Important Facts On 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 operations are also called restrictive surgeries. This term is sometimes used because of the reduction in stomach capacity that is created by the surgeries. The amount of food that can be held by the stomach in any one sitting is considerably reduced and this translates to reduced absorption of nutrients. The few calories obtained from the food are mainly used for the provision of energy with very little going to storage as fat.

The main types of bariatric surgeries that are performed are sleeve gastrectomy and gastric banding. Although the two are fundamentally different, the end results is largely the same. They both cause a significant reduction in the functional size of the stomach which in turn reduces the amount of food eaten. One of the major differences is that banding can be reversed while sleeve gastrectomy is permanent and cannot be reversed.

Gastric banding is performed by placing a silicon based band on the stomach upper portion (also known as fundus). This is achieved through minimal surgical access using an instrument known as a laparoscope. The incisions made are quite small hence there is rarely any need to worry about excessive bleeding or unsightly scars later on. The lower stomach portion forms a small pouch whose capacity is about an ounce of food.

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 The reverse happens when the saline is withdrawn.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 involves surgical resection of the stomach with the aim of reducing its size. After the operation only 20 to 25% is left. The structure that is left is more tubular which reduces the transit time of food. Reduced absorption of nutrients, therefore, occurs due to two main reasons: the increased transit time and the reduced intake of food. Side effects here 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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