FAQ's

The long term health benefits from weight loss becomes less clear as you get older. The risks of the procedure increases as you get older due to these underlying medical conditions. Nonetheless, studies have shown significant quality of life improvements in older patients who undergo bariatric surgery. Older patients may suffer from mobility issues, chronic back and joint pains which impair their ability to function independently. Aside from improving your general health, weight loss can improve these issues. Patients over the age of 65 years will be considered on a case by case basis, with the aim of improving quality of life.

This is a common misconception! Speak to anyone who has undergone weight loss surgery and they will confirm that the journey isn't a walk in the park. Most patients who choose to undergo weight loss surgery have tried various diets and exercise programs, and even medical management without long term success. In this situation, studies have confirmed that weight loss surgery is the only way for these patients to succeed in achieving their long term weight loss goals. Weight loss surgery is a tool to be used along with major lifestyle changes, including eating habits, monitoring nutritional intake and adopting a long term exercise program that suits your needs. It is a big decision and a long term commitment, and patients who choose to undertake weight loss surgery should be proud of making the decision to help improve their lives.

Loose skin after large volume weight loss is very common. The abdomen is the commonest place for this to occur, followed by the arms, thighs, breasts, and buttocks. Unfortunately, the loose skin can't be shrunk away despite all your hard work at the gym. The amount of loose skin you develop will vary from person to person, with factors such as age, skin tone, fat distribution and volume of weight loss. Loose abdominal skin can be treated with abdominoplasty, better known as a tummy-tuck procedure. This involves removing excess apron, and repositioning the skin and the belly button, securing it along a long scar across your lower abdomen. This can extend to the sides if necessary to avoid a "dog-ear" to the scar.

If your BMI is between 30 and 34.9; and you have an underlying medical comorbidity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obstructive sleep apnoea; you qualify for bariatric surgery. This is particularly if you are not able to achieve durable weight loss with diet, lifestyle or medical weight loss methods. If you are from a high risk background, such as Asian population, BMI above 25 with an underlying medical comorbidity as mentioned above; or BMI above 27.5 without a comorbidity; qualifies you for bariatric surgery. This is because, your genetic profile confers an increased risk of developing metabolic conditions at a lower body weight. Patients from an Asian background are also more likely to develop visceral adiposity, which is fat being stored around the internal organs, rather than under the skin. This drives insulin resistance, diabetes and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease at a much lower weight compared to the Caucasian population. Asian populations also display higher body fat:lean muscle mass ratio as they gain weight, compared to their Caucasian counterparts. These factors together increases the risk to the Asian population at lower BMI compared to the corresponding Caucasian population. .

There are many factors that need to be considered when attempting weight loss. Many of these are outside of your control; which makes it difficult to lose weight by yourself. If weight loss is easy, we wouldn't be here. Your environment, genetics, physiology (how your body works), psychological factors and environmental factors play a big role in your success in achieving weight loss. Many studies have shown that the initial weight loss sustained with dietary programs alone are not sustainable long term. Obesity is a complex disease process that requires a multiteam approach to achieve sustained long term weight loss.

Type II diabetes usually responds very well to weight loss and particularly bariatric surgery. Successful bariatric surgery will almost always result in reduced medications required for diabetes, lower blood sugars and improved blood tests. Often, medications can be stopped altogether. Early diabetes which has only recently been diagnosed responds particularly well. Gastric bypass induces further hormonal changes which independently fight diabetes and is a particularly powerful anti-diabetic intervention.

Fertility issues due to obesity occurs due to hormonal imbalances, irregular menstrual cycles, insulin resistance, or underlying conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which is now known as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). In men, insulin resistance, lower testosterone level and reduced quality of sperm is noted in obesity, directly decreasing their fertility.Weight loss post bariatric surgery lowers excess oestrogen levels, reduced insulin resistance, decreases leptin levels, and directly treats PMOS in women, leading to resumption of a regular menstrual cycle. Weight loss also decreases systemic inflammation, which improves embryo implantation rates and reduces the risk of miscarriage. In men, weight loss boosts testosterone levels and sperm quality, such as increased sperm count and sperm motility.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) usually has a relationship to your weight and weight loss will improve most cases of OSA. Having said this, it may not completely reverse every case of OSA and it may still be necessary to use CPAP at night for long term medical health. This decision needs to be made in consultation with your respiratory physician.