What You Should Know About Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

By Sarah Johnson


A number of methods can be used to achieve weight loss. The most widely used options in New York involve the making of lifestyle changes including the adoption of healthier diets and engagement in regular physical exercise. These methods are safe and effective for a majority of people. Their main undoing is the fact that they take too long to work and may not be appropriate if one needs to shade off a significant proportion of their weight rapidly. Bariatric weight loss surgery is often the option in such cases.

Bariatric surgery is also known as a restrictive operation. This means that it limits the amount of food that the stomach can hold after a single meal. The amount of nutrients that are subsequently absorbed at the level of the intestines is reduced. Whatever is absorbed is mainly used to generate energy and very little ends up as storage in adipose tissues. Within days and weeks one begins to lose weight.

The two main forms of bariatric operations are gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. Although the two are slightly different in the manner in which they are performed, the results are more or less the same. The main difference is that banding is a reversible procedure while gastrectomy is not. The major similarity is that both reduce the size of the stomach.

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 The reverse happens when the saline is withdrawn.

This surgery is fairly safe but one should be aware of possible risks that exist. Nausea, vomiting, infections and aversion to food are among the most commonly encountered. Releasing the compression slightly by drawing a bit of saline from the tube helps relieve a number of these symptoms. The compression can then be restored slowly over tome to achieve the original stomach 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 takes a few weeks and one can resume a normal diet in about two weeks. It is important to bear in mind that results tend to vary from one client to another. The differences exist due to factors such as technique used, severity of your problem and the presence or absence of complications among others. Combining the surgical options with lifestyle changes increases the chances of getting remarkable results.




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