BARIATRIC (WEIGHT LOSS) SURGERY
BARIATRIC (WEIGHT LOSS) SURGERY
Bariatric surgery, also called weight loss surgery, is a category of surgical operations intended to help people with obesity lose weight. Healthcare providers may recommend bariatric surgery if other weight loss methods have failed and if obesity appears to pose a greater risk to your health than surgery.
Bariatric surgery procedures work by modifying your digestive system — usually your stomach, and sometimes also your small intestine — to regulate how many calories you can consume and absorb. They can also reduce the hunger signals that travel from your digestive system to your brain.
These procedures can help treat and prevent many metabolic diseases related to obesity, including diabetes and fatty liver disease. But weight loss surgery isn’t an easy “quick fix”. It requires preparation beforehand and long-term lifestyle changes afterward to be successful. Discuss with your surgeon which operation suits you the best based on your medical conditions and anatomy. All operations have their own pros and cons..
BENEFITS
- Improvement or complete resolution of various medical problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heartburn and sleep apnea.
- Improvement of fatty liver disease.
- Improvement in heart disease.
- Lower risk of developing various cancers such as liver, colorectal, kidney and urinary tract, esophageal, and lung cancer.
- Increased life span.
TYPES OF BARIATRIC SURGERY
Revisional Bariatric Surgery
The most common indications for revisional surgery were related to weight loss and/or reflux issues after a previous bariatric surgery has been performed.
Bariatric surgery is a highly effective and durable therapy, and as with many other chronic diseases requiring medical or surgical therapy, there will be patients who respond well initially to surgery and others with only a partial response, which can create a need for a second, or “revisional” procedure.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
The stomach is reduced to size of walnut and then attached to middle of small intestine, bypassing a section of the small intestine (duodenum and jejunum) and limiting absorption of calories.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
The stomach is reduced to a small pouch and attached to the middle of the small intestine and, bypassing majority of the stomach and a portion of small intestine time. This operation functions by reducing appetite, reducing calories absorbed, increasing calorie expenditure of the body.
- Improvement or complete resolution of various medical problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heartburn and sleep apnea.
- Improvement of fatty liver disease.
- Improvement in heart disease.