When is surgery for weight loss considered successful?
A. Weight loss surgery is considered successful when 50% of excess weight is lost and the loss is sustained up to five years. For example, a patient who is 100 pounds overweight should lose at least 50 pounds; a patient who is 200 pounds overweight should lose at least 100 pounds. And they should be able to maintain loss successfully for the following five years. Ninety-five percent of patients reach that goal after gastric bypass surgery. Furthermore, 85% of gastric bypass patients go on to lose 2/3 or more of their excess weight. Seventy-five percent of patients attain the goal after vertical banded gastroplasty and the same is likely true for LAP-BAND® System.
A. Weight loss surgery is considered successful when 50% of excess weight is lost and the loss is sustained up to five years. For example, a patient who is 100 pounds overweight should lose at least 50 pounds; a patient who is 200 pounds overweight should lose at least 100 pounds. And they should be able to maintain loss successfully for the following five years. Ninety-five percent of patients reach that goal after gastric bypass surgery. Furthermore, 85% of gastric bypass patients go on to lose 2/3 or more of their excess weight. Seventy-five percent of patients attain the goal after vertical banded gastroplasty and the same is likely true for gastric banding.
