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What is Weight Loss Surgery?
For a long time, weight loss surgery has been considered a drastic measure
for those experiencing obesity. It used to be that weight loss surgery
was risky and often involved cutting into the intestines and stapling or
re-routing.
Today, there are still several types of weight loss surgery
that is invasive and hard to reverse.
In addition, some of these types of surgeries can cause serious complications and even death.
Weight loss can be extremely frustrating and for many people, no amount of dieting or exercise seems to help them shed the weight. Being overweight can cause a host of health and psychological problems. Those that carry extra weight are more prone to experiencing heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems. People who are morbidly obese often have a shorter lifespan, as well. In addition, being heavy is often hard on a person’s self esteem and feeling of self worth. Being obese can affect a person’s whole outlook on life. There are millions of Americans that look to diet, exercise and even behavior modification in order to shed the pounds. Unfortunately, these methods are often not helpful to some and can require a life long commitment. Those who are morbidly obese will have a greater difficulty in losing the weight and many times, weight loss surgery is the only option.
Weight loss surgery is becoming more popular as it becomes safer and less invasive.
There are several types of weight loss surgery that is commonly
performed on obese patients. One of the newer types of surgery is called
the Lap-Band.
The Lap-Band system is placed on a patient’s stomach
to restrict the amount of food and liquids that can enter the stomach.
This type of weigh loss surgery does not affect the normal digestion of
food or nutrients. Another type of weight loss surgery is called malabsorptive.
This weight loss surgery is more invasive, or requires more internal surgery,
than other types. This surgery shortens the digestive tract and limits
the amount of calories that can be absorbed into the body. Combinations
of restrictive and malabsorptive weigh loss surgery techniques are also
commonly used. This means that the surgery restricts the amount of food
in the stomach and reduces the amount of calories absorbed in the body.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, these are all options
that are worth considering. If conventional weight loss methods have
failed, speak to your doctor about surgical options. Each of the three
types of weigh loss surgery has it’s
own advantages and disadvantages. It is vital to speak to a specialized and
knowledgeable weight loss surgeon to find out if one of these types
of surgery is right for you. Some people with health conditions or other
problems may not be good candidates for the weight loss surgery.
Other types of weight loss surgery are designed for the severely obese - generally those people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. These surgeries, which include gastric bypass and various "banding" and "stapling" procedures, have helped many formerly-obese people enjoy a higher-quality of life. However, all of these operations involve a considerable amount of risk.
Some of the risks associated with weight loss surgery include:
- Death - According to the Mayo Clinic, about one in 200 to 300 people who has gastric bypass surgery dies from the procedure.
- Post-surgery complications - Some weight loss surgery patients experience severe complications such as internal bleeding, infections, and blood clots. Others have to undergo follow-up procedures to correct complications such as abdominal hernias.
- Gallstones - More than a third of patients develop gallstones as a result of losing large amounts of bodyweight following a weight loss surgery procedure.
- Nutrient deficiencies - Some weight loss surgeries disrupt the digestion process. Without careful dietary supplementation this can lead to deficiencies in many important nutrients, especially vitamins B12 and D, iron, calcium, and folate.
Anyone considering weight loss surgery needs to weigh the risks against the benefits. They also need to realize that these extreme procedures are not cosmetic. Most patients only end up losing about 30% of their bodyweight and remain overweight for life. Simply put, weight loss surgery alone will not make you thin and beautiful. Yes, if you are extremely overweight, it may provide tremendous health benefits. But if you're just looking for a way to get thin without the "hassles" of healthy diet and regular exercise you better think again.
>>What to Expect after Lap-Band Weight Loss Surgery >>
