There are several types of weight loss surgery that surgeons will perform on a morbidly obese patient who meets certain criteria. Some of the criteria include having co-occurring conditions such as:
If you are interested in hearing about your options for weight loss procedures in order to attempt to reduce your weight or improve your life in other areas, contact our office today.
The goal of bariatric surgery is to help an individual lose a significant amount of weight quickly in order to increase their life span and improve their daily living. Surgeons have provided weight loss surgeries to males and females for several years, but today, there are new procedures that are less invasive, making recovery from surgery easier and faster. However, a weight loss procedure requires dedication from a patient because they must follow strict mealtimes and consume certain types of foods in order to avoid nutritional deficiencies or adverse effects such as nausea.
Weight loss surgery is typically only permitted after an individual has attempted a variety of other methods to lose weight, including:
Your doctor might suggest that you try one of these methods first before attempting a weight loss procedure.
A surgeon must complete a careful evaluation of a patient before they can have a weight loss procedure, and in some cases, a patient must lose a certain amount of weight first for approval. The reason for needing to lose weight first is because holding back the layers of fatty tissue over the surgical site is difficult, and this extra weight puts a lot of pressure on the internal organs during the recovery process. The patients who are required to lose weight before a surgical procedure often weigh 500 pounds or more, and they must follow a very restrictive diet that includes high levels of protein and almost no carbohydrates. By eating tiny portions of food five or six times a day, a patient’s stomach may shrink slightly, and their body will produce less stomach acid. The production of stomach acid in the stomach produces hormones and signals to the brain that increase a feeling of hunger. By reducing food portions and eating certain types of food, these signals decrease, helping patients to potentially have more success after their weight loss surgery.
There are several procedures for weight loss, and a surgeon will recommend the type that they believe is most beneficial for a patient. Some of the types of surgeries include:
Malabsorptive weight loss surgeries are designed to reduce the absorption of foods to decrease the number of calories that a patient consumes. To decrease caloric absorption, the stomach or other digestive organs are reduced in size with a variety of methods such as sectioning a stomach with bands or redirecting internal organs. Surgeons can place bands on certain areas of the stomach, and most bands are adjustable. Another type of restrictive weight loss surgery is removing a portion of the stomach, and this surgery is irreversible. With a gastric balloon surgery, a balloon-type device is inserted into the stomach and filled with a gas to create a feeling of fullness to decrease a patient’s appetite. Additional procedures include sleeve or gastric bypass methods that combine malabsorptive and restrictive processes.
One of the most important criteria for weight loss surgery is a patient’s body mass index that is determined by a patient’s weight, height, and gender. A patient with no additional health problems caused by their weight generally needs a BMI of at least 40 while patients with other conditions need a BMI of at least 30. Before a procedure, a patient must understand how the procedure is performed and what they must do during their recovery. Patients meet with physicians, surgeons, and therapists to determine if they are physically and mentally prepared for a weight loss surgery.
Your doctor can talk with you more about your choices and will evaluate your current medical health and medical history to determine if you would benefit from a certain type of weight loss surgery.
Weight loss surgeries are performed laproscopically with small incisions that permit the insertion of cameras to view the internal organs on a television. These small openings will heal faster, allowing patients to return home quicker. However, a patient’s digestive tract must adjust, and a patient can consume only clear liquids such as broth or juice. After a few days, a patient can eat small portions of soft foods such as sugar-free gelatin or pureed soups. Within two weeks, patients need a high-protein diet that includes soft fish or chicken. If a patient eats too much food, then they will experience nausea or vomiting. Patients are required to drink a lot of water each day to avoid dehydration that is common after any surgical procedure.
The average number of pounds lost from a weight loss surgery depends on the type of procedure. Most patients lose the majority of their excess weight after 10 months, but researchers are more interested in long-term maintenance. One of the main goals is for patients to be able to reduce their secondary dangerous conditions, like high blood pressure.
Your doctor will give you specific feedback about what kind of results you might be able to look forward to based on the procedure that you choose and your current health. It is very important that you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully in order to see the best results.
If you are interested in learning more about weight loss surgery, contact our office for a free consultation. We can talk with you about the different options that are available for your situation and work with you to move forward with the process.
