Weight Loss Surgery

Individuals suffering from weight related issues, which are critical to life, choose to go for a weight loss surgery. Other names of weight loss surgery are obesity surgery and bariatric surgery. More than 100,000 choose to reduce weight by undergoing a weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery is the last step to reduce weight, when all the other methods of weight loss fail.

Weight loss surgery is recommended to those individuals, who are undergoing treatment for weight loss. An individual to undergo a weight loss surgery needs to have a BMI (Basal Metabolism Index) of 40 or more. The candidate also has to be fit for the application of a general anesthesia and has to be psychologically prepared for the changes that may take place after the surgery.

Types of Weight Loss Surgery:

The weight loss surgery is either an open surgery or a keyhole surgery. Lap band or gastric banding is the methods used in weight loss surgery. These methods involve placing a constricting band at the top region of the stomach. This creates a small pouch in the stomach and limits the food intake.  It also creates a constricted passage in the remaining portion of the stomach. An inflatable balloon is generally placed in an individual’s stomach after the operation. Below stated are the types of weight loss surgeries:

1.        Bypass operation: Bypass surgery involves bypassing some digestive systems and restriction of the stomach, so that few calories are absorbed from the food. The bypass operation has two alternatives, biliopancreatic diversion and gastric bypass. Patients are given special dietary advice before and after the operation. The doctor monitors the patient’s diet throughout his life span. This ensures that, there is no deficiency of nutrients. Here, the doctor also checks and assures no complications after surgery.

2.        Gastroplasty: Gastroplasty involves dividing the stomach into two parts, vertically and horizontally. This creates a small segment of the stomach to fill up fast with only few tablespoons of food and slowly empties through the digestive system.

How effective is the Weight Loss Surgery:

The amount of weight lost after the surgery varies from person to person. The various factors that involve the rate of weight loss after the surgery are:

1.        Overall condition of the patient's health

2.        Weight before surgery

3.        Surgical procedure

4.        Patient's age

5.        Ability to exercise

6.        Motivation of the patient and the support received from family and friends

7.        Commitment to maintain the dietary guidelines and follow-up care

According to researches, the patient loses weight at a faster rate and continues to lose weight for 18 to 24 months after the surgery. Patients lose about 30 to 50 percent of the excess weight in the first six months of surgery and about 77 percent of excess weight by the end of 12 months after surgery.

Weight loss surgery is a life saving operation for patients, who immediately need to lose weight for their health. This method though is very effective, but it needs to be the last choice for weight loss. Before opting for weight loss surgery, the candidate needs to take an advice of a specialist.