Summit Medical Center - Surgical Treatment Center Oklahoma City OK

By now, everyone has heard of weight-loss surgeries and has a general sense of familiarity with the procedures. In fact, with an average of over 150,000 surgeries performed each year in the U.S. alone, there's a good chance that you know someone who has had one. Weight loss surgery has proven to be a highly effective and safe method for morbidly obese individuals to shed some serious pounds. It should come as no surprise, then, that over the past few years weight loss surgery in Oklahoma has been on the rise. However, you may be surprised to hear just who is getting the procedure done.

Weight loss surgery as we know it today was developed in the 1990s and became especially popular in the '00s. In these earlier years, a majority of patients who had this surgery performed were in their early 40s. However, with child obesity steadily increasing in recent years, more and more children and teens are opting for one of these procedures. In fact, a recent article published by The Daily Mail states that more than 500 people under the age of 25 have gone under the knife in an effort to lose weight in the past 3 years. Some of these patients were as young as 12 years old.

Is it safe to perform such a life-altering procedure on children and teens of such young ages? Absolutely! In fact, having weight loss surgery performed on morbidly obese children and teens early in life can help prevent a host of health complications including, but not limited to, diabetes and heart disease. While the procedure should be viewed as a long progress with gradual weight-loss and patients will be expected to change their diet and exercise regularly, there are some health benefits that they may gain immediately. In fact, Web MD recently stated that diabetes patients may see some benefits of the surgery in just a few days' time.

Other health benefits include reducing or omitting the effects of sleep apnea and allowing patients to be more active without feeling shortness of breath. A majority of patients lose more than 60% of their total excess fat within just a few years' time. As patients lose more and more weight, they will feel healthier and more energetic than ever before, therefore improving their overall quality of life.

While there may be some complications post-surgery, just like with any other surgery, patients can breathe easy knowing that there is a very low mortality rate (under 3%). Many would agree that the health benefits, which are backed by countless studies, overshadow the risks associated with the surgery. Furthermore, this surgery can also provide economic benefits to patients. While the surgery can sometimes come with a hefty price tag, depending on whether or not your insurance company provides coverage, it can easily pay for itself in under 5 years' time. Many patients come into the surgery with a host of health complications that require medications and treatment that can be very expensive. After surgery, these conditions can gradually improve and, for some people, even cease entirely. You can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars by not having to tend to diseases, illnesses, and other ailments brought on by obesity.

It is evident that weight-loss surgery can have an especially positive effect on the younger generations. If you are a young, obese individual in Oklahoma, consider getting weight loss surgery at Summit Medical Center. Our procedures are some of the most affordable in the nation, and can help you decrease your mortality risks by over 15%. We'll give you the opportunity to live a healthier, happier life full of new beginnings and endless opportunities.