Although most patients who undergo bariatric surgery benefit from it, long-term complications and more surgery are not uncommon, according to a British Journal of Surgery report.
Specifically, the U.K.-based study found the following:
- The most common long-term complications from bariatric surgery were band slippage after LAGB, affecting 15-20 percent of patients, and erosion from pressure on the stomach wall, affecting up to 4 percent of patients.
- Between 13-36 percent of patients developed cholesterol gallstones after surgery, due to rapid weight loss, though only 10 percent developed symptoms needing surgery.
- Up to one-third of patients experienced at least some gastrointestinal disturbances, especially if they didn't adhere to their diet and nutritional supplements.
- Between 8-10 percent developed incisional hernias after open bariatric surgery.
- Less than 5-10 percent of patients had chronic problems with dumping syndrome, which can cause facial flushing, lightheadedness and diarrhea after eating carbohydrate-rich meals.
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