First, directly to the good news: Early complication rates for gastric bypass surgery is quite low. A major study conducted by one of the country's best bariatric centers has concluded that the surgery is not only legitimate but relatively safe.
    

Now that the good news has been shared, let us be aware that this surgery should not be anticipated as a magic wand for victory nor a simple and easy method for success. Success is seldom a gift that has been waiting for little more than to be unwrapped and enjoyed. Success is normally the fruit of some kind of labor, a devotion to a cause. It is the end result of sweat and determination. Life changes which include improved eating habits and a program of exercise are standard. The ride is not free.
    

The above-mentioned study found that the risk for death following the procedure was 0.3 percent with 4.3 percent of all patents studied having some kind of complication. The numbers are reassuring. It was also discovered that those at most risk for complications were those with histories of blood clots and sleep apnea. Complications also presented to those who had trouble walking 200 feet even while using a cane or those who were very obese.
    

It is not unusual for those who suffer from obesity to have sleep apnea, the snoring and collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Apnea promotes the snorting and gasping for breath that sleepers experience and is associated with high blood pressure, vascular changes, and greater risk for heart disease. Such factors contribute to surgical risk.
    

Venous blood clots are the most prominent regarding bariatric surgery. The platelets that cause blood to coagulate after one has been cut are responsible for clotting. During clotting, blood also coagulates but does so inside the body. Should a clot break free, it can get stuck in smaller blood vessels in the body and prevent oxygen from reaching other body parts. Surgery normally increases the risk for blood clot formation although certain surgeries (including bariatric surgery) can improve the risk factors.
     

Obesity makes many types of surgery more difficult or more hazardous. An example is that weight gain prior to surgery can produce an enlarged liver, thereby making surgical access to the stomach more difficult. Livers that are fatty are heavy, more brittle, and more susceptible to injury during surgery. Establishing (or at least giving an earnest attempt to establish) diet restriction and self-care prior to surgery is an indicator as to how well the client will respond to any post-surgery regiment. Should a client prove to be non-compliant prior to the procedure, many insurers and surgeons believe the appropriateness of the surgery should be questioned.

Now, for a personal moment of truth: I take issue with the prior perspective. I ate like a horse before I had my weight-loss surgery. I even went on a week-long binge -- literally driving from fast food joint to pizzeria to ice cream parlor eating to my heart's content. I knew that I never would be able to eat this way again. And I never have! The fact is I have maintained my 100lb weight loss since 2003. Phew! I am really glad that a several-month-long diet pre-surgery was not a requirement for me. I would have failed, as I had failed all my life to lose weight... until I had the surgery.