What are the benefits of surgery?
Bariatric surgery induces massive weight loss (at least 50% excess weight loss) long-term, along with significant increase in longevity and the resolution/improvement of obesity co-morbidities including diabetes, heart disease, vascular disease, lipid abnormalities, blood pressure, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, asthma, fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, back pain, intracranial hypertension, urinary stress incontinence, GERD and other GI disorders, the risk for cancer, fertility, depressionanxiety and more.
DBS surgery does not cure dystonia in any case. When the stimulator is turned off or if it malfunctions, the symptoms return. DBS can decrease the abnormal movements and postures of dystonia but usually does not totally eliminate them. The degree of benefit appears to vary with both the type of dystonia and the duration of the symptoms. Adolescents and young adults with inherited forms of dystonia appear to get very significant benefit. For patients with dystonia due to stroke or head trauma, the benefit may be only mild. Adults who have had dystonia for many years probably have less improvement than those with more recent onset of symptoms.
Bariatric surgery serves as a tool to assist you in weight loss. Many of the benefits of bariatric surgery are related to improvement in other medical conditions as a result of the weight loss. Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol may be resolved or improved after surgery. Our patients also describe to us an improved quality of life and the ability to participate in activities that were too difficult prior to their weight loss.
