Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, aims to dramatically affect a patient’s weight by surgical means. Obesity is a major health risk, and can have an extremely negative impact on a patient’s wellbeing in many other ways, from personal relationships to self-confidence. When an obese patient has exhausted other means of losing weight & found them ineffective, they may consider undergoing a gastric sleeve procedure in order to dramatically reduce their weight & change their eating habits forever.
The question of whether a gastric sleeve can change your life is an extremely personal one. There’s no doubt that navigating the physical world as a slimmer individual can be far easier and less exhausting than as a heavier person. Some patients find that their world seems to open up, as they are able to explore their surroundings, travel and take part in more physical activities. This in turn leads to more self-confidence, new social connections and an upturn in outlook and mood.
Being obese can be isolating for many reasons, and some patients feel as though they are putting their social lives on hold until they are slimmer. Self-confidence and self-esteem may not be high, and obese patients might find joining in and taking part in social activities start to take a back seat in their lives. Once they are recovered from surgery and enjoying the dramatic weight loss that follows a gastric sleeve procedure, they may feel energised and empowered to go out, experiment with new wardrobe styles and meet new people. This aspect of the procedure can also be life-changing, as new friends, a new social scene and even a new partner can all follow a gastric sleeve operation.
Mental illness such as depression and anxiety, although not directly caused by obesity, can be exacerbated by the additional stresses and strains of being overweight. While all mental illnesses should be treated individually by a doctor, many patients find that the positivity or even thrill that they experience from post-surgery weight loss, helps to balance out negative feelings or thought patterns that could reasonably be ascribed to mental illness or distress. The patient is also forced to learn new methods of coping with negative emotions that don’t involve food. This can lead to healthier ways of balancing the chemicals in the brain, so that a low mood or yo-yoing moods are harmonised in a wholesome way, with social interaction and exercise.
Layla Randle-Conde, freelance content writer for MedAway.
MedAway are a health tourism company providing affordable procedures to help people realise their weightloss, hairloss and cosmetic goals.