Bariatric surgery is a helpful way to shed excess pounds and keep a healthy weight. To help you select the correct type of bariatric surgery, we shed some insight into the types of procedures and their benefits.
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is a form of surgery directed towards helping patients lose weight. It is an optimal choice for those who are obese and are above the body mass index (BMI) of 40. Furthermore, the procedure helps improve the medical condition of patients suffering from sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other obese related ailments.
Types of Bariatric Surgery
There are various forms of bariatric surgeries to consider when opting to shed weight. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor may recommend one surgical procedure suited to you. Below are the common types of bariatric surgery.
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric sleeve, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is focused on curbing portions of the stomach while reconnecting tissue into a condensed “sleeve.” Normally, 75% of the stomach is removed during the operation. However, percentages may vary depending on the patient’s condition. This form of bariatric surgery is a safer alternative to gastric bypass and only has a 3% complication rate.
Pros: It’s suitable for morbidly obese patients or when other weight loss procedures prove to be too risky to carry out on the individual. The patient’s intestines remain unaffected, thus allowing them to absorb food as usual.
Cons: A sleeve gastrectomy operation is irreversible; thus, the effects will last a lifetime.
Gastric Bypass
A gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y procedure involves the stomach’s stapling to reduce its size and create a small pouch. The small intestine is connected to the pouch to bypass food, allowing the body to absorb few calories and digestive juices to move into the small intestine, thus affecting metabolism rate and appetite.
Pros: Dynamic weight loss is experienced with more than 50% of initial weight loss occurring within the first six months of the surgery. It helps alleviate high blood pressure symptoms, diabetes, sleep apnea, heartburn, and high cholesterol much quickly.
Cons: Changes are permanent, and patients are at risk of malnutrition. One has to rely on supplements for the rest of their lives.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band
A surgeon fits an inflatable band around the upper region of the stomach to create a sizeable pouch. This pouch helps limit the amount of food a patient consumes by making them feel full. Furthermore, the band is filled with a salt solution, which helps the surgeon adjust the pouch size by changing the solution’s volume.
Pros: The effects of the procedure are temporary. The operation is much simpler and safer than a gastric bypass procedure and is ideal for individuals with a BMI of at least 30.
Cons: The weight loss effects of gastric banding are minimal. Furthermore, there is also a risk of vomiting when consuming food in excess or in haste. The band can slip or become loose, thus requiring more surgery.
Schedule a Consultation
When choosing the right type of bariatric surgery to follow, ensure to select the procedure best suited to your current condition. For a thorough and detailed diagnosis, feel free to book an appointment with Dr. Louis Balsama and experience guaranteed weight loss results.
