There are many reasons why you may become obese or even morbidly obese, and it goes beyond the once-popular idea that you simply eat too much. There could be genetic, physical, and emotional factors at work. But there is a process to help you lose that excess weight: a combination of a healthy diet, physical activity, and bariatric surgery weight loss procedures.
Bariatric surgeries are becoming more mainstream for a few reasons. Many healthcare insurance plans are beginning to realize that weight-loss surgeries are medically necessary and the procedures themselves have improved greatly over the past decade or two. Still, your decision to turn to bariatric weight loss surgery shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss
If you’re thinking about bariatric surgery weight loss, there are a few things that you need to consider. The following is an overall look at bariatric surgery weight loss and what you should think about when making a decision:
- Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
- Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Options
- Pre and Post-Op Recommendations
- The Cost of Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss
- Are You a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss?
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Your quality of life is massively affected by obesity, if for no other than the health problems that are attributed to excess weight. Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even certain kinds of cancer have been linked to excessive weight gain.
Weight loss surgery, along with a healthier diet and physical activity, has been proven to give you the best opportunity to lose excess weight long term. As you lose weight, your mobility, flexibility, and strength will improve and many of the health problems you may have been experiencing will lessen or disappear completely!
Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Options
Just like there is no one reason for excessive weight gain, there is no one bariatric surgery weight loss procedure for every patient. However, there is one key component throughout most bariatric procedures: they limit the amount of food you take in. This is done in a few different ways.
There are many types of bariatric surgery, but some are performed more regularly than others. Again, you won’t choose a bariatric surgery weight loss procedure based on popularity, your doctor will recommend a procedure based on your needs. Based on your initial consultation, the following weight loss surgeries are possibilities:
- Gastric Bypass Surgery
- Sleeve Gastrectomy (Gastric Sleeve)
- Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
- Adjustable Gastric Band
- Other options, including revision surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is when a large portion of the stomach is cut and stapled, greatly decreasing the size of your stomach. Then the small intestine is attached to the smaller pouch, bypassing the stomach and much of the small intestine. This limits the amount of food you can eat at one time while also decreasing the amount of food that is absorbed in the body.
The sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve bariatric surgery weight loss procedure is similar to the gastric bypass, although only the stomach is altered. About 80 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a small tube or pouch. This limits the amount of food or liquid that can be eaten at one point, although the absorption process is largely left in place.
Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with duodenal switch is much more involved than the other bariatric surgery weight loss procedures but also offers greater weight loss in the long term. BPD essentially begins with a gastric sleeve and then a large part of the small intestine is bypassed to limit food absorption.
The adjustable gastric band or lap band procedure is the least invasive bariatric surgery weight loss procedure and is fully reversible. Small incisions are made laparoscopically so a small tube can be inserted around the top of the stomach. This tube or band is inflated with saline to create a smaller opening to the stomach. The band can be filled or emptied as needed.
Other options, including the Orbera and Obalon balloons, endoscopic pouch reduction, and revisional surgery, may be recommended based on your circumstances. In most cases, surgery is minimal, leading to shorter hospital stays than in the past, and almost every patient is free to resume normal day-to-day activities in as little as 24 hours.
Pre and Post-Op Recommendations
Bariatric surgery weight loss procedures require all patients to undergo a strict diet before and after the surgery. Because many of the bariatric options require the removal of the absorptive properties of the digestive system you need to ensure your body has all of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs,
In the days leading up to the surgery, you will cut back on solid foods and begin taking supplements as required by your doctor. In the days, weeks, months, and years after surgery, you will be required to follow a specific diet plan. In fact, it stops being a diet and just becomes how you eat.
This is often the scariest part of any bariatric surgery weight loss program–but the body will do its part to help you along. After the surgery, your body will start undergoing hormonal changes that will lessen the number of hunger pangs you experience and help you feel fuller faster.
Are You a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss?
At New York Minimally Invasive Surgery, you’ll meet with the doctor to see if you’re a good candidate for a bariatric surgery weight loss procedure. There are health considerations, physical limitations, and emotional hurdles that need to be discussed before scheduling your surgery. We take a holistic view of your situation and make recommendations based on what we find.
Even if you aren’t a candidate for surgery, we offer many procedures that will help with your weight-loss journey. If you have any questions about bariatric surgery weight loss procedures, if your insurance covers any of the options, or if you have concerns about potential problems, please don’t hesitate to call or watch our online seminar. We look forward to seeing how we can help you with your weight loss goals.
