Choosing A Weight Loss Surgery
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Choosing A Weight Loss Surgery
There are different types of weight loss surgeries, which are all collectively known as bariatric surgery. These procedures change how your digestive system works to help you lose weight.
It is usually considered when exercise and diet haven't worked, or when weight is causing serious health problems.
Weight loss surgeries work in different ways. Some limit how much food you can eat, others reduce how many calories and nutrients you absorb, and some do both. They also change gut hormones that affect hunger and blood sugar.
Bariatric surgery is mostly recommended for people at high risk of weight-related health problems, including sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
Because surgery carries risks, it is not a first step. You and your doctor weigh those risks against the health risks of obesity.
Can Anyone undergo bariatric surgery?
According to the NIDDK, surgery may be an option if:
- Your BMI (body mass index) is 35 or higher.
- Your BMI is 30 to 35 and you have type 2 diabetes that is hard to control with medication and lifestyle changes.
Hospitals also need equipment, such as scanners and operating tables, rated for each patient's weight, so very high body weights can affect where and how surgery is done.
Via University of California South San Francisco
Bariatric surgery is not for every overweight person. Your care team will screen you carefully to make sure you qualify, and you must be ready to make lasting changes to how you eat and live.
You will also need lifelong follow-up, including vitamin and mineral supplements and regular checkups, to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Professionals that will conduct your bariatric surgery
If you are eligible for weight-loss surgery, a team of professionals will care for you, often including:
- Surgeon
- Dietitian
- Anesthesiologist
- Psychiatrist or psychologist
- Nurse for weight management
- Primary doctor and
- Any other required specialist depending on your health condition
Different types of weight-loss surgeries
The next step is choosing the type of weight loss surgery that fits your health and goals. There are several bariatric surgeries, and your doctor can help you find the best option.
Here are some of the most common types of weight-loss surgeries:
Gastric Bypass is also known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. It has been performed for decades and is one of the most studied weight-loss operations. The surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach and connects it directly to the small intestine.
Food then bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
This limits how much you can eat at one time and reduces how many calories and nutrients you absorb.
Because the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) is bypassed, some vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and vitamin B12, are absorbed less well. That is why lifelong supplements are needed.
Weight loss after bypass often improves type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other weight-related conditions.
Gastric Banding
This type of weight loss surgery has also been practised for decades. It restricts how much food the stomach can hold, so you feel full after eating a small amount.
The surgeon places an inflatable silicone band around the top of the stomach. A thin tube connects the band to a port placed under the skin of the abdomen.
The surgeon adds or removes saline through this port to tighten or loosen the band. The band creates a small pouch above it.
Since the pouch fills quickly, you eat less than usual.
Unlike gastric bypass, gastric banding does not reduce the absorption of nutrients.
Gastric banding is done laparoscopically, through a few small incisions.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve Gastrectomy is one of the most common weight-loss surgeries. The surgeon removes about 80% of the stomach, leaving a narrow, banana-shaped tube that holds much less food.
A sleeve is usually less complex than a bypass, though costs vary by hospital and insurance.
Intra-Gastric Balloon
Unlike surgery, an intra-gastric balloon is temporary. A doctor passes a deflated balloon through your mouth and esophagus into the stomach, usually with an endoscope and sedation, then fills it with saline.
The balloon takes up space so you feel full sooner. It is removed after about 6 months to a year, depending on the device. Some devices use one balloon and others use two.
In Summary
Weight-loss surgery is one of the most effective treatments for severe obesity. Each procedure has its own benefits and risks.
Talk to your doctor to find out whether you qualify and what risks apply to you. Expect follow-up care, sometimes for the rest of your life.
