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Bariatric surgery, also known as Weight loss surgery by medical terminology, refers to a group of gastrointestinal surgical procedures. These are performed on patients with chronic morbid obesity (ie less than 100 kg or overweight body mass index, BMI of 40 or more, more 5 years). This is done to make it easier to lose weight and avoid the high risk of deadly diseases associatd with morbid obesity, such as type II diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, etc.
Surgery weight loss is usually a measure of being a last resort once all other conventional methods of weight loss have failed. Such things that might have been unsuccessful are the controlling of foods, exercise and weight loss medications that have been used as treatment for the morbidly obese person. Bariatric surgery is different than liposuction which is often used more of a cosmetic procedure rather than a medical procedure.
What is all considered to be included in bariatric surgery?
The American Society for Bariatric Surgery, speeking for the procedures stated that there are basically two approaches to bariatric surgery:
First of these are the restrictive procedures that contribute to the lessening of the ability of food intake in one meal This however does not interfere with the normal absorption (digestion) of food.
Second is the malabsorptive procedures that are designed to help in the reduction in the absorption of calories from food. This changes the process of digestion.
Restrictive procedures are mainly two ways:
The first procedure is laproscopically Surgery (Lap-Band), the placement of a silicone gastric band around the beginning of the stomach, this creates a smaller stomach pouch. This then leads to the person begining to feel full since there is a smaller stomach to be filled making it easier to following of a diet completely. The food is then slowly emptying from the stomach into the rest of the digestive tract.
The second gastric is bypass surgical procedure in which there are staples of the smaller, upper stomach to separate it from the rest of the stomach. And then the small intestine is diverted to the small stomach pouch and reconnected.
It is professionally considered that Lap-Band surgery is a relatively easier and less risky. This compared to the more complicated and riskier gastric bypass surgery. There is only 1-3 days in the hospital required for the Lap-Ban where the Bypass requires 5-8 days in the hospitcal. Additionally, there are no malabsorption of vitamins and minerals after lap band surgery. This might not be the case with the gastric bypass surgery. All considered, the weight loss expectation over the period of 18 months, should be less than 50-60% of excess weight compared to the gastric bypass surgery which might be as high as 70-75%. Both of these processes are reversible, but surgery lap band is much more easily reversible where the bypass creates more damage that has to be taken into consideration for adverse effects.
With the previous being the most noted, there is a third type of restrictive procedures also known as gastrectomy, which is less common. This is when the surgeon removes about 60% of the stomach laparoscopically. This will allow the remaining stomach is then shaped from a tube or "sleeve".
It also needs to be noted that mal-absorptive procedures are used rarely because of the potential of dangerous nutritional complications with malnutrition and deficiencies the most serious of them.
Do you know the risks?
You should always know what the risks are, besides the general risks of major surgery, surgical weight loss can provide their own array of complications along with the unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, hernia, gallstones and a lost of nutritional deficiencies might occur after bariatric surgery.
Is it for you?
This is always a personal question that only you can answer. The ultimate answer to the question of whether you are a candidate for surgery or weight loss does not rest entirely with your bariatric surgeon but with your own personal qualifications Here are some tips that can help you in your decision which you should take into consideration. Are you more than 100 kg overweight for more than five years? Is your body responding to conventional methods of weight loss? Do you suffer from disorders that major surgery can cause? It is difficult; you should always consider weight loss surgery a feasible option seriously. Consult your doctor for detailed information on the risks against the anticipated benefit of weight loss surgery weight but always remember, that is his business and he is selling you this procedure making him less objective.
Finally, remember that even if you keep realistic goals in mind, the real success of surgery for weight loss depends heavily on your providing long-term changes in your diet and lifestyles and not depending on the surgery to change all of your past behaviors which have brought you to this point in your life.
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