Bariatric Surgery Facts

As the risks and diseases associated with morbid obesity are becoming more publicly discussed, people are looking for ways to slim down and improve their health. Though eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise are always recommended, many people need something more to help them. Bariatric surgery is surgery of the gastrointestinal system that can lead to dramatic weigh loss with the reversal and prevention of some obesity-related diseases. This can be a life-saving operation for some people and the health benefits are numerous. However, as with any major surgery, the risks and benefits should be discussed with a doctor.

Qualifications

• Like any major surgery, there are many complications that can occur and not just anyone wishing to drop a few pounds can undergo this procedure. Typically, patients should be 100 pounds or more overweight with a body mass index of 40 or above. Someone who has a BMI of 35 or more may qualify if she has certain health conditions caused by obesity. Candidates for bariatric surgery must also undergo thorough health evaluations

Restrictive Procedures

• Several types of bariatric surgery exist. A doctor will discuss these options with the patient and the most appropriate procedure will be decided. Most of the surgeries fall into two categories: restrictive and malabsorptive. Restrictive procedures include gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. The surgeon will create a small pouch in the stomach which restricts how much food can fit. The person will feel fuller faster and won't be able to overeat.

Malabsorptive Procedures

• Malabsorptive procedures are rarer and usually are accompanied by some type of restrictive surgery. The small intestine is rerouted and part of it is skipped in the digestion process. The intestines absorb calories and nutrients, so by skipping part of it, less calories are absorbed into the system.

Combined Procedures

• A lot of doctors choose to do a combination of these two types of procedures. This combination reaps the benefits of lessening the absorption of calories and reducing the size of the stomach. These procedures include gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.

Risks

• Like all major surgeries, there are serious risks involved in bariatric surgeries. Some of these risks include pain and bleeding, infection, heart attack, stroke, organ damage, pulmonary embolism, hernia, chest pain, collapsed lung, digestive problems, enlarged heart, gall stones, nausea, stoma obstruction, leakage at surgery site, dumping syndrome, malnutrition and sometimes even death. The mortality rate of gastric banding is 0.1 percent and the rate for gastric bypass is 0.5 percent.

Benefits

• Bariatric surgery usually lessens or eliminates health problems associated with morbid obesity. These diseases include type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. In many patients, these diseases were completely reversed within just days of the surgery, allowing them to go off of diabetes and blood pressure medications completely. Getting down to a healthy weight can lessen the risk of certain cancers also. Other benefits of the surgery include better mobility, higher energy and better self-confidence.

Diet

• After bariatric surgery, the patient's diet will have to be strictly regulated and will be drastically different from the foods they enjoyed before the surgery. The area of the stomach that holds food will be significantly smaller, so the amount that it can hold will be less. It is important to make sure that the foods you are putting into the stomach are full of nutrients and satisfy some of your protein requirements for the day. It is also important to stay well-hydrated and to take appropriate amounts of vitamin supplements every day, as the daily recommended amount may not be reached through food alone.