In a world where obesity continues to rise, weight loss surgery has become not just an elective surgery, but a necessity for survival. The most common bariatric surgery performed is called gastric bypass. It is often the surgery of choice by surgeons because it usually comes with fewer complications.

While gastric bypass surgery can transform a person's body and health, this is a major surgical procedure that involves potential side effects and risks. But it's something you want to consider, only you and your doctor can decide if you are an ideal candidate.

Risks

Since gastric bypass is a major medical procedure, there are potential risks involved. For those patients who are extremely obese and have a difficult time walking, there is an increased risk for blood clots and lung problems during and after the procedure. An extremely obese person may also have difficulty breathing while under anesthesia.

Many of the risks involved are related to the compromise health of obese person. Besides the aforementioned risks, there is a chance of a heart attack or stroke during the surgical procedure.

There are also plenty of risks after the procedure is performed:

- Pneumonia is a possibility since excess weight causes pressure on the chest cavity and lungs

- A breakdown of the stomach pouch, which requires surgical repair

- A narrowing between the stomach pouch and the small intestines. While this is rare, they could require an outpatient procedure to widen the opening.

- Dumping syndrome may occur, which is when the contents of your stomach moved to quickly through the small intestine, causing dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

- Leaking at a staple line in the stomach. It can be treated with antibiotics and often heals over time. However, sometimes surgery is required.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of complications. To find out more, speak with a gastric bypass surgeon.

Benefits

Now with many of the risks out of the way, let's take a look at the many benefits associated with gastric bypass surgery. The most obvious benefit is weight loss, but with that weight loss comes many residual benefits. While there are plenty of health risks related to obesity that are minimized, the mental benefits should not be forgotten. Losing a significant amount of weight boosts one's self-esteem and can ward off depression.

Some of the physical health benefits include reduced risk of diabetes, with many diabetics seeing their symptoms disappear. Other conditions that are improved include hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis and joint pain. Energy levels are also improved, making for a more productive day.

While bypass surgery comes with many serious risks, most experts agree that those risks are worth it when considering all of the benefits, both physical and mental.