QUESTIONS
Morbid obesity
Obesity as such is a chronic disease of various causes characterized by excess fat in the body. There are several categories of obesity depending on the individual’s BMI. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple mathematical method used to estimate body fat ratio. A patient is said to be obese if his or her BMI exceeds 30.
Calculating your BMI
Morbid obesity is defined as a condition in which an individual has a BMI greater than 40 or is 100 pounds over their ideal weight.
According to the American Obesity Association, morbid obesity currently affects more than 9 million people in the United States, which makes it a public health problem. This is why more and more people are opting for bariatric surgeries.
There are many factors responsible for obesity, but in the specific case of morbid obesity, it seems to be closely related to genetic factors. We have found that among patients who are candidates for surgery for morbid obesity, about 85% have a family history of obesity.
Other circumstances that contribute to obesity are the influence that the environment exerts on the individual, his or her metabolism and eating disorders.
Regarding the environment (the community, work, school, home, etc.), we can say that a diet based on fast food consumption with high caloric content coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, is a strong cause of obesity problems. These types of situations have notoriously increased in contemporary society.
Metabolism, which determines the rate at which the body converts calories from food into energy, influences weight loss or weight gain. There are theories that suggest that when the individual consumes fewer calories (for example, when undergoing diets that reduce and restrict food consumption), the body compensates for the lack of nutrients and reduces the speed with which calories are used, which makes the weight loss process more difficult and slower.
Finally, eating disorders are characterized by the need to ingest food excessively, compulsively and repeatedly without the individual being able to avoid it.
According to the National Institute of Health, morbid obesity is a chronic condition that has been on the rise in recent years. Studies have shown that factors such as diets and exercise contribute, in the long term, to reduce the effects of morbid obesity in patients. But in reality not everyone responds adequately to these efforts and even most patients are not attracted to these types of programs. Therefore, to avoid the serious consequences on the health and life of the individual, surgery for morbid obesity is the most recommended option for all cases.
Bariatric surgery implies a change in eating habits and a total commitment on the part of the patient to rigorously follow all the recommendations given by medical professionals. Our dietitians and nutritionists are important players in the weight loss process as they will assist the patient to follow appropriate and balanced food plans that meet the nutritional needs of the individual.
It is important to point out that morbid obesity is by definition a condition of extreme obesity and the higher the degree of overweight of the patient, the greater the health problems he/she will face.
Among the main health complications that affect morbidly obese patients are diabetes, arterial hypertension, depression, arthritis, asthma and sleep apnea. There is also an increased risk of cancer and an increased vulnerability to obesity-related diseases, which in some cases lead to death.
Morbid obesity surgery is considered an optimal option for those individuals who have decided to treat obesity and the health afflictions that come with it.
Bariatric surgery is the most suitable treatment for morbid obesity. The different options available to treat this condition include gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric balloon and other bariatric surgery techniques.
Ask our specialists and see if bariatric surgery can help you treat obesity, and open the doors to happiness and a healthy and long-lasting life.
Am I a Candidate?
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), obesity and overweight are defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that can be harmful to health. A simple way to measure obesity is the body mass index (BMI), which is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. A person with a BMI equal to or greater than 40 is considered morbidly obese; with a BMI equal to or greater than 30 is considered obese; and with a BMI equal to or greater than 25 is considered overweight. Overweight and obesity are risk factors for numerous chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
According to statistics, 50% of the population in Colombia is above a BMI of 25. In the table below you will find the BMIs according to the formula presented above.
That is why our team of specialists in Cirugía para la Obesidad is committed to improve the patients’ quality of life through the different surgeries for weight reduction, with more than 14,000 procedures performed. Patients with severe obesity are optimal candidates for bariatric surgery.
Patients who have a BMI below 40 but have other morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, among others, also benefit from bariatric surgery, improving their comorbidity and thus their quality of life. Among some examples, patients who have undergone bariatric surgery with type 2 diabetes have improved by more than 80%, as well as those with hypertension with an improvement rate of more than 70%. The results achieved with bariatric surgeries have allowed to make projections about the direct treatment of these diseases without the need for the patient to be obese. That is why the name metabolic surgery has been included.
In order to know which procedure is right for you, we recommend that you contact our team of specialists, who will advise you according to your physical condition and will present you with the best alternative for your treatment. (Learn about the different procedures here).
After having surgery, your life will undergo transcendental changes, depending on the patient and the type of procedure performed. For example, the amount of food you will be able to eat will be much less. That is why, in order to ensure good nutrition and health, we have a specialist who will be with you during the process and who will guide you in the type of food you should eat to maintain an adequate intake of proteins, minerals and vitamins.
The Obesity Surgery group is a highly experienced and multidisciplinary group that will guide you in your goal to lose weight through different procedures in order to improve your quality of life. More than 14,000 patients have trusted us (Meet some of them here).
The surgery can last between two and three hours depending on the surgeon. An experienced surgeon, like the members of our group, can perform the surgical procedure in approximately one hour or less, depending on the complexity of each particular case.
Normally a patient should arrive in the city at least two days before the scheduled date of surgery and should stay at least 12 more days after the operation, so that a timely recovery period has elapsed before traveling. Check with your surgeon and make sure there are no special requirements for your particular case.
The recovery period is particular and special for each patient. Since laparoscopic techniques are classified as minimally invasive procedures, the pain you may experience is actually very little. It is mandatory to immediately start a liquid diet at the moment the post-surgical process begins, and it may take time to return to a normal dietary routine. The length of this period may vary depending on the patient. For more information about the recovery period, please contact our specialists.
Our patients can usually return to their work and daily routine 10 days after surgery. If your job includes physical labor, it is advisable to wait a little longer before performing certain tasks. This also depends on the speed of recovery of each patient.
Bariatric surgery performed with laparoscopic techniques will leave scars from 0.5 cm to 1 cm long. The visibility of the scars may vary depending on the patient.
Risks
Like any surgical intervention, there are risks associated with bariatric surgery. However, when it is performed using a laparoscope, as we do in Cirugía para la Obesidad, it makes bariatric surgery a less invasive procedure and guarantees a faster recovery period. In addition, the risks can be reduced by choosing a highly qualified medical team, with great experience in these type of procedures and following all the medical recommendations applicable to this type of surgery.
It is very important that you follow the nutritional plan (diet) given to you by the nutritionist to avoid gastric discomfort and protect the integrity of the stapled and sutured gastric pouch.
The nutritional program is composed of four stages in order to gradually reintroduce your stomach to meals of normal consistency. Keep in mind that each stage is designed to meet your nutritional needs.
THE FIRST STAGE consists of a clear liquid diet for two days.
THE SECOND STAGE will be a thicker liquid diet in which foods such as gelatin, vegetable smoothies with chicken or fish that must be previously liquefied.
THE THIRD STAGE begins on the 13th postoperative day with a soft diet composed of purees and will last 15 days. During this period, the patient will start with small and fractioned portions that with time will become normal portions.
THE FOURTH STAGE begins one month after surgery, with a normal diet, taking into account that the progression from one stage to another and the reaction to the change in eating habits may vary among patients.
NO solid food should be eaten during the 12 days of strict liquid diet.
If you feel dizziness or weakness from the fourth day after surgery, you can suck ONE SIP OR ONE SQUARE of Jet Line chocolate bar, twice a day, or suck on a popsicle of any flavor that does not have fruit pieces in it.
Vegetable smoothies should have a good dose of salt in them; this will prevent you from cramping.
During the first month you MUST NOT EAT: Fruits with skin such as apples, pears and grapes. You should not eat red meat, yeast bread, or drink soda.
If you are constipated (no bowel movement in 2 or 3 days) drink strained plums or plum juice or milk of magnesia.
How should I eat after surgery?
You will need to learn new eating habits. These include eating and drinking very slowly.
- Eat slowly, chew well and take small bites.
- Stop eating when you feel full or nauseated.
- Start eating protein first and then flours.
- DO NOT do prolonged fasting.
- DO NOT drink alcohol during the first month.
Avoid normal sugars, as they can cause dizziness, tachycardia and sweating. Sweeten with commercially available sweeteners.
Avoid eating fats as they may cause diarrhea.
If at the beginning of the soft and normal diet you feel that you choke on your food when you forget to chew until the food is diluted in your mouth, you can take two sips of sparkling water. This will help improve this sensation.
Start from the first month after surgery:
- Vitamin B12: after surgery, the absorption of this nutrient is partially altered by the bypass, making periodic supplementation necessary.
- Folic Acid: prevents anemia.
- Multivitamins: one tablet should be taken daily for life.
- Proteins: these play an important role in supplying the body with the necessary elements for its sustenance.
- Calcium: should be started the second month after surgery, one tablet a day for life.
- Iron: it should be started the second month after the surgery, one tablet per day for life.
- Do not forget that the best way to eat is under a balanced diet with all the different nutrients that the body needs.
- You may get up to go to the bathroom at night on the day of surgery.
- The next day after surgery you can take a shower and walk around the room.
- On the third day you will leave the hospital walking and you should continue with that activity at home. You can go up and down stairs moderately (one floor).
- A week after your surgery you should start walking 30 minutes a day. This promotes circulation.
- Start light housework when you feel able.
- 20 days after surgery you may begin exercise such as walking, gym, aerobics, bicycling, tennis.
- During the first 10 days post-op you should not lift or push heavy objects (over 5 kilos) or lift children.
- During the first week you should not drive vehicles since you may feel weak or dizzy due to the diet you are on.
- You can resume sexual activity 15 days after surgery.
- If you are a woman, avoid pregnancy during the first year.
- You can resume work eight days after surgery if it does not require physical activity involving strength.
REMEMBER: IF YOU EXERCISE OR PLAY SPORTS AS A ROUTINE, THIS FAVORS WEIGHT LOSS AND MUSCLE STRENGTHENING.
- Pain medication: you can use pediatric acetaminophen syrup.
- Anticoagulant: you should use the anticoagulant ordered by the doctor.
- Gastric mucosa protector: you should take one tablet a day dissolved in liquid.
One of the big questions for patients is the cost of weight loss surgery. Many people purchase medical tourism packages because they cannot afford surgery at home and inquire about costs abroad. While cost can be an important factor, it’s key to also consider quality and make a good long-term decision for your well-being.
In the U.S., the average cost of a gastric bypass procedure is between $18,000 and $35,000. The variables that make up the price are hospital and surgeon fees, pre-surgical tests, and anesthesia. A true bariatric surgery cost comparison should have the same elements as part of a single package.
There is a big difference between the costs of the various bariatric surgery procedures. Be sure to talk to your doctor and decide which procedure is right for you. So, when you have decided, you can begin researching about the costs of your procedure.
Through medical tourism, patients can access surgical procedures at more than 70% off the U.S. price. Don’t let the cost of weight loss surgery stop you from changing your lifestyle. The options are affordable and within your reach.
Our organization offers high quality weight loss surgery options at affordable prices to our clients. Contact one of our health experts to determine if bariatric surgery is the best option for you. |
Medical tourism is completely safe when the process and care is provided by experts. Ask for people who have undergone this type of process to learn and understand more about medical tourism experiences.
Bogota is the capital of Colombia, a modern and rapidly growing metropolitan area. People from all over the world travel to the city in search of the most qualified resident surgeons. Additionally, there are many parks, restaurants and activities to enjoy in this beautiful city. For more information and details about why we’re based in Bogotá, contact our Medical Tourism Solutions group.
Colombia is recognized as the country of medical excellence in Latin America. The medical community in this country is highly qualified. Safety is not an issue in the city and our patients receive excellent care from the beginning to the end of the process. For more information about why come to Colombia, please contact us.