What Are the Risks of Weight-Loss Surgery?

While there are many benefits, weight-loss surgery is a major operation. It’s important to understand the risks. Most patients do not experience complications, but as with any surgery, there are always risks. The evaluation and tests we perform before surgery alert us to your general health condition, but it is not possible to know how all patients will respond to this procedure.

Possible complications after surgery (perioperative)

  • death (0.5-1.5%)
  • pneumonia
  • abdominal infection
  • heart attack
  • leak from bowel
  • wound infection
  • spleen injury
  • bowel obstruction
  • bleeding
  • anastomotic narrowing
  • pulmonary embolus (blood clot)

Later possible complications

  • wound (incisional) hernia
  • weight gain
  • staple line breakdown
  • nutritional problems
  • bowel obstruction
  • ulcer at anastomosis