Between 1992-2007, there were approximately 205,000 bariatric weight loss surgeries performed in the United States. These surgical procedures are known to help resolve medical issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and overall body pain. Patients have a fuller life thanks to these types of interventions. More and more, these types of surgeries are being done on an outpatient basis. Many people do not have the time for long hospital stays or recovery periods. Thus, they look to options that give them the great results with fewer demands.
Within the bariatric world; an outpatient surgery is considered one where the patients are held for less than 24 hours. For a few select candidates, the Roux-en-Y may be considered as one of these types of surgeries. Medical centers, which have a great deal of experience in this method, are more likely to do this complex surgery on a same-day basis.
Of course, to be released within 24 hours, the patient must have had no complications during the surgery. While any of the procedures can be done on a same-day basis, the Lap-Band is the one that offers the shortest surgical time and recovery period. The recovery time for these procedures has drastically reduced over the past decade. In 2002, more than 62 percent of all weight loss (bariatric) surgeries required a hospital stay. Thankfully, advances in medical technology and anesthesia have decreased ambulatory procedure requirements.
The increased mandate for weight loss (bariatric) surgeries most definitely will continue. Obesity is becoming more prevalent. The success of minimally invasive bariatric surgeries continues to be experienced and shared. Demands from the patients, insurance companies, and surgeons, will continue to push these once ambulatory procedures on an outpatient basis. While the Lap-Band may be the most popular, it is not the only procedure to be done on an outpatient basis. It depends largely on the surgical center and the patient's overall health.