Weight Loss Surgery | A Primer
Weight loss surgery can be used to decrease the size of the stomach and is considered a serious surgical procedure. It will reduce your food intake and as such it can help you to lose a lot of weight. This will be a permanent procedure which will require a commitment to be able to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Weight Loss Surgery will not only help you lose excess weight, but it will improve your health overall, while boosting your self-esteem and general well-being.
The Types of Surgery for Weight Loss
Gastric bypass surgery, a gastric sleeve and a lap band surgery are the 3 most common forms of bariatric surgery.
Gastric bypass surgery is basically when the surgeon performing the weight loss surgery will staple the small, upper area of stomach, which will separate it from the other part of the stomach. This results in the amount of food you can eat being reduced. The small intestine is then reconnected to the smaller stomach area.
Lap-Band surgery is where a surgeon will place a silicone rubber band at the top of your stomach. This will create a small stomach pouch. As a result, when you eat you will feel full a lot quicker. Food will then slowly pass from this smaller area to the larger part of the stomach and then from there through the rest of your digestive system.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a keyhole surgical technique that will involve a laparoscopic tool which will be inserted through very small incisions. The laparoscopic tool with provide a visual aid to the inside of the stomach throughout the procedure.
Surgery for Weight Loss
It’s always a good idea to consult with a surgeon that specializes in the weight loss surgery field, also known as bariatric surgery to be able to determine all of your options. If you are seriously overweight and you cannot attain a healthy weight with regular exercise and diet, or if your weight is causing you medical issues then you may be ideal for weight loss surgery.
A doctor will evaluate any medical conditions that you may have which could complicate surgery. They will also note any conditions which will improve after surgery, along with whether or not you are ready for the dietary change.
A bariatric surgery consultation will also be able to provide you with the ability to learn more about procedures and what you can expect both physically and emotionally. Before the consultation you might want to come up with all the questions that you want to ask your surgeon. Our tips are:
Which of the 3 types of bariatric surgery is best for me? (The gastric bypass, gastric sleeve resection or lap-band)?
With weight loss surgery what is my expected recovery time?
What are my dietary guidelines after surgery?
After surgery will my health improve?
As a result of surgery, how much weight can I lose?
Will I need to have plastic surgery post bariatric surgery, which procedures?
How is bariatric surgery undertaken?
The weight loss surgery can take up to four hours and as such is performed under a general anesthetic. A lap-band surgery will take around 1 hour, gastric bypass surgery takes around four hours as does gastric sleeve resection.
Post-Surgery
Once you’ve had weight loss surgery you might find normal life a challenge. This is obviously mostly to do with the amount of food you can eat. As the majority of weight loss surgeries end up reducing your stomachs capacity to a tiny amount, you might find you have less energy. The recover time will change from person to person but many find it only takes six weeks once surgery is complete.
This food reduction due to the weight loss surgery will also mean that you should be able to lose plenty of weight. If you end up losing a lot of weight you may be left with excess or loose skin. This skin can be removed though via cosmetic procedures. As an example, a body lift with remove skin and fat from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and hips. On the other hand Abdominoplasty will tighten the muscles while also removing excess abdominal skin. A Panniculectomy will remove fat and skin from the area of the abdomen however it will not tighten the muscles like the abdominoplasty surgery.
Weight loss surgery can change your life span and quality of life in a few hours, but is still a big life changing decision that should be discussed with your doctor.
