Rosie O'Donnell confirms rumors of weight-loss surgery

Rosie O'Donnell has confirmed rumors that she's undergone weight loss surgery, saying that she underwent the operation in July of 2013, Guardian Liberty Voice reports.

It was during a recent event sponsored by the American Heart Association where O'Donnell opened up to guests about her surgery. The actress also shared her personal struggles with cardiovascular health, which eventually led to a heart attack in 2012.

After several attempts at weight loss through diet and exercise, she finally decided to undergo vertical gastric sleeve surgery last year. Vertical gastric sleeve surgery is a type of restrictive bariatric surgery once used only for patients who were at high risk or extremely obese. Nowadays though, it is more widely available and popular among patients.

O'Donnell said the procedure helped her lose 40 pounds and that she currently weighs 190 pounds.

However, sleeve surgery, as it is known, is not without risk. Aside from being non-reversible, it can also cause leaks and other rare complications such as internal bleeding. The stomach of a patient may also stretch over time, which may eventually lead to weight regain.

Other than O'Donnell, several other celebrities have undergone similar types of surgeries, including comedian Lisa Lampanelli, who underwent gastric-sleeve surgery in 2012. Al Roker of the Today Show attributes gastric bypass surgery for his 140-pound weight loss and former co-host of The View, Star Jones, was able to lose 160 pounds in three years after a gastric bypass procedure.

However, health specialists note that weight-loss surgeries are not ideal for everyone.