There are different challenges that patients face when undergoing bariatric surgery due to the major life transformation they experience and the way their habits, lifestyle and interactions are altered.
Life-long commitment
It is necessary to make a number of permanent behavioral changes in order to achieve weight loss goals. Patients are required to make a continuing transition towards a healthier eating and lifestyle in order for the surgery to work. Otherwise, they will not loose the expected weight or they will regain it easily. Patients who understand that results are not experienced overnight are likely to succeed in their weight loss journey and not get discouraged.
Diet restrictions
There are nutritional guidelines advised for bariatric surgery patients that need to be followed in order to achieve weight loss. Although the surgery reduces the stomach size, it is still possible to “cheat” the surgery by ingesting high calorie liquids, over eating fatty foods and snacks. It is important that patients change their attitude towards food and rethink their eating habits.
Weight regain
There are a number of factors that can lead to weight regain after surgery. Some weight regain at 2 to 5 years after the surgery is considered normal depending on the procedure chosen. Continue to make the right choices in order to minimize the regain, including regular attendance to support groups, follow diet guidelines, keep on the nutritional counsel, and address any psychological cause like depression or substance abuse issue that may be causing the weight increase.
Unhealthy relationship with food
Negative relationship with food is common among individuals who suffer from severe obesity. It is used as a mechanism to cope with unpleasant emotions, anxiety and feel in control. Patients are more likely to be successful after the surgery if they learn to replace unhealthy eating with other coping methods such as exercise, support groups, taking up a new hobby, meditation, and the like. Eating disorders, such as binge eating and secretive eating do not disappear, so it is advisable to be proactive and seek counsel.
Excess Skin
Although it is something that can be fixed, patients need to be prepared to live with the loose skin after the dramatic weight loss. Depending on the patient, and the way they deal with excess skin, plastic surgery represents a solution to remove the extra tissue. Make sure to discuss it with the doctor and plastic surgeon to assess all possible implications.
Postoperative Depression
There is a possibility of suffering from depression following surgery. Individuals who already suffer from it must be stabilized before the operation since they are at an increased risk of experiencing emotional distress and reduced satisfaction later. Patients may have difficulty managing stress postoperatively due to factors like:
- Unrealistic expectations
- Idealization of life after surgery
- Temporary personality changes
- Surgery being an eye-opening experience to watch friends and family react to the weight loss
- Difficulty to cope with negative life events that were previously attributed to obesity
- Post surgical complications
- Replacing the emphasized role food played in social relationships with other meaningful things/activities.
Therefore, patients need to be educated about the issue and encouraged to develop healthy ways to deal with stress, prepare relatives for the upcoming changes, find the best timing for surgery and seek continuous counsel to prevent and treat this condition.
Social interaction and Interpersonal relationships
The idea of becoming “slimmer” might seem positive from all angles but sometimes the increased social demands due to the patient’s transformation can be overwhelming and provoking. People might start behaving differently and friendlier or ask invasive questions about the dramatic drop in weight, which overall puts more pressure in the patient (who is sometimes embarrassed to admit having had surgery).
Relationships with family, coworkers and friends will be influenced since it takes time for the patient and them to adjust to the evolution in physical appearance, lifestyle, psychological state and old habits that they were used to for so long.
There must be an understanding that undergoing surgery is a personal decision and, overall, the value it brings surpasses the challenging social environment derived from it, according to the vast majority of bariatric patients. Tolerance and patience are key tools to stay connected and supported by all your loved ones on this journey.