Finding the best weight loss surgery for you may seem intimidating with the variety of alternatives currently accessible. To start the conversation with your doctor, we bring you the prerequisite knowledge required on weight loss surgeries.
Around the globe, three primary weight loss surgeries are currently being carried out. They are sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric bands. Each of these procedures has advantages and disadvantages, and none of them is a quick or easy way to lose weight.
Surgery is only a tool to help with the weight loss process; in order to get the best outcomes from any procedure, you still need to stick to a diet and exercise plan.
You must have a BMI (body mass index) larger than 40 or a BMI greater than 35 with comorbid conditions, which means you must also have other medical disorders, such as heart disease, in addition to a high BMI, in order to be a candidate for weight loss surgery.
The longest-practiced of the three operations, gastric bypass surgery has been done for more than 20 years. An incision is made across the top of the stomach by the surgeon to form a pouch about the size of a walnut. The pouch is then connected to the small intestine by the surgeon, allowing food to pass through the stomach and go straight into the small intestine.
Due to the fact that gastric bypass is a combination treatment, it lowers both food absorption (also known as “malabsorption”) and portion size.
A surgeon wraps an adjustable silicone band around the upper region of the stomach during the gastric banding procedure, which has been performed in the US for more than ten years. Only the gastric banding treatment allows for adjustment; during an office visit, the tightness of the band around the stomach can be changed to change how much food a person can hold.
Currently, only the Lap-Band® by Allergan has FDA approval for use in patients with a BMI between 30 and 34.9. Pre-operative criteria change depending on insurance coverage and any potential pre-existing medical issues.
The sleeve gastrectomy, which has only recently received FDA approval, entails a surgeon cutting 80 to 85 percent of the stomach and then adhering the remaining stomach tissue together. You are only allowed to eat a certain amount of food while undergoing this restrictive process.
Your health and body type will determine the best weight loss procedure.
For instance, simpler operations might not be an option if you are extremely fat or if you’ve previously had stomach surgery. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure with your doctor.
Visit a medical facility that specializes in weight loss surgery, if at all possible. According to studies, complications are less likely to occur when weight loss surgery is performed by specialists.
Make sure the surgeon has a lot of expertise doing the procedure you need, wherever you are.
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