Before you decide to have Weight Loss Surgery

Every day people ask me if Weight Loss surgery is good for them. And I am really impressed on how many just want to loose a few “vanity” pounds here and there. Going under the knife, has to be a last resort. In my particular case, I was (wow, I love to use the past tense!) obese for more than 15 years, and I tried everything, really, everything, magic pills and patches included.

Here a quick reminder:

• Try to lose the weight through diet and exercise. Therapy may be helpful too.
• If diet and exercise fail, research different weight-loss procedures and discuss them with your surgeon.
• Remember, surgery is not a cure for obesity. Be prepared to modify your eating habits for the rest of your life.
• The death rate for all bariatric surgeries combined is .5 to 1.5 percent.
• Consider the cost of plastic surgery for body contouring if you have an excessive amount of weight to lose.