Important Facts On 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 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.

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.

To perform gastric banding, a silicon band is put on the upper portion of the stomach (fundus). By compressing this part, the stomach is reduced to a small pouch that holds just about an ounce of food. An instrument known as a laparoscope makes it possible to conduct the operation with minimal access. The use of small incisions means that the resultant scars will not be prominent.

A long plastic tube connects the band to an accessible area under the skin. The role of the tube is to help regulate the compression exerted on the stomach by the tube which effectively increases or reduces its size. This is achieved by injecting or withdrawing a small amount of water (or saline) from the tube. When the saline is injected the size reduces, and when it is withdrawn the compression reduces and the stomach size increases.

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 an operation in which surgical resection of the stomach is done to reduce its size by as much as 80%. The resultant stomach is a tubular structure that reduces the transit time of food hence reduced absorption of nutrients. The other benefit is that one experiences early satiety and consumes a lot less as a result. The side effects associated with the procedure are similar to those of banding.

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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