7 Benefits of Bariatric Surgery Besides Helping You Lose Weight and Why You Should Consider Self Pay

For millions of Americans struggling with obesity, bariatric surgery offers a path to lasting change when traditional methods fall short. But the benefits of this life-changing procedure go far beyond helping you lose weight.

For personalized care and ongoing support, turn to Steven Patching, MD, and our team of bariatric specialists in Sacramento, California. Here, we walk you through seven ways weight loss surgery can improve your overall wellness, and why our self-pay/cash-pay option is a beneficial choice for many.

1. Taking control of Type 2 diabetes

A lower body mass increases insulin sensitivity, the essential hormone that regulates blood sugar and metabolism, but bariatric surgery can help you take control of Type 2 diabetes even before you reach your goal weight. By altering the digestive system itself, these procedures reset your gut hormones and reduce chronic inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity within days of surgery.

In many cases, surgery can send a patient’s diabetes into remission, which means they no longer need daily injections or medications to manage their blood sugar. It also reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications like vision loss, kidney damage, and neuropathy.

2. A healthier heart

Excess weight increases the strain on your cardiovascular system, which raises blood pressure and levels of harmful cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation. This weight gain can slowly damage your arteries over time, causing them to stiffen and narrow — a condition named arteriosclerosis.

By correcting the underlying inflammation and metabolic issues that go along with obesity, bariatric surgery eases the stress on your heart and blood vessels. It helps stop the progression of arteriosclerosis, which improves cardiac function and lowers your risk of chronic heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.

3. Improvements in sleep quality

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which the muscles in the throat become overly relaxed, blocking the airway during sleep and leading to severe snoring, sleep disturbances, and a decrease in oxygen saturation.  Up to 75% of people with obesity also suffer from OSA.

The rapid weight loss achieved after surgery reduces excess tissue in the neck and throat, helping to open the airway to breathe more easily at night. As the pounds continue to come off, many patients experience significant improvements in sleep quality and may no longer need CPAP machines.

4. Less pain and easier movement

The more weight you carry, the higher the chances of developing chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis (OA). Bariatric surgery not only reduces the physical load on your joints but also helps combat systemic inflammation that contributes to pain, making it easier to become active.

5. Improved mental wellness and confidence

Obesity gets linked to higher rates of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, often due to feelings of weight-related shame, low self-esteem, and social isolation. As physical health and mobility improve after surgery, a boost in confidence and renewed enthusiasm for life often follows.

6. A higher overall quality of life

The physical and health benefits of bariatric surgery give you back control of your day-to-day life. By addressing metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation, treatment helps restore your energy levels and physical capacity, allowing you to pursue new hobbies, social engagements, and all that life has to offer.

7. Extending your life

By controlling — and even reversing — severe chronic conditions and risk factors, bariatric surgery can actually help you live longer. Research shows that these procedures reduce a patient’s risk of death by more than 40%, giving you many more years to enjoy your health and wellness.

The benefits of choosing self-pay/cash-pay

Navigating insurance can mean facing long authorization delays, complex approval processes, and high deductibles. Our self-pay option puts you in control of your time and money with:

• Faster scheduling — You can bypass the long waiting period for insurance approvals and get your surgery scheduled quickly.
• Cost transparency — We offer a clear, fixed price that covers all major expenses, eliminating surprise bills and hidden fees.
• Special pricing — Our clinic offers special rates for clients who choose to pay with cash.

We also accept most major insurance plans and providers. Call or click to learn more about our flexible payment options and schedule a consultation with Dr. Patching today.