Day: May 19, 2025

While many patients do not realize it, healing begins before a procedure even begins. Pre-op surgical instructions are intended to put you body in an ideal condition to heal. It’s important that patients follow all surgical instructions to the letter in order to prevent serious complications and to reduce the severity of side effects.

The team at Tijuana Bariatrics will provide Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve (SILS) patients with detailed pre-op and post-op instructions as part of the consultation process. Below are some basics for patients to consider before they head into weight loss surgery.

Avoid Smoking and Tobacco Products

Smoking and the use of tobacco products makes people more prone to infection and can also slow down healing times. Before you undergo SILS, be sure to quit smoking and avoid chewing tobacco. This might be a great excuse to quit for good.

Stay Away from Alcoholic Beverages

Alcohol can have a similar negative impact on healing and recovery. In the lead up to you SILS surgery, refrain from alcoholic beverages. You’ll similarly want to go easy on alcohol in the weeks and months after your procedure.

Ween Yourself Off of Caffeine

Many people don’t realize this, but caffeine can have a negative impact on your recovery, and it is also something that bariatric surgery patients should try to avoid after their procedure. Try to ween yourself off of caffeine. This will help you get used to avoiding caffeine after your surgery is performed.

Hydration Is Key

It’s important that you make regular hydration a habit. Drink water through the day to remain refreshed. This will also help you avoid sodas and other beverages that may not be good for you after surgery.

Stop Taking Certain Medications

Blood thinners and other drugs may affect your ability to heal after surgery. We will provide you with a list of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications to avoid before your surgery and in the immediate weeks of recovery.

Start Your Food Diary

Food diaries are an important part of monitoring your eating habits. Before you undergo a weight loss surgery procedure, start a diary of the foods you eat and how they make you feel. You’ll continue to do this after SILS to develop good eating habits and determine what foods or food combinations to avoid.

Follow Your SILS Pre-op Diet

All patients who undergo bariatric surgery are asked to adhere to a diet that promotes weight loss and wellness leading into surgery. In general, your diet will help boost your protein intake, lose weight, and reduce the size of your liver.

Ask Questions and Voice Your Concerns

Surgery can be stressful, both before and after it is performed. Be sure to ask questions, voice concerns, and bee honest with your feelings heading into SILS. This can put your mind at ease as you make important lifestyle improvements.

Learn More About Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve (SILS)

For more information about SILS and whether or not it’s the right weight loss surgery for you, be sure to contact our advanced bariatric surgery center today. The team here at our practice will help you achieve your weight loss goals.

When diet and exercise are not enough to obtain a healthy weight, surgical intervention may help. Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve surgery helps those who have struggled with weight loss achieve their goals by reducing stomach size with minimal surgical risk or scarring. During patient consultations, our bariatric surgery specialists explain Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve risks. Contact our Tijuana, BC office to learn more about the single incision laparoscopic sleeve procedure.

What Is the Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve Procedure?

The Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve (SILS) procedure, also called Single Incision Gastrectomy, is a surgical procedure used to help those who struggle with weight loss to achieve a healthier weight and lifestyle. During SILS, a single incision is made through the navel instead of four to six incisions as needed with traditional gastric sleeve surgery. Through this small incision, the size of the stomach is reduced by about 80 percent.

The Risks of the Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve

The SILS procedure carries less risk than traditional gastric sleeve surgery or gastric bypass, largely due to the fact that it requires only one small incision. Dumping syndrome, the condition in which food moves too quickly from the stomach to the bowels, is a common risk of traditional gastric sleeve and bypass surgeries, but far less likely with the SILS procedure. The risk of vitamin deficiencies, also fairly common in traditional gastric sleeve and bypass surgery, is reduced with the SILS procedure. Although the SILS procedure carries less risk than traditional gastric sleeve or bypass surgery, it does carry a rare risk of the following:

• Infection at the incision site
• Vitamin deficiency
• Dumping syndrome
• A second incision may be needed to place a drain to help remove fluid and reduce swelling
• Minor scarring

The Benefits of the Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve

The SILS procedure offers many benefits over the traditional gastric sleeve procedure. Because the SILS procedure is less invasive than traditional methods, the risk of complications is reduced and recovery is generally faster. Some of the many benefits of SILS surgery for weight loss include:

• Less painful than traditional gastric sleeve surgery and gastric bypass
• Incision is small and hidden within the belly button, resulting in fewer, less visible scars than traditional methods
• Less invasive surgery, allowing for a faster recovery
• Less risk of infection, dumping syndrome, vitamin deficiency, or other risks and complications
• Can help those who struggle with weight loss achieve a healthier weight for increased confidence and better health

Candidates for Single Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve Surgery

SILS surgery can help patients that want to improve their health and reduce their weight, but it is not right for everyone. Ideal candidates should have a body mass index of 40 or below and be healthy enough to undergo surgery. In addition, candidates should not have undergone more than two previous abdominal surgeries.

Is Treatment Right for You?

For more information about SILS, or to find out if treatment is right for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation at Tijuana Bariatrics.

At Tijuana Bariatric Center, we proudly offer a comprehensive range of bariatric surgery solutions for patients who are struggling with obesity. Among the most popular and highly effective of these solutions is LAP-BAND® System surgery, a minimally invasive gastric banding procedure that offers the unique benefit of being completely reversible. LAP-BAND® System surgery offers the potential for massive weight loss without the need for surgical alteration of the stomach. The band can be modified at any time to accommodate more food if nutritional needs dictate, or it can be tightened to shrink the size of the stomach if desired. If a patient decides that the LAP-BAND® System is not right for him or her, the band can safely be removed altogether.

While the LAP-BAND® System may sound like an ideal weight-loss solution in nearly any case, it requires the same hard work and dedication to healthy living that any other form of bariatric surgery would. Unfortunately, not all patients are suitable candidates for LAP-BAND® System surgery. Our surgeons carefully evaluate LAP-BAND® System candidates at our Tijuana, BC bariatric surgery center to ensure that they can safely undergo the procedure with reasonable expectations of long-term success.

Are you a good candidate for LAP-BAND® System surgery? To find out, we encourage you to schedule your initial consultation with the doctors of Tijuana Bariatrics today.

Candidacy for LAP-BAND® System Surgery

Most people who are significantly overweight are considered good candidates for LAP-BAND® System surgery; however, patients who need to lose drastic amounts of weight as quickly as possible may be better suited to more traditional forms of bariatric surgery. Our bariatric surgeons assess each patient’s individual case during consultations and recommends the treatment solution most likely to yield the best possible results given the circumstances.

In general, suitable candidates for LAP-BAND® System surgery will:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have attempted to lose weight through diet and exercise, without long-term success.
• Have a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or higher, or between 35 and 39 with diseases or other health conditions related to obesity.
• Be committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, for the rest of his or her life after surgery.
• Have a network of support on which to rely, especially in the first few months after surgery.
• Understand that the LAP-BAND® System is not a quick solution to obesity and not become discouraged by the slow, steady nature of the weight loss that occurs after the procedure.
• Be willing to quit smoking permanently, if they smoke, and strictly limit alcohol consumption, if not give it up completely.
• Be willing to follow all post-operative instructions provided by our bariatric surgery experts to the absolute letter to ensure their health and the long-term success of their surgery.

Find Out Whether You Are a Good Candidate for LAP-BAND® System Surgery

To discover whether you are a suitable candidate for LAP-BAND® System surgery with our netowrk of bariatric surgery experts, please contact Tijuana Bariatrics today.

The phrase “fat malabsorption” may strike you as something to avoid simply because of how it reads – when does anything good begin with the prefix “mal”? However, in the case of certain forms of bariatric surgery, most notably duodenal switch surgery, controlled fat malabsorption is precisely the point.

Duodenal switch surgery involves the surgical removal of approximately two-thirds of the stomach, the bypassing of most of the small intestine, and the redirection of digestive enzymes from the pancreas to a region further down the small intestine. This disrupts the normal manner in which the body breaks down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into tiny particles that can easily be absorbed. As a result, patients who undergo controlled fat malabsorption surgery tend to lose weight more rapidly than patients who undergo alternative forms of bariatric surgery. For severely obese patients with life-threatening health conditions, such surgery can be a true blessing.

However, fat malabsorption also places patients at increased risk of numerous health issues. In discussing bariatric surgery and fat malabsorption at our Tijuana, BC practice, our weight loss surgery specialists can review the risks associated with fat malabsorption procedures and how they can be mitigated. They also explain to patients the lifelong changes they will have to make in order to decrease the risk of long-term complications from fat malabsorption surgery.

The Risks of Fat Malabsorption

The most common risks associated with fat malabsorption involve nutritional deficiencies due to the body’s reduced ability to absorb fat. Many essential vitamins are fat-soluble, meaning that they require fat to dissolve properly in your body. When your body cannot absorb fat, it will also have difficulty absorbing these vitamins.

The most common vitamin deficiencies among patients who undergo fat malabsorption surgeries involve the fat-soluble vitamins Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. Low levels of these vitamins can cause patients to become more prone to bruising, bleeding, impaired night vision, and rashes. Vitamin D deficiencies are specifically associated with low calcium levels, which can put patients at increased risk for bone fractures.

Vitamin E deficiencies are more rare than deficiencies in Vitamins A, D, and K; however, when they do occur, they can cause muscle weakness, numbness in the limbs, and depressions in the immune system.

Controlling Fat Malabsorption

While patients who undergo fat malabsorption procedures will always be at heightened risk for vitamin deficiencies, they can help to lower that risk by eating healthy, high-protein diets and taking vitamin supplements. Our doctors provide patients with detailed instructions as to the foods they should eat (and avoid) and the supplements they should take, including dosages and frequency.

In general, however, patients should expect to take Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K supplements after surgery. Our doctors may also recommend Vitamin B and calcium supplements, along with calcium-rich dairy products and regular tests for vitamin deficiencies.

Learn More about Bariatric Surgery and Fat Malabsorption

To learn more about bariatric surgery and fat malabsorption, please contact Tijuana Bariatrics today.

Bariatric surgery does more than just help you lose weight. It can also improve your appearance, reduce your blood pressure, and relieve the symptoms of various health conditions. This is why so many people contact our Tijuana weight loss experts to learn more about bariatric surgery.

A number of prospective patients have asked us if bariatric surgery can help address the pain and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Let’s go over the basics of this issue right now.

About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that is typified by chronic and widespread pain, particularly heightened pain that occurs in response to pressure. An estimated 2% to 8% of the population suffers from fibromyalgia. It is twice as common in women than men.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

The exact causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown, though many believe that it is the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Some potential risk factors for developing fibromyalgia include:

• Sex
• Family history
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus

Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The most common signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Widespread, persistent pain
• Fatigue
• Trouble focusing
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression
• Muscle stiffness
• Sleep disturbances
• Abdominal cramping
• Sensitivity of the skin

Does Bariatric Surgery Help Treat Fibromyalgia?

Yes, potentially.

Some case reports and studies have found that weight loss surgery has been able to reduce the symptoms and severity of fibromyalgia in certain individuals suffering from obesity of morbid obesity. People who suffer from significant pain and discomfort may have these symptoms relieved thanks to the weight loss that occurs rapidly and safely.

Anecdotally, you can find a number of stories from patients who say that weight loss surgery reduced the frequency and severity of the pain they experienced as a result of fibromyalgia.

Why Does This Happen?

The exact mechanism at work here has yet to be defined. It’s thought that the weight loss brought about by bariatric surgery is able to relive the stress and pressure placed on the bones and joints of the body. Bariatric surgery procedures of all kinds–from gastric bypass to gastric banding–remain an excellent treatment option for various musculoskeletal conditions linked to obesity or morbid obesity.

Can Bariatric Surgery Cause Fibromyalgia?

If you look online, there are a few cases of people developing fibromyalgia as a result of bariatric surgery. These instances are rare, however. Because of the many factors at play when it comes to fibromyalgia, it is not necessarily the case that the weight loss surgery caused the condition to develop. There are other factors that must be considered when thinking about the causes of serious health conditions.

Weighing Your Options Carefully

As you can see, bariatric surgery can improve the health and wellness of people who are obese and morbidly obese. If you would like more information about these matters, we can discuss them in more detail during the consultation process. We can go over the risks and benefits of the various procedures available and help determine which one may be the right option for you.

Learn More About Bariatric Surgery

For more information about bariatric surgery and how it can help you improve your overall health and wellness, be sure to contact our team of weight loss surgeons today. The team at our practice looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters in greater detail.

At Tijuana Bariatrics, we are well-equipped to perform all sorts of complicated surgical procedures. Obviously this means state-of-the-art bariatric surgery with an emphasis on being as minimally invasive as possible. Yet this also mean more unique surgical procedures that may combine different surgical approaches to address more diverse patient needs.

Sometimes patients who are in need of bariatric surgery also face issues related to hernias. We’d like to cover the basics of hernias. We’ll then discuss simultaneous surgery with a weight loss procedure as well hernias that occur after a weight loss procedure has been performed.

About Hernias

A hernia refers to the exit of an organ through the wall of a cavity in which the organ is normally situated. The most common hernias are around the groin area and are known as inguinal hernias.

The most common causes of hernias include heavy lifting, physical trauma to the abdominal area, heavy coughing fits, and poor posture. Hernias tend to affect men more than women; groin hernias are most common before the age of 1 and after the age of 50.

Signs and Symptoms of Hernias

Hernia symptoms are present in roughly two-thirds of cases, regardless of the type of hernia. These include the following:

• Swelling around the abdomen and groin
• Burning sensation around the bulge
• Heavy feeling in the abdomen
• Constipation
• Blood in stool
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain when lifting, coughing, or bending over

Hernia repair typically involves repositioning the out-of-place organ and using a surgical mesh to help the damaged wall of tissue heal.

Performing Hernia Repair and Bariatric Surgery Simultaneously

Simultaneous hernia repair and bariatric surgery can be performed. However, this should only be considered in certain circumstances. Typically one surgery will proceed the other depending on the patient’s current health and medical needs.

Risks and Benefits of Simultaneous Surgery

The primary benefit of undergoing simultaneous bariatric surgery and hernia repair is that all of the necessary work can be accomplished in one surgical treatment rather than multiple surgeries. The primary risk of simultaneous surgery is that there is a greater chance of infection and further complications.

During a consultation, we can determine if a simultaneous surgery is the right option for you and your needs.

Hernias After Bariatric Surgery

Sometimes bariatric surgery can lead to issues with the stomach wall, resulting in a hernia. Should this occur, similar symptoms as noted above will be present. As you recover from bariatric surgery, be sure to let your surgeon know about any pain, bulges, or other issues that affect your wellness and healing.

Should a hernia develop, hernia repair can be performed. Revision bariatric surgery may also be considered if there are other complications related to the hernia that also affect the effectiveness or viability of the initial weight loss procedure.

Learn More About Weight Loss Surgery

For more information about your many options for weight loss and improving general wellness, be sure to contact our team of bariatric surgery experts today. Out team will work with you to develop a custom treatment plan focused on total wellness.

There are many compelling reasons to consider undergoing bariatric surgery. Many of the patients who come to Tijuana Bariatrics undergo weight loss procedures in order to achieve a healthier weight and to prevent or treat obesity-related conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and so forth.

Joint pain and osteoarthritis are common problems among people who are overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. Let’s take a moment to consider why this is the case.

Obesity and Joint Pain: Understanding the Link

There’s a common sense link between obesity and future issues with joint pain. Essentially, if you are overweight or obese, you place far more strain on your joints given your added body mass. Over time, this can lead to osteoarthritis and other issues with the health of your joints.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Studies have found numbers to back up this correlation between obesity and arthritis. Someone who is obese is 60 percent more likely to suffer from arthritis later in life than someone who maintains a relatively normal weight.

With the increased rate of obesity among the population at large, trends regarding obesity-related arthritis can be seen. Back in 1971, obesity-related arthritis comprised just 3 percent of osteoarthritis cases. By 2002, obesity-related arthritis made up 18 percent of osteoarthritis cases.

How Serious Can the Problem Get?

Pretty serious. When arthritis seriously impacts the health of your knee or hip, it may be necessary to undergo joint replacement surgery simply to get around as you normally would.

Studies found that when it came to knee and hip replacements, 72 percent of these patients suffered from obesity. It makes sense. For every extra pound of body mass in excess of a normal weight range, there are four extra pounds of pressure placed on the knees. If a person is 50 pounds over weight, that means 200 pounds of pressure on the knees; if a person is 100 pounds overweight, that means an extra 400 pounds of pressure on the knees.

Weight Loss Can Alleviate Arthritis and Joint Pain

A medical study noted that if an overweight woman in their test group lost just 11 pounds, they reduced their risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knee by half.

Given that a loss of just a few pounds can significantly decrease your chances of developing osteoarthritis of the knees, it should come as no surprise that bariatric surgery can reduce your chances of developing joint pain. Bariatric surgery can help patients lose a significant amount of excess body mass.

By the end of the first year after surgery, you are likely to have lost 100 pounds or more. Results can vary, but consider how much stress this amount of weight takes off of your knees and hips.

Other Means of Preventing Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain

Bariatric surgery is about major lifestyle changes that promote wellness, which is why a healthy diet and regular exercise is encouraged for people who have undergoing surgery. This promotes lasting weight loss while also building strength through the body, which can promote joint health.

To further improve the health and condition of your joints, consider wearing shoes that offer proper support and turning to orthotics if needed. You should also be mindful of actions that cause your joints pain, and consult a doctor about the best approach to dealing with these matters.

Learn More About Treating Obesity-Related Conditions

For more information on how weight loss surgery can address various obesity-related health problems, be sure to contact our team of bariatric surgery experts today. Our team looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters in greater detail.

Your diet undergoes a number of radical changes after weight loss surgery. You’ll need to slowly transition from liquids into solids over the course of the first month. From there, your eating habits will have to take into account a number of factors. This can be complicated, but our Tijuana bariatric surgery specialists are here to help.

We field a number of questions about diet and nutrition after bariatric surgery. Many of those questions involve the health benefits of juicing. Let’s go over the basics and offer some answers and dietary tips.

Is Juicing Safe After Bariatric Surgery?

Yes. Juicing is safe after you have undergone weight loss surgery. In fact, juicing might be a good option to supplement your nutritional needs, providing with essential vitamins and nutrients you may not be getting otherwise.

The Benefits of Juicing

While the fiber from fruits and vegetables is good for you, juicing removes the fiber and gets at the vitamin-and-mineral-rich juice inside of your produce. This can be a great way to hydrate between meals while also getting some nutritional value from what you’re eating. There are also excellent juice blends you can make that combine various fruits and vegetables, which leads to flavorful, refreshing, and nutritious beverages.

Keep in mind that some fiber is a good idea as it can help prevent constipation and other health issues. You may want to consider adding a bit of pulp into what you’re drinking.

What About Smoothies?

Smoothies are another excellent option to consider for health and wellness, and they include that fibrous pulp that can help address issues with digestion. Keep in mind that you may feel rather full after ingesting a smoothie given the nature of your bariatric surgery.

Be Careful About Empty/Extra Calories

Even though juices are healthier for you than sodas and beer, they will still contain natural sugars from the fruits and vegetables. Given that, it’s important to monitor your intake of juice. Too much juice could mean empty calories that you ought to reconsider consuming.

Emphasize Vegetables in Your Juice

In order to reduce the sugars and empty calories in your juice, try to include more vegetables when you’re blending. They’ll offer up a good amount of juice and also help avoid you from having too many calories per glass. In addition to looking up recipes online, make sure to note the caloric content of what you’re making.

Remember the Importance of Protein

Protein is an essential part of your diet after bariatric surgery. Consider adding a protein supplement to your juice or smoothie, or to consume a smoothie after you have had some protein. This can go a long way toward improving your general diet.

Don’t Skip Meals with Juicing

Juice and smoothies are delicious and can be filling, but they should not be treated as a substitute for an actual meal. Be sure to have juice or a smoothie between meals, and consider how these treats fit into your daily diet.

If you need assistance determining what to eat and when, be attentive about how your body feels after some juice. Pay attention to your needs and your feelings. Our nutritionist can also offer some custom dietary tips if you need them.

Learn More About Your Dietary Needs After Bariatric Surgery

For more information about juicing and other ways of improving your diet and overall wellness after bariatric surgery, be sure to contact our weight loss surgery center today. Our entire team looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters in greater detail.

Here at Tijuana Bariatrics, it’s important to us that patients understand the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery. By knowing what to expect after surgery, patients can make smart choices about their weight loss options as well as how to improve their general wellness. Undergoing a weight loss procedure is a major choice, and should be taken seriously.

While many patients benefit from the weight loss prompted by their bariatric procedure, some patients may run a risk of kidney disease after the surgery is performed. Let’s explore these issues in more detail.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Obesity: The Link

Obesity and morbid obesity increase your risks of developing many health problems. In addition to joint pain, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain kinds of cancers, excessive body mass can also also lead to kidney problems. Chief among these issues is chronic kidney disease.

Studies have found that people who suffer from metabolic syndrome (a combination of risk factors that increase the risk of heart disease) are 20% to 30% more likely to suffer from kidney disease. Metabolic syndrome includes issues such as large waist size, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.

Weight Loss Surgery and Chronic Kidney Disease: The Research

Research has found that people who suffer from chronic kidney disease that go on to have bariatric surgery tend to experience weight loss but also develop serious problems with kidney health.

A London study of 74 bariatric surgery patients presented at the American Society of Nephrology in 2013 found that 16 patients (22%) suffered from a post-op complication; two patients (3%) died of their post-op complications. Patients suffered from acute kidney injury, elevated blood potassium levels, nutritional deficiencies, and other issues.

Kidney Problems and Lifestyle: Dangers of High-Protein Low-Carb Diets

One of the major concerns for long-term results is the high-protein low-carb diet of people who undergo bariatric surgery. This type of diet may put a person’s kidneys at risk if they suffer from kidney disease. There are two reasons for this:

• High protein diets tend to place additional strain on the kidneys

• The body begins to burn fat instead of glucose and carbs, increasing the risk of ketosis and subsequent kidney damage

Should People with Chronic Kidney Disease Undergo Bariatric Surgery?

Given the potential risks of complications, people who currently suffer from chronic kidney disease may not be ideal candidates for bariatric procedures. This will require a full consultation and careful assessment by a bariatric surgeon.

Those who may be at risk for kidney disease may also want to reconsider their weight loss options. We should stress again that a number of other factors will need to be considered to determine the viability and safety of a weight loss procedure.

Alternatives to Bariatric Surgery for Non-Candidates

For those who are poor candidates for weight loss surgery, natural and non-surgical weight loss may need to be considered. In essence, improvements in diet, activity level, and general wellness might be recommended over bariatric procedures simply to avoid health risks in the near future as well as down the road. These lifestyle adjustments can be discussed with your doctor.

Learn More About Bariatric Surgery

For more information about how bariatric procedures can help you achieve better health, be sure to contact our weight loss surgery center today. Our team looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters in greater detail.

Pregnancy may be the furthest thing from your mind when considering bariatric surgery. It is something you should think about, however. Depending on the type of surgery you have done, you may need to choose an alternative form of birth control. The IUD, or intrauterine device, is a great choice for women who want a long-term birth control solution following bariatric surgery. The doctors at Tijuana Bariatrics in Mexico can discuss whether your bariatric surgery will require a method like the IUD.

Why Do I Need Birth Control after Bariatric Surgery?

Studies have shown time and again that as women lose weight following bariatric surgery, their fertility improves. Many obese women also experience irregular periods. This irregularity may continue for several months or more following weight loss. Ovulation, however, often returns much sooner. This can lead to an unplanned pregnancy if a birth control method is not in place.

If you didn’t use any form of birth control prior to your surgery for whatever reason, you should consider it if you think you might be sexually active after your weight loss. If you were on the pill prior to bariatric surgery, you may need to consider an alternative method.

What Type of Birth Control Should I Use?

If you were previously on the pill before undergoing bariatric surgery, you may need an alternative method. Malabsorptive procedures like the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass limit your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Because the pill is taken orally, it may be entirely ineffective for patients who have had a gastric bypass.

Fortunately, there are plenty of contraceptive alternatives to the pill. You should discuss these options with your gynecologist and your bariatric surgeon to avoid any potential complications. While some patients may choose the shot, ring, or implant, the IUD has become increasingly popular.

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

The IUD is a form of long-term birth control that can last from three to 10 years. There are hormonal and non-hormonal options available. An IUD is currently the most effective form of birth control available. Not only is it more effective because it is implanted into the uterus, but it does not rely on perfect use by the patient.

Since the IUD is implanted, patients don’t have to remember to take a pill every (or go get a shot or remove a ring). This makes it a great choice, especially for patients undergoing bariatric surgery. You can feel confident in your post-weight loss body and in your low risk of pregnancy. It is important to remember that these are long-term birth control solutions. If you are planning to get pregnant within a year or two of your surgery, you may want to look into other alternatives.

Bariatric Surgery and IUD: What’s Right for You

Find out which bariatric procedure you will have done prior to making any changes to your birth control method. Once you know, you can discuss the various contraceptive options available to you. Contact us today to find out what’s right for you.