Diet and exercise, the tried-and-true ways of losing weight, aren’t always enough for people who are overweight. If this describes you, bariatric surgery, a procedure to reduce excess body fat, may be the answer to your prayers. Serious health issues including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure can be resolved or greatly improved with bariatric surgery, which isn’t only about losing weight. Surgeons that specialize in bariatric surgery are vital in helping patients achieve their weight loss goals and ensuring their health and happiness in the long run.
How Do Bariatric Surgeons Work?
Bariatric surgeons, often known as weight loss surgeons, are medical professionals with advanced training in bariatric procedures that help patients lose a substantial amount of weight and keep it off. Although they specialize in bariatric surgery, they frequently have a background in general surgery as well. Modifying the digestive system to either lower nutrition absorption or restrict food intake is the purpose of these procedures.
To guarantee long-term success, weight loss doctors not only carry out the surgeries, but also closely collaborate with patients both prior to and during the treatment. Surgical examination, surgical treatment, and post-operative care involving lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and continued medical monitoring are all part of this holistic approach.
Bariatric Surgery Varieties
Each patient has certain health requirements, weight loss objectives, and medical history that dictate which of the several bariatric surgery procedures is best for them. Here are some of the most prevalent procedures for losing weight:
1. Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass): Among the several bariatric surgeries, gastric bypass surgery is among the most popular and successful. A smaller pouch is created in the upper part of the stomach and a larger one is created in the lower part during this operation. In this way, the bulk of the stomach and a portion of the small intestine are avoided as the small intestine is redirected to the smaller stomach pouch. As a result, you eat less and your body absorbs less calories.
2. Vaginal Sleeve Removal: Nearly eighty percent of the stomach is removed during a sleeve gastrectomy, leaving only a tiny, tube-shaped stomach (the “sleeve”). Because of the reduced size of the stomach and the fact that the operation decreases the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin, patients report feeling full sooner after eating less.
- Adjustable Gastric Banding: This technique entails making a little pouch by wrapping a silicone band around the top portion of the stomach. You can alter the band’s tightness to suit your weight loss progress. Gastric banding is less popular than other operations, but it’s worth considering for people who want a less invasive and reversible choice.
4. A more involved procedure that combines restrictive and malabsorptive approaches: Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS). Reducing the patient’s food intake and nutritional absorption, gastric bypass surgery involves removing part of the stomach and bypassing a lengthy section of the small intestine. People who have a very high body mass index (BMI) or serious metabolic problems are usually the ones who are prescribed BPD/DS.
When Would You Require Bariatric Surgery?
When all other options for losing weight have been exhausted, bariatric surgery is often the next step for people who are morbidly obese. To be considered for bariatric surgery, a patient’s body mass index (BMI) must be 40 or greater. If the patient also has type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or cardiac disease, their BMI must be 35 or higher.
People do not rush into deciding to get bariatric surgery. Prior to surgery, surgeons take the time to assess the patient’s general health, medical history, and ability to adapt to post-operative lifestyle adjustments. Patients are often asked to undertake psychological exams by bariatric facilities to make sure they are emotionally and behaviorally ready for the changes that occur with the operation.
Things to Do Before Surgery
Ensuring that the patient is well-informed and prepared for the procedure, weight reduction surgery requires a thorough preparatory process. Several important factors are addressed by weight reduction surgeons and their teams prior to surgery:
- To make sure they are healthy enough for surgery: Patients go through a battery of testing before the procedure, including imaging scans, blood work, and cardiac exams. Before surgery, patients have their medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, treated and managed.
2. Nutritional Counseling: Dietitians assist patients in making dietary changes and getting ready for life after surgery. In order to ensure a speedy recovery and good results from bariatric surgery, patients must adhere to stringent dietary restrictions both before and after the procedure.
3. Emotional Support: Mental health experts educate patients on the emotional challenges of bariatric surgery. The complicated interactions that many people with obesity have with food can be better understood and managed through psychological counseling, which also helps patients get ready to make the necessary lifestyle changes.
4. Changes to Your Lifestyle: Before surgery, many surgeons recommend that patients start exercising more and cut back or quit smoking. In addition to enhancing surgical outcomes, these modifications lay the groundwork for sustained success following the operation.
Conclusion
Surgeons specializing in weight loss and bariatric surgery are vital in the fight against extreme obesity. The combination of their knowledge, thorough treatment, and dedication to their patients provides an effective strategy for long-term weight loss and better health. Surgery to lose weight is not a magic bullet, but with the help of weight loss surgeons and their patients, it may be a life-changing experience.
