Friday, June 17, 2016

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.

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.

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 band is usually continuous with a plastic tubing accessible from an area under the skin. The role of this tube is to help adjust the stomach size from time to time whenever the need arises. Injection of sterile water into the tubing increases the pressure on the stomach which in turn reduces the capacity even further. Drawing the water, on the other hand, releases the pressure and increases the capacity as a result.

There are a number of complications that may result from this operation. Those that are encountered most commonly include nausea, vomiting, aversion to food, bleeding and infections. Some of the symptoms can be relieved by adjusting the compression exerted by the band. Once the symptoms have subsided, the pressure can be increased gradually once more to reduce the stomach to the desired 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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