Vidhi Jain
Bariatric Dietician & Content Writer
Who Cannot Undergo Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is a weight loss surgery which is performed on people who are obese. Bariatric surgeries are surgical procedures that make significant changes to the digestive system and the treatment aims to treat obesity and help people lose weight.
Weight loss surgery is a transformative procedure for people struggling with obesity, but it is not for everyone. There is a process that needs to be followed and a patient must have met certain criteria for underground bariatric surgery.
There are a few reasons why a person does not qualify for bariatric surgery:
Age: Bariatric surgery may not be performed if you are a certain age below or above. As your body is still developing. Similarly people above the age of 70 may be denied bariatric surgery.
BMI: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement of a person’s weight with respect to his/her height. The results of a BMI measurement can give an idea about whether a person has the correct weight for the height. A high BMI can indicate high body fatness. BMI screens for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
If a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is below 30 without any comorbidities is one of the reasons to be denied weight loss surgery. However, patients with a BMI of 30 or above may be accepted as candidates of bariatric surgery.
Health: If a person has an untreated stomach infection, an advanced lung or liver disease, active cancer, psychological condition or any other serious illness that could pose risk to your safety during or after the procedure, you may be denied weight loss surgery approval.
Smoking: Your surgeon will require you to quit smoking at least a few weeks before the scheduled bariatric surgery. Nicotine present in tobacco smoke can constrict your blood vessels, and increase the risk of your surgery or interfere with your post operative recovery.
Alcohol: Unhealthy habits like consumption of alcohol can lead to serious complications both during and after the bariatric procedure. It can lead to a longer hospital stay and longer overall recovery time. In some cases, it can jeopardise your life.
Diet: Pre and Post op bariatric diet is a very important element in the safety and success of your weight loss surgery. It is very important to follow the prescribed guidelines before and after your surgery.
The above list of reasons imply the people who are not eligible for undergoing bariatric surgery. In such a case, it is important to consult with your bariatric surgeon or dietitian to understand which specific eligibility criteria you may have failed to fulfil.
The above reasons mentioned does not mean that you are not suitable for the surgery. If any of the following items apply to you are disqualified from the surgery. It is just that you are in a higher risk category than someone else.
If the surgery is likely to endanger your health or the long term health risks outweigh the benefits then you will not be considered.
When deciding upon the suitability, your health comes first and your surgeon will consider the risks posed by excessive weight gain against the surgery. Aastha Bariatrics which is a centre of excellence for bariatric and metabolic surgery, takes immense care of the patients and also guides them throughout the bariatric surgery procedure. Dr. Manish Motwani is one of the best bariatric surgeons in India with 26 Years Experience Overall. No post surgery complications have been experienced by patients from the last 15 years. We have one of the best teams, who are highly specialised in weight loss and obesity. Our experts will work with you to determine what is best for you.
