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What You Should Know About 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.

To perform gastric banding, a silicon band is put on the upper portion of the stomach (fundus). By compressing this part, the stomach is reduced to a small pouch that holds just about an ounce of food. An instrument known as a laparoscope makes it possible to conduct the operation with minimal access. The use of small incisions means that the resultant scars will not be prominent.

The silicon band is connected to a long plastic tube that can be easily accessed from an area under the skin. By injecting and withdrawing saline or sterile water into the tube, the pressure that is exerted by the band can be regulated. Injecting the saline into the tube increases the pressure which effectively reduces the size of the stomach further. The reverse happens when the saline is withdrawn.

One may suffer from a number of side effects after undergoing this surgery. They include nausea, vomiting, aversion to food, minor bleeding and infections. One of the interventions that can be used to reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting is through reducing the compression by the band so that the stomach size is slightly increased. Readjustments can then be done slowly until the desired size is attained.

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.

Recovering from the operation takes just a few weeks. One can resume their regular diet after about two weeks. The results vary from one person to another due to a number of factors. These include the surgical technique used, the magnitude of the problem, complications and so on. To increase the chances of success, you will be well advised to adopt a change in lifestyle as well.




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