Weight Loss Surgery Options
For many obese or morbidly obese people, weight-loss surgery is the only option to take off that excess weight and keep it off. The combination of weight-loss surgery (or bariatric surgery), diet, and exercise is proven to be the best way to lose that weight and keep it off long term. But you may be wondering about the different weight-loss surgery options.
Just like other medical procedures for other parts of the body, there is no single magic procedure for every patient. After an initial consultation, your surgeon will decide the best course of action for you, your lifestyle, and your medical history. There are a few different weight loss surgery options, all designed to help you reach your target weight.
According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, “Patients may lose as much as 60% of excess weight six months after surgery, and 77% of excess weight as early as 12 months after surgery.” That is an impressive stat for those dealing with medical conditions associated with obesity.
Weight Loss Surgery Options
In gastric bypass surgery, a portion of the stomach is closed off, creating a small pouch to restrict food intake. The pouch is then connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and a large portion of the small intestine. This reduces the number of calories and nutrients your body can absorb, leading to weight loss.
This means that the body cannot absorb as many calories. Gastric bypass surgery is usually only recommended for people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 or higher, or those who have a BMI of 35 and are experiencing health problems related to their weight, such as sleep apnea or type 2 diabetes.
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch surgery is another option for weight loss. In this procedure, a smaller stomach pouch is created and bypasses part of the small intestine. This allows food to bypass a large portion of the small intestine, which reduces the number of calories and nutrients your body can absorb. This is similar to the gastric bypass in that respect but is a much more involved procedure.
Gastric sleeve surgery (sleeve gastrectomy) is another type of weight-loss surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon removes a large part of the stomach, leaving only a small sleeve of the stomach remaining. This smaller stomach restricts food intake and leads to weight loss. This is the most common bariatric procedure.
Other Weight Loss Surgery Options
Adjustable gastric band surgery is one of the least invasive weight-loss procedures. In fact, no part of your digestive tract is affected by the surgery. A small incision is made by the stomach so a small silicone band can be placed near the upper portion of the stomach. The band is filled with saline, closing the stomach to create a smaller opening for food.
No matter which weight-loss surgery you and your surgeon decide is best for you, all of these procedures are major surgeries with risks and side effects. That’s why it’s important that you consult with a qualified surgeon to discuss all of your options and make sure that weight-loss surgery is the right choice for you.
Diets for Weight Loss Surgery Options
If you and your doctor decide that gastric bypass surgery is the best option for you, there are a few things you need to do before the surgery. First, you will need to follow a pre-op diet. This diet is designed to help your body adapt to a new diet and ensure it has all of the nutrients it needs following the procedure.
The pre-op diet usually lasts for two weeks and is high in protein and low in calories, carbohydrates, and fat. You will also need to take vitamins and minerals to make sure your body gets the nutrients it needs. In some cases, these nutrients are missing before the surgery, so it’s important to go those levels up beforehand.
After you have completed the pre-op diet and the surgery, you will need to follow a post-op diet. This diet is designed to help your body heal and adjust to the new digestive system. The post-op diet usually starts with clear liquids and then moves on to soft foods, such as pureed fruits and vegetables, before you progress to solid foods.
You will also need to take vitamins and minerals after surgery to make sure your body gets the nutrients it needs. In some cases, such as the duodenal switch, the body won’t absorb food–and the associated nutrients–so you will need to take supplements.
This is known as a malabsorptive procedure. Because you’re already getting less protein, vitamins, and other minerals from the decreased amount of food your body can handle, keeping those levels is vitally important. They will help keep your body strong and able to function properly.
Recovery Time for Weight Loss Surgery Options
Weight loss surgery is done laparoscopically, which means several small incisions are used instead of one large incision, or open surgery. This allows for a much faster recovery time, although there are still some precautions you should follow after a procedure.
You should take it easy for the next 24 hours–New York Minimally Invasive Surgery will monitor your progress–and avoid any strenuous activity. As your body heals, it will begin to adapt to the surgery. You may experience some soreness and some bruising around the incisions, but this is normal and will fade with time.
For the most part, however, you should be able to resume normal day-to-day activities. This could be walking around the neighborhood, going to the grocery store, and doing other light activities. We recommend taking a few days or a week off from work just as a precaution. But if you feel good, and there’s no heavy lifting, you may only miss a couple of days.
For jobs where you’re required to lift any amount of weight or do other heavy-duty activities, you will need to wait at least a few weeks. Please consult with your surgeon or primary health care physician before returning to this type of work.
Work With an Experienced Weight Loss Surgeon
Obesity is one of the leading causes of diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers in the United States. If you are thinking about your weight loss surgery options, please consider reaching out to New York Minimally Invasive Surgery today. We offer a range of surgical options if you are looking for a healthier way of life.
Dr. Marina Kurian has performed thousands of weight loss surgeries and has been a pioneer in the bariatric surgery industry for decades. When you come to New York Minimally Invasive Surgery, know that you’re in the very best of hands. Contact us today for more information and get started on a newer, healthier you.