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What is Restrictive Weight Loss Surgery?

There are several types of weight loss surgeries. Each form of surgery comes with its own special concerns and considerations. Health care professional carefully examine each person’s individual case to determine which type of weight loss surgery is the most effective. One common form of weight loss surgery is called restrictive weight loss surgery. This is a very common and popular method of weight loss surgery and is often performed with laparoscopically, or the least invasive.

Restrictive weight loss surgery is most simply put as a form of surgery that reduces the amount of food that the stomach can hold. It does not interfere with normal digestion or the digestion and intake of vital minerals and vitamins. The vertical banded Gastroplasty and the Lap-Band weight loss surgeries are both considered restrictive weight loss surgeries.

The vertical banded Gastroplasty is a restrictive procedure that is performed either laparoscopically or as an open procedure. During this surgery, the surgeon uses stomach staples to make a new, smaller stomach pouch. This smaller pouch only allows a very small amount of food at a time. The restricting of the food intake leads to smaller meals and fewer calories. The patient that has this surgery will feel full sooner. In addition, this surgery does not affect the way the stomach digests food or nutrients. There are a few advantages of this surgery. First, nutrients and vitamins are fully absorbed. This eliminates side effects such as hair loss and anemia. Also, this procedure is usually less invasive and easier than other weight loss surgeries. Because the intestines are not altered, there is a less chance of leakage and obstruction following surgery and there is a lower mortality rate from this surgery.

The disadvantages of this restrictive weight loss surgery are that although it can sometimes be done laparoscopically, most of the time, it must be an open procedure. This can lead to a longer healing time. This surgery also requires cutting and stapling of the stomach and is not adjustable or reversible. Many times, patients with this surgery often experience a slower weight loss than with other methods.

The newer Lap-Band procedure is also considered a restrictive weight loss surgery.

There are many benefits of this surgery. It is the least invasive and requires a much shorter healing time than with other methods. There is also a much lower mortality rate for this surgery and has the least amount of complication risks. There is no cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing required. In addition, it is completely reversible and adjustable.

The disadvantages of the Lap-Band are that sometimes there is a slower rate of weight loss that with other surgeries. Weight loss using the Lap-Band is much more even and can take a longer period of time. Because this method requires saline to be added periodically, it requires a port to be implanted under the skin. This is a critical part of the Lap-Band and while most patients do no report complications with the port, there is a possibility of infection at the port site.

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