Despite the long list of positives from bariatric surgery such as longer life expectancy, lower blood pressure, and better heart health, only 1% of people who qualify for bariatric surgery actually get the procedure, in large part because of misconceptions surrounding it. One misconception is that it’s too risky. When you take a closer look, the risks of obesity are much greater than the risks of bariatric surgery for most people. Every surgery has risks, but bariatric procedures are among the safest around, even when compared to very common procedures like gallbladder removals and knee replacements. Learn more about bariatric surgery.