Bariatric Surgery
Losing weight with diet and exercise is effective for many patients. However, some patients may fail diet and exercise and be at a high risk for disease-related complications due to obesity. In these patients, weight loss surgery may be an option. Not everyone is a candidate for weight-loss surgery. Patients should consult with a surgeon who performs bariatric surgery to discuss their options. Weight loss surgery is a permanent procedure that requires a lifetime commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a proper diet.
Gastric bypass and other 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. Gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries are done when diet and exercise haven't worked or when you have serious health problems because of your weight. There are many types of weight-loss surgery, known collectively as bariatric surgery.
Gastric Bypass:
This procedure involves the reorganization of the digestive system. The surgeon creates a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach by stapling it together. The surgeon then attaches part of the small intestine to the new pouch, effectively "bypassing" the part of the stomach that has been sealed off. This causes your body to absorb fewer calories, leading to weight loss. After gastric bypass and other types of weight-loss surgery, you generally won't be allowed to eat for one to two days so that your stomach and digestive system can heal. Then, you'll follow a specific diet for about 12 weeks. The diet begins with liquids only, then progresses to ground-up or soft foods, and finally to regular foods. You may have many restrictions or limits on how much and what you can eat and drink.
You'll also have frequent medical checkups to monitor your health in the first several months after weight-loss surgery. You may need laboratory testing, blood work and various exams.
You may experience changes as your body reacts to the rapid weight loss in the first three to six months after gastric bypass or other weight-loss surgery, including:
· Body aches
· Feeling tired, as if you have the flu
· Feeling cold
· Dry skin
· Hair thinning and hair loss
· Mood changes
Gastric Banding:
During this procedure, the surgeon places an inflatable and adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach, partitioning it into two parts. The band creates a small opening that allows limited food to pass through each section, resulting in controlled food intake. This means you will feel full while eating less.
Sleeve Gastrectomy:
This procedure removes approximately seventy-five percent of the stomach and results in less food consumption, causing you to eat less and lose weight. Following the surgery, what remains of the stomach is a narrow tube or sleeve which connects to the intestines. There are no nutritional deficiencies as a result of a Sleeve Gastrectomy because it does not affect the absorption of food and the intestines are not affected by the surgery.