Bariatric surgeries are medical procedures that help losing weight. If you have struggled trying to lose your extra pounds, and have not quite achieved your goals, a bariatric surgery might sound like a very appealing alternative. However, bariatric surgery is not for everyone. If you are interested in knowing if you can be a candidate for bariatric surgery, please call LIMARP International Center of Excellence for Obesity. Our group of experts and leading surgeon Liza María Pompa González will be very glad to help.
One of the main factors that may indicate if a patient is a candidate for bariatric surgery is his body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a measure that illustrates the proportion of body fat in relation to body height. You may calculate it if you divide your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. BMI = kg/m²
A person considered as having a normal weight, has a BMI between 18.5 and 25. A person that is overweight, will have a BMI between 25 and 30. People with a BMI higher than 30 are considered obese.
The typical candidate for a bariatric surgeryc is a patient with a BMI higher than 40, which is considered as an indicator of severe obesity.
We talk about “normal weight” as if that were the usual case for most of the population. But the fact of the matter is that most people in the United States are either overweight or obese. It seems like “normal” might be the new minority. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 71% of the American population was either overweight or obese by 2016. According to a new report from the same organization, by 2018, the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults was of 42.8%.
Obese patients with a BMI lower than 40, but higher than 35, may also be candidates for bariatric surgery if they suffer from serious medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or sleep apnea.
Patients with a BMI lower than 35 may also be eligible for these surgical interventions if they have a life-threatening condition or if they have multiple cardiac and metabolic diseases.
There is no age limit when it comes to determine your eligibility for weight loss surgery.
Teenagers may also be candidates for bariatric surgery if they have a BMI of 35 or higher. In these cases, adulthood is not worth the wait. Having a weight loss surgery at this age contributes significantly to a healthy adult life.
If you are a woman that’s planning to get pregnant and you meet the criteria mentioned above, you may also be a candidate for bariatric surgery. Pregnancy is safe after a weight loss surgery. However, you need to wait at least one year and a half after the surgical procedure to try and get pregnant. Having a weight loss surgery before pregnancy is helpful for women who have had trouble getting pregnant before, but it also increases your chances of having a C-section.
If you’re suffering from depression or other mental illness, and you have a BMI higher than 35, you may also be a candidate for bariatric surgery. In this case, psychological therapy and treatment is fundamental, before and after your surgery.
Another necessary condition that has to be met to be a real candidate for bariatric surgery, is your disposition to change. Having a weight loss intervention is a life changing event, but not by itself. You must be willing to undertake a complete change of lifestyle that includes a disciplined healthy diet, physical exercise, and self-care.
Once you take the leap and show up for your consult, our team of experts will assess if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery. We will look into your clinical history, your eating habits, your mental health, and your general disposition to lead a healthy lifestyle. Our treatment focusses on integral wellness, so, when you come to LIMARP, you will not only be receiving a weight loss surgery, but an entire treatment program that considers personalized diets, exercise routines and committed follow-ups until you reach your weight loss goals.
Remember that a bariatric surgery is not a method of instantaneous results. Achieving your weight loss and biometric goals may take up to 2 years, depending on the kind of surgical procedure you undergo.
If you want to know if you can be a candidate for bariatric surgery, our team at LIMARP can help. Give us a call. Our clinic is located at Tijuana, B. C., just 15 minutes from the International Border of San Ysidro. Our leading surgeon, Dr. Liza María Pompa González has been in charge of more than 3,000 surgeries. She has been recognized as Surgeon of Excellence by the American Surgical Review Corporation, with which she became the first female surgeon to obtain this distinction. You may rely on her experience.