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Bariatric Surgery

Is Bariatric Surgery Effective?

Given the serious, even life-threatening effects of severe clinical obesity, many medical experts support surgical methods to reduce morbid obesity, citing the relative ineffectiveness of conventional treatments such as diet, exercise and lifestyle counseling. However, others are concerned about the relative high rate of perioperative and post-operative complications of bariatric surgery, plus the difficulties experienced by patients in adapting to their new diet. Although research into surgical techniques, health risks and psychosocial factors is ongoing, the bottom line appears to be this:

  • Bariatric procedures are serious operations with a risk of significant complications. Many gastric surgeries are irreversible. Thus before deciding, candidates should thoroughly discuss all their options with their doctor.
  • Patients must have realistic and informed expectations about the impact of surgery on their weight, body shape and eating habits.
  • After surgery, it is vital to adhere strictly to the proper dietary and exercise guidelines.
  • Participation in post-operative support groups is beneficial for many patients.

Benefits of laparoscopic surgery

Laparoscopic surgery offers individuals a safe and effective alternative to traditional surgery. During a laparoscopic procedure, physicians use tiny incisions and small, precision-crafted surgical instruments. Since it is minimally invasive and relatively gentle on the body, patients often return to their regular routine within 1-2 weeks. Other benefits include:

  • Smaller incisions
  • Less scarring
  • Less post-operative pain
  • Fewer wound complications
  • Shorter hospital stays
  • Lower cost
  • Quicker recovery

Laparoscopic surgery is not appropriate for all patients. If you decide to pursue bariatric surgery, you and your physician can discuss the options and decide on the best procedure for you.

Types of bariatric surgery:

  • LAP-BAND® System
  • Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
  • Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

No bariatric procedure works entirely by itself. Individuals must make lifestyle changes as well. Proper diet, physical activity and health care practices are necessary for any surgical weight loss system to work.

LAP-BAND® System

The LAP-BAND® System provides continuous, long-term treatment for severe obesity. An adjustable silicone elastic band is placed around the upper part of the stomach creating a small pouch and restricting the passage of food.

The upper, smaller stomach pouch serves many purposes:

  • It creates a feeling of fullness
  • It limits the amount of food the stomach can hold
  • It slows down the passage of food

After it is in place, the band is inflated non-surgically through a port under the skin to further restrict the amount of food the stomach can hold. There is no permanent change to a person’s anatomy and food digestion occurs through the normal process, allowing nutrients and vitamins from food to be fully absorbed into the body. 

The band can be placed in as little as 45 minutes and patients are typically hospitalized for less than 24 hours following surgery. Patients usually lose 40-70% of excess weight within 1-3 years.

After the LAP-BAND® System is in place, patients are monitored closely. If they are not losing weight, the band can be tightened. Conversely, it can be loosened to allow more food, if necessary. This is a great benefit for women who become pregnant, as it allows more food to be eaten during pregnancy. The band can then be tightened again after pregnancy to continue weight loss.

In most cases, this procedure is performed through laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique that is relatively gentle on the body and allows for a faster recovery.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)

VBG is a purely restrictive procedure in which the upper stomach is stapled and divided, forming a small pouch that reduces the size of the stomach and the amount of food the stomach can hold. The outlet from the pouch is restricted by a non-adjustable band that allows food to slowly empty, creating a feeling of fullness and decreasing appetite.

This permanent change in anatomy still allows the nutrients and vitamins from food to be fully absorbed into the body, but the procedure can become less effective if a healthy diet is not adhered to and if liquids high in calories are consumed. The procedure takes about 90 minutes to perform and patients are usually discharged within days and back to normal activities in 1-3 weeks. Patients usually lose 50-70% of excess body weight.

In many cases, this procedure is performed through laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique that is relatively gentle on the body and allows for a faster recovery.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is the most frequently performed weight loss procedure in the United States. During this surgery, the upper stomach is stapled creating a small pouch that is completely divided from the remainder of the stomach. Part of the intestines is then attached to the small pouch.

This procedure creates a faster feeling of fullness and allows for less absorption of calories from food. It does restrict the absorption of nutrients, such as iron, calcium and vitamin B12, so vitamin supplements are essential. Dumping syndrome is also frequently experienced following Roux-en-Y procedures.

A person may experience multiple symptoms, including nausea, weakness, sweating, lightheadedness and diarrhea after eating sweets or large amounts of food. This reinforces adherence to healthy eating practices.

Gastric bypass is one of the more invasive types of bariatric surgery and has a higher risk of complications and side effects. In some cases, gastric bypass can be performed laparoscopically, but for patients who are super obese, laparoscopy may not be an option. The procedure usually takes about 2 hours to perform and patients are hospitalized 2-3 days and back to normal activities in 1-3 weeks. Patients usually lose between 60-80% of excess body weight.

In some cases, this procedure is performed through laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique that is relatively gentle on the body and allows for a faster recovery.

No bariatric procedure works entirely by itself. Individuals must make lifestyle changes as well. Proper diet, physical activity and health care practices are necessary for any surgical weight loss system to work.

Our Choice of Surgeon

We have chosen Dr. J. Lopez-Corvala as the best overall bariatric surgeon. His expertise and experience are unequal, his staff highly trained and professional.

http://obesitycontrolclinic.com/ operates at one of the best if not the best Hospital in Mexico. You may review his credentials and philosophy and decide if his surgical skills and his team is what you are looking for. Furthermore, if you do not feel comfortable traveling to Mexico by yourself, we can provide a chaperone service for a small fee.

We encourage you to reed the following page thoroughly, so you can make an informed decision. Bariatric surgery is, for the most, permanent.We have taken the liberty to include, for your benefit, various web opinions and information regarding bariatric procedures. Please reed in-toto.