Risks

Risks | Surgeons and Staff
Frequently asked Questions | What is Bariatric Surgery?

As with any surgery, there are always risks involved. Our extensive pre-surgery screening is designed to reduce the risks to you, but you should be aware of the things that can go wrong during and after the procedure.

Complications can occur while you are in the hospital or after you are discharged. Those that occur while you are in the hospital tend to be more serious and can include heart attack, infection, bleeding, blood clots, injuries to your other organs and even death.

Complications specific to gastric bypass surgery include a death rate of 1 percent; severe infection meaning you must have a second operation, 1 percent; a seven percent risk of injury to the spleen; a 1 to 2 percent risk of a leak in your bowel; wound infection, 3 to 5 percent and a half a percentage point chance that you will form a major blood clot.

Later complications may occur when you leave the hospital. The most serious is that the operation will fail, which could happen should the stomach pouch enlarge or the staples rupture. This is usually caused by overeating and can be prevented by sticking to your diet.

Other complications include sweating, nausea, dizziness, weakness, pain and diarrhea. This is caused when food containing sugar rapidly leaves the stomach pouch and travels to the small intestine. This, too, can be controlled if you stick to your diet. This is called dumping syndrome.

You may experience some hair loss in the first 4-8 months following the surgery because of your rapid weight loss and possibly inadequate protein in your diet. Changing your diet can help control hair loss.

Well after your surgery, you could also experience nutrient deficiency; difficulty tolerating certain foods, such as red meat; hernias at the site of your incision, vomiting and stomach ulcers. Your doctor and nurses will talk more with you about risks and benefits. It is important to us that you are knowledgeable about the risks.

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AMC is accredited by the Joint Commission. Click here to view the JCAHO Public Notice.

AMC is accredited by the Healthcare Accreditation Facilities Program.

Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.