a need to remove surplus sagging skin after you have had your procedure, resulting in further medical costs.


Look at all the options and talk to your physician and get their advice and suggestions as to exactly what is best for you. Any type of surgery has a certain risk factor attached, so you need to be fully confident that you know exactly what you are letting yourself in for.