Bariatric or weight loss surgery is a type of procedure performed on people for the purpose of losing weight.
Gastric Banding is a laparoscopic surgery that is intended to reduce the size of the stomach, thus enabling weight loss. This surgery will restrict the quantity of food that your stomach can hold. This way you can eat lesser and yet feel full.
Intra-gastric balloon is a surgery where in a soft silicone balloon is placed in the stomach. This balloon is then filled either with air or with saline solution so that it takes up some space within the stomach. This way even if you don’t eat much you will start feeling full. However, this is only a temporary procedure. The balloon will be removed after a period of six months.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a surgery where a new stomach pouch, about the size of an egg, is placed within the stomach. This small stomach gets connected to the center of the small intestine called the jejunum, bypassing the duodenum which is the top portion of the small intestine as well as the remaining portion of the stomach.
Sleeve gastrectomy is a laparoscopic surgery that is intended to limit the food intake of the patient by reducing his stomach size. The procedure involves about 5 to 6 small incisions made in the abdomen and placing a few surgical long instruments and laparoscope through them. During this surgery about 75% of the patient’s stomach is removed and a sleeve or a narrow gastric tube is left.
A safer way to lose weight is through diet, which most people go for, unless they are severely obese or are suffering from any other serious medical ailment like a lung disease or a heart problem. There are many kinds of weight loss diets to choose from. Nevertheless, it is always better to check with your dietician or physician before going for one.
OR with BMI 35 and serious coexisting medical conditions such as diabetes.
Should have failed to lose weight by a supervised diet and exercise program.
All the procedures are performed through laparoscopy. When a laparoscopic operation is performed, a small video camera inserted into the abdomen allows the surgeon to conduct and view the surgery on a video monitor. The camera and surgical instruments are usually inserted through small incisions made in the abdominal wall.
Laparoscopic procedures for weight loss surgery employ the same principles as their 'open' counterparts and produce similar excess weight loss. Compared to open surgery, some benefits of laparoscopic surgery include faster recovery and return to pre-surgical level of activity.
All major surgery involves a certain level of risk. Risks involved with weight loss surgery vary according to procedure performed.
The decision to elect surgical treatment requires an assessment of the risk and benefit to you and the meticulous performance of the appropriate surgical procedure.
The success of weight loss surgery is dependent on your long term lifestyle changes in diet, exercise and behaviour modification.