Sunday, May 15, 2016

Important Information Related To Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Houston Residents Need To Have

By Andrew Miller


Bariatric surgery is a form of operation that is conducted so as to lose weight. The operation may be considered if one has tried out all the non-surgical options but has been unsuccessful. The three main types of surgery that are classified as being bariatric operations include gastric bypass surgery, lap band surgeries and sleeve gastrectomy. If they have plans of undergoing bariatric weight loss surgery Houston patients need to be aware of a number of things.

The commonest among the three options is gastric banding. One of the reasons as to why it is preferred over the others is the fact that it is reversible. The other two are permanent. It also has fewer side effects since no actual cutting of the stomach takes place. To perform the procedure, a silicon band is placed on the fundus (upper region of the stomach). The band exerts pressure that converts the stomach into a small pouch.

Modern techniques in surgery have made it possible to perform the procedure through minimal access using laparoscopy. Since the incisions that are being used are quite small, recovery is faster and the risk of side effects is markedly reduced. Some of the side effects that one may experience include aversion to food, vomiting, infections and bleeding among others. The position of the band can be readjusted to minimize the vomiting.

Sleeve gastrectomy is a more invasive option. It involves the shaping of a stomach onto a sleeve (or tubular shape) by resecting it along its length. As much as 80% of the operation can be removed leaving just a small pouch. The significance of this is that there is a huge reduction in the amount of food that can be held at a given time. This type of operation can also be performed through laparoscopy.

Apart from reducing the capacity of the stomach (and thus leading to early satiety). The operation also causes faster emptying of the gut which reduces the time available for food to be absorbed. The few calories that are generated are mainly used in the generation of energy required for day-to-day activities. Very little is available for conversion to fat. The overall effect within weeks and months is weight loss.

The most common side effects of sleeve gastrectomy are leakage of digested food and bleeding. There may be a need to have additional procedures to correct the leakage. Others include infections, damage to vital structures such as the vagus nerve, vomiting and esophageal spasms. In spite of these complications, the popularity of the procedure appears to be on the rise particularly among children and adults.

Gastric bypass is the most radical among the three options. It is a procedure in which the stomach is cut at the bottom and the remaining part (the fundus) is joined to the intestines. The initial part of intestines is usually skipped (bypassed) so as to reduce the surface that is available for absorption. Inadequate absorption of nutrients is the most serious complication.

The decision to have the operation should be made collectively between you and your doctor. In most cases, the surgery is a last resort after all the other options have been considered. A number of tests may be necessary to determine whether or not you are a suitable candidate. It is important that one continues with a healthy lifestyle even after the operation so as to get the most out of it.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment