The risks of gastric bypass are often regarded as necessary evils for the many people who struggle with obesity. While this procedure can certainly be helpful to the morbidly obese, there are risks to gastric bypass surgery that need to be carefully measured before making the final decision. The risks run from minor discomforts to extreme complications that can result in serious problems or even death.

Every surgery, including gastric bypass, has inherent risks of bleeding, infection and bad reactions to anesthesia, but gastric bypass has other risks as well. Because of the extremely small amount of food a person can eat after the surgery, there is a great risk for vitamin and mineral deficiency. This restriction makes dehydration a risk as well.

Gastric bypass can increase the risk of gallstones and kidney stones, which can lead to more surgery being required. Patients can also develop bleeding stomach ulcers, which can lead to serious complications of their own, such as severe pain or hemorrhaging. There is also the risk of a hernia at the site of the incision. A hernia occurs when part of the intestine or some fatty tissue is squeezed out of place through a hole, in this case the incision.

While there is a very real risk associated with gastric bypass surgery, the health risks of not having the surgery and remaining extremely obese are probably even higher. A study done at the University of Washington suggests that morbidly obese people who choose to have gastric bypass surgery decrease their risk of death by 89 percent over those who do not take drastic measures to lose weight.

The risks of gastric bypass surgery, including the risk of death, are much more likely if an inexperienced doctor performs the procedure. For the best possible outcome, be certain to choose a doctor who has plenty of experience with gastric bypass surgery. Having an experienced doctor and following all the guidelines for post-operative diet and lifestyle can help you have a risk-free surgery that may just save your life.