The bariatric surgery procedure causes weight loss by reducing your stomach size. The surgery is life-changing, but It’s not for everyone and not for every weight loss situation.
You may be an ideal candidate for the bypass if you’re severely obese and have tried to lose weight through dieting or exercise without success.
The surgery is usually done through keyhole surgery (laparoscopic). First, the surgeon makes a small cut in your abdomen and puts the new smaller stomach pouch inside it. Next, the surgeon joins the small intestine to this new pouch. This means that food passes directly from the small intestine into the stomach, bypassing part of the large intestine.
When you eat less, the number of calories you absorb is also reduced, resulting in weight loss. Keep reading to determine if you should get the procedure or select another mode of weight loss:
What You Need to Know Before Considering Bariatric Surgery
The surgery is a complex procedure that is effective for weight loss. This procedure entails rearranging your stomach and intestines to reduce the amount of food you consume at a time. This limits the body’s absorption of calories.
The procedure also involves stapling and rerouting part of your stomach. The new connection between your stomach and intestines limits how much food you can eat at once, which helps you feel full faster after eating less. You absorb fewer calories from whatever you do eat.
The procedure should only be considered a last resort for people with obesity who have tried and failed with other weight loss methods. Weight loss surgery should not be viewed as a cure-all for obesity or its associated health problems but rather as an option for those who want to improve their health and quality of life.
Before considering weight loss surgery, you should discuss it with your doctor and dietitian. Dr. Jay Suggs will evaluate your overall health, how much weight you need to lose, and whether other treatments would be more appropriate for you. Your doctor may also ask about your family history of certain diseases such as diabetes before recommending the surgery.
Patients should know that the surgery does not cure diabetes or high blood pressure. However, these conditions can be controlled with medication for life.
Medical Guidelines to Qualify You for A Gastric Bypass
The procedure is often used as part of a bariatric (weight loss) surgery program to treat severe obesity. It’s performed on men and women who are at least 100 pounds (45 kilograms) over their ideal body weight and have been unable to lose weight through dieting or exercise alone.
Gastric bypass may be an option if you have:
A BMI of more than 40, regardless of how much additional fat you have, or a BMI of 35 to 40 with significant health concerns associated with being overweight.
A BMI of 30 to 35, with significant health issues related to being overweight
You’ve tried various methods to reduce weight and keep it off without success. Changes in lifestyle choices such as eating healthier foods, increasing physical activity, and decreasing weight by dieting alone or in combination with exercise are among them.
You’re committed to making permanent changes in your lifestyle after surgery — including eating healthier foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining appropriate body weight.
You’re not pregnant or trying to get pregnant within six months after surgery (or ever)
You must meet several medical guidelines before undergoing the treatment:
After a thorough evaluation and lengthy talk with your physicians and you qualify for the surgery, the best thing you can do before surgery is to be prepared. The more informed you are, the better.
It is imperative to follow the instructions given by your surgeon. Sometimes, you may have to stop taking certain medications, such as aspirin and anticoagulants. In addition, if you visit our facilities, Dr. Jay Suggs may advise you not to eat or drink anything after midnight before your surgery.
Types Of Gastric Bypass
Listed below are the main types of procedures to choose from:
1.Roux-en-Y
It’s a surgical operation whereby the stomach gets stapled and divided to get a small upper pouch with a considerably bigger bottom “remnant” pocket. After that, the duodenum. Finally, it is separated at the Treitz ligament and stapled to the upper end of the small stomach pouch. The primary goal of Roux-en-Y surgery is to decrease malabsorption of nutrients by reducing food intake by reducing stomach volume while retaining bile secretion and pancreatic function. This procedure results in weight loss of approximately 80 percent of excess body weight five years after surgery.
2. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG)
This laparoscopic procedure removes a large portion of your stomach and leaves behind a banana-shaped pouch that can hold only about an ounce of food.
3. Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS)
The surgery removes most of your stomach and reroutes part of your small intestine to create a new digestive tract. The small intestine’s first section — called the duodenum — is bypassed completely. You’ll have two small pouches instead of one large one, but the pouches will be connected by a Y-shaped connection at the bottom of your stomach.
Considerations Before the Surgery
Below are important considerations:
Discuss any medications you take with your doctor. You may need to stop taking some medications before surgery. For example, if you’re taking aspirin or other blood thinners, your doctor will want to know so they can ensure that you don’t bleed too much during or after surgery.
If necessary, tell your doctor about any allergies you have so they can make sure that no allergic reactions will occur during surgery or recovery.
Talk with your doctor about any current medical conditions that might interfere with the procedure or affect your recovery time. For example, your doctor may ask about previous surgeries, illnesses, and injuries from the past five years that might affect this procedure.
Ask about any restrictions or special instructions to follow before surgery.
Ask about what to expect during and after the procedure, including pain level and recovery time.
Make sure that all questions are answered and that you understand everything that was discussed with you.
Pre-Surgery Preparations
Before you have surgery, it’s important to prepare your body and mind for the procedure.
The more prepared you are for what to expect before and after surgery, the less stressful the procedure will be.
Preparing for surgery is a three-step process:
Step 1: Learn about your procedure: Before the surgery date, ensure you understand what to expect during and after the procedure. This will help you feel more comfortable and less anxious during the entire process.
Step 2: Prepare your body and mind for surgery: You can take steps to prepare yourself physically and mentally for surgery. If possible, schedule the day of surgery on a non-work day so you can avoid as much stress as possible.
Step 3: Follow instructions after surgery: Following up with your doctor as directed ensures you receive the best possible care. This is especially important if you need to take any medications or perform any activities after surgery.
Also, prepare physically and mentally for your operation by following your surgeon’s instructions carefully — including exercising daily, eating well-balanced meals, stopping smoking, and avoiding alcohol for two weeks before and two weeks after your procedure. You may also be asked not to take aspirin or ibuprofen for six weeks before surgery due to potential bleeding risks.
It’s a significant procedure, so it’s important to know what to expect during the surgery.
The following are the most common things you can expect during your procedure:
A series of tests before surgery. Before you undergo surgery, you’ll have several tests and screenings to determine if you’re healthy enough to undergo the procedure. These include blood work and other diagnostic tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG). You may also need chest X-rays or an ultrasound. In addition, your surgeon will ask about your medical history to ensure that you’re a good candidate for the surgery.
Pre-surgery preparation. Before entering the operating room, you’ll be asked to remove any jewelry or other objects that might interfere with surgical equipment or cause complications. You’ll also be given an antibiotic intravenously (into a vein) just before entering the operating room.
Your surgeon will explain the procedure in detail before you undergo it.
Anesthesia induction. Once you’re ready for surgery, an anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia (which renders you unconscious) or regional anesthesia (which blocks pain perception in part of your body).
The Procedure Itself
The procedure is done in two parts:
First, your doctor makes three minor cuts on your abdomen. One of these cuts is just below your belly button; the other two are lower on either side of your abdomen. The surgeon then removes a small portion of your stomach and attaches it to a section of the small intestine that leads directly into the intestine. The new connection allows food to bypass most of the stomach and go directly into the intestines.
Next, the surgeon creates an opening in your abdominal wall to connect this “new” stomach pouch with your esophagus (the tube that carries food from mouth to stomach). This opening allows food to pass directly into your intestine instead of going through the esophagus and back out again.
Closure of any remaining parts of your stomach with staples or sutures, Afterward, doctors sometimes give patients an intravenous drip with fluids to prevent dehydration during recovery.
Post-Surgery
You’ll be brought to a recovery room after your surgery, where nurses will monitor your vital signs and look for any complications. You may experience some discomfort or soreness, but it is usually minor and can be managed with medicine.
You’ll be sent to a postoperative recovery room shortly after surgery, where nurses will continue checking your vital signs and seeking any issues. The nurse will also monitor your bowel activity (bowel movements). You may have constipation after the surgery and need to drink plenty of fluids to help pass stools easily. In addition, your doctor may prescribe laxatives if you don’t go to the bathroom within six hours after surgery.
Here are some tips for recovering after the surgery:
Take it easy. You’ll be in bed or on a couch most of the time for at least a week after surgery. You’ll need help getting up, dressing and bathing. If you’re sore and tired, take naps when you can.
Get plenty of fluids during recovery. You may not be able to eat solid foods yet, so ensure you’re getting enough fluids from juice boxes, soups, and popsicles (the frozen kind). Ask your doctor if you need an IV with fluids before going home from the hospital.
Take pain medications for discomfort from swelling or incisions (cuts) in your abdomen. The nurse will give these medications when needed — not just when you ask for them!
Benefits And the Risks Involved
Below are the pros and cons of the procedure:
Pros:
1. The most common reason people get the surgery is obesity-related health problems. The procedure is usually recommended if you’ve tried dieting and exercising and still can’t lose weight. If your BMI is 40 or higher and you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, you may also be eligible for the surgery.
2. The surgery helps people lose weight quickly — which may be especially important if they’re at risk of developing severe health problems due to their weight. In addition, after the surgery, many people experience improved quality of life, reduced pain, and increased mobility.
3. After surgery, you will have less appetite and feel full after eating a small portion. You will also absorb fewer calories from what you eat because most food passes through your digestive system without being digested.
4. Decreases Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: The surgery can help you lose weight in a relatively short period. This is one of the top benefits of the procedure. In addition, if you have type 2 diabetes, gastric surgery can help you reduce your risk of developing other complications associated with the condition, such as heart disease and kidney failure.
5. Lowers Cholesterol Levels: Another benefit is that it can help lower your cholesterol levels. Many see an improvement in HDL (good) cholesterol and a drop in LDL (bad) cholesterol levels after the operation. For example, following bariatric surgery, the National Institutes of Health discovered. After a year, patients’ LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by 50% on average.
6. You can have a normal life again: The surgery is one of the most effective weight loss methods. After surgery, you will lose weight quickly and continue to lose weight for many years.
7. Your blood sugar levels will improve dramatically: If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels will improve after this surgery. This is because your body won’t have to work hard to digest your meals and absorb nutrients. This means you won’t need as much insulin or other medications to control your blood sugar levels.
Cons
1. Lapband procedure is associated with severe complications such as leaks or ulcers in the stomach and intestines and high blood pressure, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. The risk of serious complications is lower than it used to be, but it remains higher than in other types of bariatric surgery (about 1 percent).
2. The procedure isn’t appropriate for everyone with obesity-related health problems — particularly those who don’t want to make significant lifestyle changes after the surgery. It also carries some risks associated with any major surgery: infection, blood clots in the legs (deep vein.
3. It is a permanent weight loss solution. It is not reversible. If you have lost a significant amount of weight, you need to be prepared that you may still need to lose more.
4. The risks associated with this surgery include possible infection or bleeding, injury to internal organs during surgery, blood clots in deep veins, problems with anesthesia or anesthesia-related breathing problems during or after surgery, postsurgical infection, and death (rare).
5. Surgery is major abdominal surgery with all the risks that accompany any major surgery—the risk of death or complications is low but not zero. Complications include wound infections, blood clots in the legs or lungs, and leaky intestines (gastrointestinal fistula). The latter complication can sometimes lead to small intestine bacterial overgrowth if it’s not treated properly after surgery. In addition, these complications may increase with age, obesity, and pre-existing medical conditions.
6. Stomach ulcers: It’s common for people with the procedure to develop stomach ulcers within two years of operation. Stomach ulcers can cause severe pain and bleeding that requires treatment by a doctor.
7. Gallstones: A common side effect of the surgery is gallstones, which are small stones made of cholesterol that form in the gallbladder. Gallstones can cause abdominal pain or nausea but usually don’t require treatment unless they become very large or painful or if they block bile flow from the liver into the intestine (biliary obstruction).
Surgery is among the most effective weight loss procedures. It can also help treat obesity-related conditions like diabetes or HBP.
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