Bariatric surgery was first performed in the 1960’s. Since then, the surgery has largely evolved. It is currently practiced all over the world and is considered to be highly safe.
When considering weight loss surgery, you need to weigh all of your options.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery refers to series of operations done on the gastrointestinal system that assist an obese person to lose weight.
The surgery can either restrict how much food a patient eats, or it can alter the body’s ability to absorb ingested food. In some cases it does both.
The first gastric bypass was performed back in 1969. The surgery did not gain much notoriety until the bariatric revolution that started in the early 2000’s.
As years the years went by, the procedure got much safer and more surgeons began to offer laparoscopic options that offered patients with faster recovery times and fewer scars. This was highly welcomed.
After the procedure, patients started to experience not only a reduction in their excess weight, but they were also cured of other obesity related conditions, some of which include joint and back pain, obstructive sleep apnea, fatty liver diseases, gastric reflux and various forms of diabetes and asthma.
Adjustable Gastric Band/Lap Band
This bariatric procedure causes weight loss by limiting the amount of food that a person’s stomach can hold at one time. The surgeon starts by putting an inflatable band around the top part of the stomach.
This creates a small pouch towards the top of the stomach. As a result, the amount of food that the patient can eat in one will be restricted. According to various studies, patients managed to lose 60% of their excess body weight after five years. The procedure also has a very low mortality rate of around 0.1%.
Gastric Sleeve Procedure
During this bariatric procedure, surgeons achieve weight loss by causing the stomach to become physically smaller. This means that the patient would need less food in order to feel satisfied. During the procedure, the surgeon would separate the stomach.
This would remove around 85% of its original volume. The other part of the stomach will have the shape of a slim banana that measures 2 to 5 ounces. The complication rate associated with gastric sleeve is around 8% while the mortality rate is 0.19%.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
This particular bariatric procedure is not regularly performed when you compare it to the aforementioned procedures. The surgery causes weight loss by restricting the size of the stomach and decreasing the amount of food that the body can absorb. During the procedure, the surgeon creates a small pouch around the top part of the stomach.
They then connect the pouch to a Y-shaped section of the small intestines. This in turn allows the food to bypass the lower stomach and parts of the intestines. According to various studies, patients tend to lose around 60% to 80% of their excess body weight after just one year. In addition, recent data also shows a mortality rate of around 0.3%.
As one can clearly see, bariatric surgery has been proven to be safe and highly effective. Those with weight loss issues can greatly benefit from it.
Contact Advanced Surgical and Weight Loss today and see how Dr. Diego Velarde can help you reach your weight loss goals.