Reasons to Consider Weight-Loss BEFORE Surgery

Obesity is a global pandemic arising from the westernisation of cultures and an unprecedented influence of obesogenic environments. While losing weight, in general, is beneficial for your overall well being and an elongated lifespan, the following are a few reasons why you should consider weight loss if you are expecting to have surgery.

• Avoiding Perioperative Risks: Perioperative risks are those risks and complications that might arise during the process of operation, hindering the healing process. These complications may include wound infection, joint infection, dislocation of the joint and the need for revision surgery.
• Healing Complications: A wound requires an ample amount of oxygen and blood supply to heal after surgery. When you have a lot of fat in the body, it puts pressure on the blood and oxygen to reach the wound quickly. The risks of spending more time on the operating table are also high which may leave your wounds vulnerable to infections.
• Anaesthesia: Anaesthesia interrupts the nerve signals between your brain and your body. When you have excessive fatty tissues, the doctors find it harder to locate the nerve to inject the anaesthesia, making it mortally risky during high emergency situations.
• Cardiovascular Problems: Obesity is the key to cardiovascular problems. As deduced earlier, our wounds need an ample amount of oxygen and blood supply to heal after surgery and this oxygen-filled blood supply is done by our heart. An obese person’s heart needs to work harder to ensure adequate supply. Under these circumstances, anaesthesia poses the risk of a heart attack, angina, stroke and high blood pressure.

Surgeons often recommend starting a weight management plan so that their patients are well optimised for surgery. Having surgery can be the opportunity to make positive changes that have a long-term impact. Ensuring health and wellness through a well-planned diet, healthy eating behaviour and a fit body can make both: pre-surgical security and post-surgical prosperity even better!