Unless you are very, very lucky, you likely have contended with a body issue at some point in time. Whether no amount of running could slim your thighs or you have tried diets and remained at an unhealthy weight, sometimes winning the battle doesn”t always come in the form of diet and exercise. This is true for weight-loss surgery approaches, ranging from liposuction to a tummy tuck to life-saving bariatric surgeries.

Liposuction

If you’ve tried diet and exercise regimens, but can’t seem to lift or lose an area of your abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper arms or even your neck, liposuction can be an option. This outpatient procedure involves removing bulges or pockets of fat utilizing small incisions and inserting special tools.

Liposuction isn’t for everyone — you must be in good health and have enough skin elasticity so your skin can snap back when the fat portion is removed. If you follow a diet and exercise routine, but just need a little help when it comes to trouble spots, liposuction may be for you.

Tummy Tuck

You don’t have problem areas — you have a problem area: Your stomach. If it never snapped back after giving birth or you’ve experienced sagging skin after a recent weight loss, a tummy tuck can help. Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck helps to remove sagging skin or tighten areas where your abdominal muscles may have become weakened or separated, particularly following childbirth.

Much like liposuction, a tummy tuck requires you to be in generally good health and at a stable weight. If your weight goes up and down as much as the stock market, the procedure may not be for you because it won’t offer lasting results.

Bariatric Surgery: Hope for a New Life

An estimated 34 percent of Americans are classified as obese, according to the National Center for Health Statistics1. This number equals more than 72 million Americans who are plagued by obesity and the chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease that can often accompany obesity.

If you have tried every diet and failed, are morbidly obese and concerned for your health and appearance, bariatric surgery can offer you hope — if you are ready to change your lifestyle and your body. Bariatric or weight-loss surgery encompasses a variety of approaches that can help you lose dramatic amounts of weight. This includes the Roux-en-Y or gastric bypass surgery that involves altering the size and shape of your stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. Because you become full with less food, you are able to lose significant amounts of weight in a short time.

Another option is gastric banding or LAP-BAND surgery that involves putting a band around your stomach, which creates a smaller, but less-permanent stomach alteration than a Roux-en-Y procedure does. Each surgical type has its pros and cons, and there are variations on each procedure that may be a good fit for your unique health conditions.

Whatever your weight-loss procedure choice, learning more about these options could not only change your life, it also could save it.