For example, let’s say that I run a bariatric surgery center in a major city, a center that performs more than 100 weight loss surgeries per year. My website and brochure features testimonials from a dozen satisfied patients.

But what about the other surgeries performed each year? How do those patients feel about the results? Well, you really wouldn’t know. Maybe the weight loss surgery testimonials on the website are truly indicative of the big picture.

Or, maybe the testimonials represent the minority, and most patients were unhappy with their weight loss procedures. In this case, the testimonials on the website would actually give you a false picture of things.

The point is, you just can’t see the big picture by looking at surgery testimonials from a handful of patients. This is true of weight loss surgery or any other procedure that uses patient comments as a marketing tool.

Sure, it can be helpful to see what other patients have said about a particular surgeon. But you never know if those weight loss surgeries represent the minority of the majority. So when researching surgeons, be sure to ask these other questions well.

By 2004, the number of bariatric surgeries in the U.S. had increased to a staggering 140,000, more than ten times the 1998 figure. This year, in 2008, there will probably be more than 200,000 of these surgeries performed in the United States.

Why are there so many more bariatric surgery procedures today than a few years ago? Several reasons, really:

1. More Surgery Options

For one thing, there is a wider variety of surgical procedures today than there were ten years ago. In the past, weight loss surgery basically meant a gastric bypass, with few other options. But today, patients considering a bariatric surgery have more options available to them, such as the increasingly popular gastric banding procedures.

2. More Publicity

Increased media coverage has also fueled the growth of bariatric weight-loss surgery in the United States. There are even spokespersons for it today, which is not something we saw in the past. For example, Muhammad Ali’s daughter Khalia Ali represents the LAP-BAND (r) System of weight loss surgery. As a result of all this media coverage, the American public is much more aware of the various weight loss surgery options, and thus more likely to pursue them.

3. Increased Need for Surgery

The third reason bariatric surgery is increasingly popular has to do with the rising number of obese people in this country. It is estimated that 30% of the American population is obese, a much higher percentage than ten years ago. Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles have likely contributed to these numbers.

These are disturbing trends for many reasons. For one thing, the criteria for screening bariatric surgery patients seem to have broadened quite a bit over the years. For years, this type surgery was reserved for people who were morbidly obese, patients who were so severely overweight that it was likely to kill them if drastic measures were not taken.

These days, however, it seems that anyone who is a bit overweight can find a bariatric surgeon ready and willing to alter their digestive process. We are even seeing this in children as young as 13, who are nowhere near the definition of morbid obesity. Does anyone remember the concept of lifestyle changes anymore?

It’s important to remember that weight loss surgery is still surgery, and as such it requires careful consideration and education on the part of the potential patient. It should not be considered a “quick fix” to being overweight, because there is no such thing. Bariatric surgery also fails to address the psychological factors that lead to overeating. This is why many post-surgery patients end up compensating with other vices such as alcohol abuse.

What’s my point? Simply that bariatric surgery should only be used as a last resort, and only for people who are morbidly obese. For people who are merely overweight, but not yet in the morbidly obese category, lifestyle changes should be the first plan of attack. Bariatric surgery is not a glamorous new trend in medicine. Nor is it a “fix all” solution to overeating. It is serious surgery that requires serious consideration.

Brandon Cornett is the publisher of Bariatric City, an online resource that provides bariatric information specific to certain cities across the U.S. (such as this latest guide to New York City bariatric procedures). Learn more by visiting http://www.bariatriclearningcenter.com/city

Do you have questions about bariatric surgery for weight loss? Hopefully, you do. Having questions is a sign that you are considering something carefully, and that’s exactly what you must do with bariatric weight-loss surgery … you must consider it carefully before making any decisions.

But what kinds of questions should you be asking? Well, we have assembled a list of about 20 of the most important questions about this subject, and in this blog series we are expanding on that article to look at each question in more detail.

This is the full article on the subject:
Surgery for Weight Loss - 21 Questions to Ask

So let’s tackle today’s questions about bariatric surgery procedures, which is…

What About Alternatives to Bariatric Surgery?

Once upon a time, weight loss surgery used to be strictly reserved for people who were morbidly obese — which meant it was a last resort for those who would otherwise die from their severe obesity.

Lately, however, it seems that weight loss surgery has become a trend. Consider the fact that the number of bariatric surgeries has increased tenfold in the last ten years! Did our population grow tenfold? Of course not. This number simply means that weight loss surgery is being used in more cases, even for people who are nowhere near the definition of morbid obesity, much less obesity in general.

Only in extremely rare cases is surgery the only option for weight loss. In the vast majority of cases, surgery is just one option out of many options. And it should be the option of last resort. In fact, nine times out of ten the bariatric surgery alternatives such as diet and exercise are the absolute best option for overweight individuals. (Weight loss surgeons might dispute this with me, but they’re hardly unbiased … are they?)

The question is … have you exhausted these other non-surgical options for weight loss? Have you pursued with vigor these bariatric surgery alternatives in the past?

Think about it this way. If you undergo a bariatric weight-loss procedure, you will have to adjust your lifestyle anyway. After a gastric bypass surgery, for example, you cannot eat nearly as much as you did before. So why not try to change your lifestyle in the first place, before resorting to surgery? It’s less expensive, it’s safer,  and it addresses the core issue directly (the unhealthy lifestyle).

The best bariatric surgery alternatives are those that avoid surgery altogether. The best alternative to weight loss surgery are those that address the causes of the disease (lifestyle) and not just the symptoms (weight).

So, we have decided to begin a new series of blog posts on the subject of the most frequently asked questions about bariatric surgery (and related topics). This blog series is actually adapted from a article we published several months ago.

This is the full article on the subject:
Surgery for Weight Loss - 21 Questions to Ask

So let’s move on to the frequently asked bariatric surgery question of focus…

Do I Really Need Surgery for Weight Loss?

Is bariatric surgery the only option for you, in terms of losing weight and increasing your health? Or is there a better, safer path to weight loss?

This is a vital question that anyone considering bariatric should ask. Thankfully, it’s also a frequently asked question about surgery for weight loss … as it should be. After all, despite all of the glossy brochures and websites with skinny, happy models smiling back at you, this is still surgery we are talking about here. So you should consider other non-surgical options in the course of due diligence.

There’s no doubt about it. Bariatric surgery for weight loss has exploded in popularity in recent years. I’ve seen a few statistics that say the number of bariatric surgeries has risen nearly tenfold in the last few years! But what you must realize is that this is real surgery with real risks associated with it. Thus, What you have to remember is there is nothing simple about surgery.

For more on this frequently asked question about bariatric surgery and related questions, check out this helpful article.

Let’s start with an early article I did on lap band slippage and its causes. If you’ve researching Lap Band surgery recently, you have probably encountered the term “slippage” before. If you have, this early lap band slippage article will help you understand the subject.

If you have never heard of slippage before with regard to lap band surgery, then this article is more of a must-read introduction.

You can read the full article here:
Lap Band Slippage - What Does It Mean?

This is especially important given the constantly advancing nature of the bariatric field of medicine. For example, a new gastric banding product was recently approved for use in the United States. Patients considering weight loss surgery should therefore be aware of:

• The various types of surgical procedures available
• The success rates associated with each type of surgery
• The possible risks associated with each procedure
• The average level of weight loss of each type
• The costs of the different procedures (and whether insurance will cover it)

Obviously, there is more to learn when considering weight loss surgery, or any other medical treatment for that matter. But these are some of the most important criteria to consider before making any decisions.

The field of bariatrics has become increasingly complex over the years. These days, there are more types of surgery (and variations of each type) than ever before. But we can simplify things by grouping most of these procedures into one of two categories:

Gastric Bypass Procedures - Most people are familiar with this type of weight loss surgery because it has been around the longest. During a gastric bypass a small portion of the stomach is stapled off, making it essentially unusable. The intestine is then reattached to the smaller portion of the stomach. This reduces the stomach capacity, which in turn leads to weight loss.

Gastric Banding Procedures - With this approach to bariatric surgery, a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach using small incisions and laparoscopic techniques. This accomplishes the same “partition” effect as the gastric bypass, but it does so in a less invasive way. The LAP-BAND System is a popular form of this procedure, and the Realize Band (manufactured by a Johnson and Johnson company) was recently approved for use in the U.S. as well.

In my perspective, the best way to conduct further research into the various forms of bariatric surgery is to start with the two main categories listed above. Learn about the pros and cons of each, the risks associated with them, patient recovery rates, etc. After that, you can get more specific in researching the exact type of procedure you think you might pursue.

Brandon Cornett is the publisher of Bariatric Learning Center, an educational website that covers all aspects of surgery for weight loss and related topics. Learn more by visiting http://www.bariatriclearningcenter.com

I’m not here to tell you that you shouldn’t try to save money in this life. Instead, I’m here to tell you that saving money should not be your number-one criteria when choosing a bariatric surgeon. In other words, low cost bariatric surgery should not be your primary focus. The quality of the surgery (and the surgeon providing it) should be your focus.

There are certain things in life that we want to get for cheap — electronics, cars, houses, etc. When shopping for these things, we usually weight the quality against the price. Sometimes, if we are on a budget, we will put more emphasis on the cost side of things, seeking low cost items instead.

But when it comes to our health, it’s wise to put more emphasis on quality of care than the cost associated with it. Sure, you should be financially responsible when considering surgery. You should also do your research to find out how much of the procedure your insurance will cover.

But you shouldn’t be so focused on finances that low cost bariatric surgery becomes your number-one goal.  When that happens, you tend to forget about the need for quality care.

So here’s my advice:

When planning your surgery and performing your due diligence with regard to a surgeon or surgery center, put the surgeon’s experience first and the cost last. It’s better to receive quality care from an experience surgeon that costs a little more, than low cost bariatric surgery from a surgeon with questionable credentials.

I hate to use the expression “you get what you pay for,” because it’s such a cliche. But it does apply to healthcare in many cases. So put experience at the top of your surgeon checklist, and put cost somewhere down near the bottom. After all, if there’s one thing worth investing in … it’s your own body!

The purpose of this new site is two-fold:

First, we want to offer information about bariatric surgery that is specific to people who live in a particular city and state. In other words, these city pages are designed to be “the place to go” for weight loss surgery information in a particular city.

Secondly, we plan to use Bariatric City as sort of an online “matchmaker” between people considering bariatric surgery and the surgeons in the same city who specialize in bariatrics. In fact, we invite bariatric surgeons to sponsor their city’s page as a way of connecting with people in their community.

If you have any questions about Bariatric City, please feel free to contact us.

To answer the first question, bariatric vitamins are those vitamins that many doctors and nutritionists recommend for post-surgery patients who have undergone a weight loss surgical procedure.

To answer the second question, depending on the type of surgery you have had, you may need to supplement your diet with certain vitamins that your body cannot absorb as readily (as it did before surgery). Certain types of bariatric surgery can lead to malabsorption problems, which partly means that you may not be getting the vitamins and minerals you need from your diet.

Learn more: We have recently posted a new article that discusses bariatric vitamins in more detail.

And that’s exactly my point … it is a foreign concept. Many other countries who put people over profit have begun to offer free weight loss surgeries to people in desperate need of such surgery. People who would probably die without such drastic measures.

You see, in many countries outside of the U.S., there is a concept known as the “common good.” The concept is a simple one, and it is based entirely on the principles of humanity. It simply states that “we, as a country, must take care of our fellow citizens.” That’s why in Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and many European countries you have things like universal health care coverage.

And in many cases, you also have free weight loss surgery for those in desperate need. Australia was in the news recently for proposing this very thing.

Will this kind of thing ever become the norm in the U.S.? Don’t hold your breath. You see, we are much more profit-minded a nation than those I’ve mentioned previously. And nowhere is the hunger for massive profits more evident than within our nation’s health care and pharmaceutical complex. Health care is big business in the United States — huge business. And many doctors are becoming extremely wealthy as a result of the booming popularity of weight loss surgery in recent years.

So you can probably expect to find free surgery for weight loss in the U.S. about the same time pigs begin to take to the skies in graceful flight. In other words, you still have the same two options for weight loss surgery in this country — start saving your cash, or find an alternative to the surgery.