What You Should Know About Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

By Sarah Johnson


Lifestyle changes are the most widely recommended options for weight loss in New York. The major advantage that these methods have over other options are that they are cheap and devoid of side effects. The main downside is that it takes a considerable amount of time before their beneficial effects are evident. Bariatric weight loss surgery is usually the most effective approach if one intends to lose a significant proportion of their weight in a short period of time.

Bariatric operations are also called restrictive surgeries. This term is sometimes used because of the reduction in stomach capacity that is created by the surgeries. The amount of food that can be held by the stomach in any one sitting is considerably reduced and this translates to reduced absorption of nutrients. The few calories obtained from the food are mainly used for the provision of energy with very little going to storage as fat.

Gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy are the main forms of bariatric operations offered in most centers. There is a difference in the manner in which each of them is performed but the effect is largely the same (both result in a significant reduction in the stomach volume). The main difference between them is that gastric banding can be reversed while sleeve gastrectomy cannot.

Gastric banding is usually performed using a laparoscope. It involves the placement of a band (silicon-based) to the upper stomach region so as to cause compression. The lower portion is converted into a small pouch that can hold an ounce of food or less. Laparoscopy makes it possible to conduct the operation through small incisions which leads to fewer complications and less prominent scars.

The silicon band is connected to a long plastic tube that can be easily accessed from an area under the skin. By injecting and withdrawing saline or sterile water into the tube, the pressure that is exerted by the band can be regulated. Injecting the saline into the tube increases the pressure which effectively reduces the size of the stomach further. The reverse happens when the saline is withdrawn.

There are a number of complications that may result from this operation. Those that are encountered most commonly include nausea, vomiting, aversion to food, bleeding and infections. Some of the symptoms can be relieved by adjusting the compression exerted by the band. Once the symptoms have subsided, the pressure can be increased gradually once more to reduce the stomach to the desired size.

Sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical operation involving resection of the stomach along its length. Between 75 and 80% is removed converting the organ into a tubular structure. Early satiety and reduced transit time in the stomach reduced the overall amount of nutrients absorbed. Side effects associated with this surgery are similar to those seen with the banding procedure.

Recovery from the operations typically takes a few weeks. A liquid diet is recommended for about two weeks after which you can resume your normal diet. Results vary from one patient to another depending on a number of factors that include the initial weight, surgical skills of your doctor, technique employed and so on. Combining the surgery with lifestyle options achieves even better results.




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