Wednesday, May 11, 2016

By Andrew Miller


Bariatric surgery is a form of operation that is conducted so as to lose weight. The operation may be considered if one has tried out all the non-surgical options but has been unsuccessful. The three main types of surgery that are classified as being bariatric operations include gastric bypass surgery, lap band surgeries and sleeve gastrectomy. If they have plans of undergoing bariatric weight loss surgery Houston patients need to be aware of a number of things.

The commonest among the three options is gastric banding. One of the reasons as to why it is preferred over the others is the fact that it is reversible. The other two are permanent. It also has fewer side effects since no actual cutting of the stomach takes place. To perform the procedure, a silicon band is placed on the fundus (upper region of the stomach). The band exerts pressure that converts the stomach into a small pouch.

The modern techniques gain entry into the abdomen using minimal access methods. This has largely been facilitated by use of an instrument known as a laparoscope. Such techniques have led to fewer complications and faster recovery times. The main side effects that may be experienced after the lap band procedure include infections, nausea and vomiting. In the long term, the scars are smaller and less prominent.

Sleeve gastrectomy is a more invasive option. It involves the shaping of a stomach onto a sleeve (or tubular shape) by resecting it along its length. As much as 80% of the operation can be removed leaving just a small pouch. The significance of this is that there is a huge reduction in the amount of food that can be held at a given time. This type of operation can also be performed through laparoscopy.

Apart from reducing the capacity of the stomach (and thus leading to early satiety). The operation also causes faster emptying of the gut which reduces the time available for food to be absorbed. The few calories that are generated are mainly used in the generation of energy required for day-to-day activities. Very little is available for conversion to fat. The overall effect within weeks and months is weight loss.

The most common side effects of sleeve gastrectomy are leakage of digested food and bleeding. There may be a need to have additional procedures to correct the leakage. Others include infections, damage to vital structures such as the vagus nerve, vomiting and esophageal spasms. In spite of these complications, the popularity of the procedure appears to be on the rise particularly among children and adults.

Gastric bypass is very radical and rarely performed. It is mainly done when a disease process affects the liver and the gall bladder and there is a need to divert the flow of bile. There are two main steps involved. The first is the removal of the lower part of the stomach which reduces its size significantly. The second step is the joining of the upper part to the intestines. Malabsorption of nutrients is the most feared complication here.

You need to talk to your doctor to see whether any other options of weight loss can be used in your case before you decide to have surgery. It is only after the non-surgical options have proven ineffective that surgical operations should be considered. There is a need to make lifestyle changes after the operation so as to maximize on the benefits.




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