The oldest to have WLS?

I am happily on my journey to weight loss surgery. However, my father has been an obese man the whole time that I have known him. He is 63, and that worries me. I know that being obese at that age it is just a matter of time and that scares me to death. What I was wondering is what is the oldest that you or someone you knew had surgery? I would like to talk to him about it but I want to know that it is safe at this age. I know that we can talk to the doctor, etc. but I just want to hear from everyone else first. I love my dad and I want him to be on this earth to see his grandkids graduate. Thanks everyone.

I was 55 when I had my surgery...and my surgeon has a cut-off age of 65...you might want to research local doctors...but, if he hasn't got alot of medical problems...he might be a candidate.  Good luck...let us know. Rosemary

My dr goes up from 18-65 :)

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/over_50/
Maybe try asking at this forum also! Jamie it is the over 50!
It is rally individual and up to surgeon and insurer! So start out there ok!
Here are 2 articles FYI:



Weight Loss Surgery Safe for Seniors Older Patients Can Benefit From
Gastric Bypass Surgery, Researchers Say
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Tuesday, February 22, 2005
http://www.webmd.com/news/20050222/weight-loss-surgery-safe-for-seniors

Feb. 22, 2005 -- Gastric bypass surgery isn't just for the young, says a
study in February's /Archives of Surgery/.

The weight loss procedure has soared in popularity. Gastric bypass was
performed 10 times as often in 2001 as in 1987.

In the procedure, surgeons bypass the stomach by closing off a section
of the stomach, leaving a small pouch that accommodates a few ounces of
food. That drastically reduces the amount of food that people can eat.
The pouch is attached to part of the small intestine so that food
bypasses the rest of the stomach to reduce absorption of calories and
nutrients.

*Obesity Boom Drives Demand*

Interest in gastric bypass has grown along with America's waistline.
Nearly 20% of the U.S. population was obese in 2001, compared to 12% 10
years earlier, say James Swain, MD, and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic
in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dramatic weight loss stories from celebrities and other obese people
who've undergone the surgery have also fueled interest. Less invasive
procedures have also become available that avoid the large incision
normally made during the bypass procedure and cut down on in-hospital
recovery time.

But some headlines have noted the dangers that can occur. Last October,
two studies showed that the short-term dangers may be higher than
previously thought, although the long-term benefits of shedding extra
pounds could make the surgery worthwhile.


Does Age Make a Difference in Gastric Bypass Surgery?

*Does Age Make a Difference in Gastric Bypass Surgery?*

The risks apply to everyone. Weight loss surgery isn't done casually;
it's a last resort for overweight or obese individuals who have tried
other methods and have been unsuccessful. But age alone doesn't rule out
the procedure, say James Swain, MD, and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic
in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Provided that older patients are healthy enough to have the surgery,
"patients of advanced age can safely undergo [gastric bypass]," write
the researchers.

That goes against some providers' policies, they say. Since so many
people are obese and Americans are living longer than ever before,
Swain's team took a fresh look at gastric bypass surgery and age.

*Gauging Health Before Surgery*

Study participants were 110 people younger than 60 years old and 20
people who were older than 60 years old. All were morbidly obese and had
other medical conditions related to obesity.

The younger patients were about 45 years old on average. The older
patients had an average age of 65.

Before surgery, both groups weighed a little over 300 pounds (305 pounds
for the older group and 301 pounds for the younger group). The younger
group's body mass index (BMI) was higher (48, compared with 42 for the
older group).


Which Age Group Fared Better?

*Which Age Group Fared Better?*

Judging by the scale, the younger patients did a bit better. They lost
more weight and had a greater drop in BMI.

The younger patients lost nearly 97 pounds, lowering their BMI by 15
points. The older patients shed about 86 pounds and dropped almost 13
BMI points.

The younger patients also unloaded an average of 2.3 obesity-related
medical problems such as sleep apnea. While the older patients also
improved their health, they dropped just under two health problems after
the weight loss surgery.

But the older patients fared better in another area. After the surgery,
they were able to reduce the number of medications they normally took.
At the last follow-up, they took an average of 2.7 medications, down
from nearly five. The younger patients also cut back to barely one
prescription per person after surgery. That's a significant decrease,
but it's less than what their elders achieved.

Both groups had similar rates of complications and stayed in the
hospital for roughly the same number of days (about three days for the
older patients and 2.5 days for the younger ones).

"Patients older than 60 years can be considered good candidates for
obesity surgery," say the researchers. They plan longer follow-up to
track survival and health cost savings.

---------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: St. Peter, S. /Archives of Surgery/, February 2005; vol 140: pp
165-168. WebMD Medical News: "Studies Weigh Risks of Gastric Bypass
Surgery." WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: "Gastric Bypass
Surgery Overview." News release, JAMA/Archives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/507706




Gastric Bypass is Safe and Effective for Morbidly Obese Elderly


Yael Waknine;
Medscape Medical News 2005. © 2005 Medscape
July 1, 2005 -- Gastric bypass surgery is safe and resolves or significantly improves comorbid conditions of morbid obesity in the elderly, according to the results of a retrospective study presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery in Orlando, Florida.
Patients in this population demonstrate an extremely high level of postoperative compliance.
"Life expectancy at [age] 65 [years] is increasing, and cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and other aggressive treatments have been offered to elderly patients to improve their quality and quantity of life -- why not weight loss surgery?," Ricardo Cohen, MD, lead investigator, told Medscape.
Dr. Cohen is director of the Center for the Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity at São Camilo Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.
According to Dr. Cohen, morbidly obese elderly patients who opt for the procedure do so with the intent of resolving life-threatening comorbidities rather than for cosmetic reasons.
"Elderly patients are more mature than young adults -- they understand the surgery, are serious about improving their quality and quantity of life, and are extremely adherent to treatment," Dr. Cohen noted.
In the study, investigators evaluated the effects of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in 108 patients aged 60 years and older (mean age, 66 years; range, 60 - 76 years; two thirds women) with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 44 kg/m2 (range, 38 - 55 kg/m2). Preoperative comorbidities included arthropathy (n = 76), hypertension (HTN; n = 73), diabetes (n = 66), cardiopathy (n = 54), lipid disorders (n = 35), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; n = 19), and sleep apnea (n = 12).
No intraoperative complications occurred and mean hospital stay was 36 hours; no postoperative leaks developed. "If you do a complete preoperative workup and consult with specialists regarding the comorbid conditions, the surgical risks are the same as for younger patients," Dr. Cohen noted.
Postoperative compliance was extremely high; 92.6% of patients continued to follow up regularly with their physician for 48 months compared with 68.8% of younger patients. In addition, 81% of elderly patients continued to exercise regularly.
Excess weight loss was 71% at 12 months, 69% at 24 months, and 67% at 48 months, relative to baseline. "Elderly patients lose about 10% less weight than young adults after gastric bypass, but show more gains in quality of life by curing or significantly improving their comorbidities."
At 48 months, 63%, 77%, and 94% of patients achieved resolution of HTN, diabetes, and lipid disorders, respectively. In addition, 32% of HTN patients presented with more easily controlled disease, 9% of diabetic patients required less medication, and 100% of patients with cardiopathy showed significant improvement in their disease. GERD and sleep apnea were resolved in all patients.
"Elderly patients with morbid obesity are not interested in looking good in bathing suits -- they want to stop taking 10 pills a day for comorbid conditions," Dr. Cohen concluded. "They are serious about following instructions and adhering to treatment, and there is no doubt that gastric bypass surgery greatly improves their quality of life."
The investigators report no pertinent financial disclosures.
22nd Annual Meeting ASBS: Oral Presentation. Presented July 1, 2005.
Reviewed by Gary D. Vogin, MD