Types
of weight loss
surgeries vary depending on the intention of the surgeon.
Weight
loss surgery is a surgical procedure done on your digestive
system; specifically stomach and the small intestines, with the
intention of resulting to weight loss. The
procedure is also known as bariatric surgery
or Gastro-intestinal Surgery.
Weight
loss surgery has been in practice since 1954. It includes different
types of weight loss
surgery procedures
like intestinal bypass, jejunoileal
bypass, gastric bypass
as well as horizontal or vertical gastriplasty also known as stomach
stapling.
It
takes each of the main
procedures and explains what you can expect.
Weight
loss surgery is used as a last
resort to obesity that is not responding to other kinds of diet
programs.
Though
many do not understand that weight loss surgery by itself is not
a comprehensive weight loss solution, it is increasingly becoming a
popular method of combating obesity.
In
a press release dated July 2005 by HHS’ AHRQ (Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality); a study found that weight loss
surgery in America had quadrupled from 13,386 to 17,733 procedures done
between the years 1998 and 2002.
According
to ASBS (American Society of Bariatric Surgery) about 170,000 people in
the year 2005 had weight loss surgery.
Weight
loss surgery is a procedure that targets to restrict intake and/or
interrupt the digestive and absorption of food. It is eligible to
individuals with a BMI of 40 and above. It is also an alternative for
lower BMI of 35 – 39.9 where you are experiencing severe
related health problems like Type 2 diabetes.
The
report by AHRQ estimates that 395,000 Americans between the ages of 65
- 69 were eligible for weight loss surgery in 2005. It further
estimated that by the year 2010 this number will have risen to
495,000.
Demand
for different types of weight loss surgeries is therefore expected to
increase especially as safety concerns and associated risk diminish.
There are generally three main types of weight loss surgery prodcedures
1. Restrictive weight
loss surgery 2. Malabsorptive weight
loss surgery 3. Combination
Restrictive/Malabsorption weigh loss surgery
Restrictive Weight Loss Surgery
These
procedures in their pure form only limit the amount of food you
eat. They do not interfere with the digestive process. There basically
two types of restrictive weight loss surgery.
(a) Adjustable Gastric
Banding: (AGB)
This procedure uses a silicon rubber that is placed at the top of the
stomach dividing the stomach into two; a smeller pouch at the top and
the larger stomach at the bottom. The band allows a small opening
between the two.
The upper smaller pouch of the stomach holds about 1 ounce of food and
with time expand to hold 2-3 ounces. With these procedures you cannot
eat a lot of food at once.
(b) Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
This procedure is largely similar to (AGB). The difference is in
addition to the silicon rubber band, there is use of staples to further
reduce the size of the larger lower stomach.
Restrictive weight loss surgery has the advantage of being easier to
perform. They are also considered relatively safer. Unfortunately in
comparison to the other procedure you tend to lose less weight. Also
you can cheat the system by eating high calorie liquid foods like milk
shakes and ice-cream.
Malabsorptive Weight Loss Surgery
Malabsorptive weight loss surgery on the other hand does not limit food
intake. Rather it excludes a substantial length of small intestines.
Pure malabsorptive weight loss surgery procedures are quite rare
nowadays. They are mostly used to together with restrictive procedures.
Combined Weight Loss Surgeries
These procedures combine a restrictive method and a malabsorptive
method in one method. These procedures reduce both the amount of
calorie intake as well as calorie absorption. There are two main
procedures in this category.
(a) Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RGB)
This is the most common of all biatric procedures. It includes creating
a pouch just like in AGB. This is the restrictive part of the
procedure. Then they cut into the "Y" section of the intestines and
connect it to the pouch. This allows the food from in the pouch to go
directly into the small intestines instead of first dropping in to the
larger part of the stomach.
The small intestines are also operated on to by pass the duodenum and
jejunum which are the first and second parts of the small intestines.
(b) Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD)
In this case the larger and lower part of the stomach is completely
removed.
A leading advantage of weight loss surgery is that almost all patients
lose weight in tens of pounds. Many continue to lose 18 months after
the surgery.There is also a significant reduction in the risk of
accompanying conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure as well as
improved cholesterol.
Though
dangers involved with surgery are well managed, there still exist risks in weight
loss surgery. They include leaking of the digestive system,
pulmonary embolism, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer of the
stomach, wound infections etc.
You also face some nutrient deficiencies. Especially with
malabsorptive and combined weight loss surgery you will be on constant
nutritional supplements.
But
if surgery is not an alternative, and you want to get a flat stoamch or
even a six pack then you need more
than the regular weight loss strategies.
You need to
Go
Beyond Calories. To do this you need to do two things,
just two. These two are...
This
content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new information on weight loss becomes
available. The information is intended for
educational purposes only. Please
consult your healthcare provider before beginning
any kind of weight loss program
procedures
like intestinal bypass, jejunoileal
bypass, 
