If you and your doctor have decided that weight loss surgery is right for you, you have several options. In a restrictive surgery, a surgeon uses one of a variety of techniques to reduce the size of the stomach. After restrictive surgery, you’ll feel full faster, eat less and lose weight. All types of weight-loss surgeries make changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight by limiting how much you can eat or by reducing the absorption of nutrients, or both. Weight-loss surgeries are done when diet and exercise haven't worked or when you have serious health problems because of your weight.
About Bariatric Surgery:
While bariatric surgery can offer many benefits, all forms of weight-loss surgery are major procedures that can pose serious risks and side effects. Also, you must make permanent healthy changes to your diet and get regular exercise to help ensure the long-term success of bariatric surgery. There are many types of weight-loss surgery, known collectively as bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass is one of the most common types of bariatric surgery. Many surgeons prefer gastric bypass surgery because it generally has fewer complications than do other weight-loss surgeries.
What is bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery refers to a series of weight loss procedures that an obese individual can have in order to reduce their food intake, therefore causing them to lose weight.
A person is classed as obese if their body mass index (BMI) is over 30. If their BMI is over 40, they are deemed severely obese.
Why Bariatric Surgery done?
Bariatric surgery is done to help you lose excess weight and reduce your risk of potentially life-threatening weight-related health problems, including:
- Heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes
Bariatric surgery is typically done only after you've tried to lose weight by improving your diet and exercise habits.
What are the main Bariatric Surgery Procedures?
There are three main bariatric surgery procedures that are widely used. These are gastric bypass, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy.
Gastric Bypass is the most commonly used bariatric procedure worldwide, according to the ASMBS. The procedure involves re-routing the digestive system past the stomach in order to promote satiety and suppress hunger.
The Gastric Band procedure involves having an inflatable band placed around the top portion of the stomach. This creates a smaller stomach pouch, meaning eating less will make a person feel full and satisfy their hunger.
With a Sleeve Gastrectomy, around 80% of the stomach is removed to create a smaller stomach pouch. This reduces the amount of food that can be consumed.
What are the advantages of Bariatric Surgery?
- Produces significant long-term weight loss (60 to 80 percent excess weight loss)
- Restricts the amount of food that can be consumed
- May lead to conditions that increase energy expenditure
- Produces favorable changes in gut hormones that reduce appetite and enhance satiety
- Typical maintenance of >50% excess weight loss