Weight Loss Surgery Procedures And Their Pros And Cons
Weight loss surgery also called metabolic or bariatric surgery is a method for people with severe obesity to help them lose weight. One might opt for it if one has medical problems caused by obesity and can not lose weight by exercising, diets or using other traditional methods. According to medical advice on Web MD, an adult might consider weight loss surgery in these cases: If one has weight-related medical conditions, if one knows the pros and cons of this particular surgery, if one is ready for the recovery and to make these changes last.
However, not everyone who is obese should consult weight loss surgery as not everyone has health problems. And teens don’t usually go for this surgery unless they’re extremely obese. So, if your body mass index (BMI) is upper than 35 and you’re having health problems you can be a candidate for weight loss surgery. But, remember, it’s always important to seek medical advice from a specialist before you take any decision. However, for the purpose of informative issues, let us see below some of the weight-related medical conditions, types of weight loss surgeries and their pros and cons.
Which are weight-related medical conditions?
The common medical conditions related to being obese are diabetes, arthritic joint problems, heart disease and stroke and sleep apnea. People who carry extra pounds are more likely to have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also makes them more likely to have a stroke and heart disease. Also having extra weight puts more pressure on the joints and wears away the tissue that protects joints, therefore the extra weight increases the risk of having these joint problems. As for sleep apnea – it is a breathing condition that can cause a person to snore heavily and even stop breathing during sleep. The risk of sleep apnea usually increases with weight. The other condition that obesity can cause is Type 2 diabetes, and it occurs during adulthood as well as during childhood.
Pros and cons of weight loss surgery
There are many types of weight-loss surgeries and each of them has their pros and cons. So in order to decipher which one is best for you, or first of all whether you need one, you have to consult with your doctor, as the right choice takes a lot of research. However, let’s see three of the most common types of weight loss surgeries and the pros and cons they have.
The most common types of weight loss surgeries
1. Roux-en-Y or gastric bypass
Gastric bypass is one of the most common types of bariatric surgery in the United States. It is also called Roux-en-Y and it’s a complicated procedure that involves creating a stomach pouch out of a small portion of the stomach and attaching it directly to the small intestine. This surgery also allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. Therefore, even after eating food in small amounts, you won’t feel hungry like you normally would if your stomach was in its original size. This surgery makes one eat less by reducing the calories consumed, and it also alters the hormone levels which impacts directly the weight loss. According to a Harvard Health Publishing study, the bypass prevents the digestive system from absorbing some of the food that is eaten. Usually, the operation of this type of weight loss surgery takes around 2 hours.
Pros: Gastric bypass can lower the risk for certain heart problems, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, improves diabetes and it can help a person lose about 30% to 40% of excess body weight.
Cons: The operation is irreversible and you’ll need to take daily vitamins supplements for life. Then blood clots in your legs, bleeding, infections or leaks from the stomach pouch are some of the side effects that may happen after this surgery.
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2. Sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeves
Gastric sleeves it’s a weight loss operation in which your surgeon will remove a large portion of your stomach and leave a new smaller stomach about the size of a banana or “sleeve”. The surgery helps you lose weight because the operation will limit the food that you will be able to eat and you will feel full with only a small amount of eating. This after ghrelin – the hormone which stimulates the feeling of hunger is reduced. Also, this procedure is permanent and usually takes around 60 to 90 minutes.
Pros: Gastric sleeve surgery just as gastric bypass can be an effective tool in achieving long-term weight loss. It can help improve obesity-related conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea. According to some statistics, the reported weight loss for this procedure ranges from 60% to 70 % of the excess weight.
Cons: Some of the short-term side effects of this procedure are bruising, swelling and pain around your wound. Also if you eat more than your new stomach can hold, you might vomit or feel sick. So, be sure to stick to the diet that your surgeon told you before taking the surgery.
3. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is another surgery to help with weight loss. The surgery is done with small incisions in the upper abdomen. The surgeon places a band around the upper part of your stomach to create a small pouch to hold food. The small pouch will help you feel full after eating small amounts of food which will help you lose weight.
Pros: Obesity News Today report that the average achievement for the gastric band is 40 to 50 percent of excess weight loss, which can result in improvement of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, sleep apnea, and overall health.
Cons: Holding a device inside your body can be an uncomfortable experience as the band needs ongoing management. Also, your organism doesn’t tolerate all kinds of foods after taking this type of surgery.
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Remember, the positive surgical outcomes need not only achieving but also maintaining that outcome and as Dr. George L. Blackburn, a nutrition and obesity expert at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center writes:
People must make a commitment to lifelong change to benefit from this surgery. If you decide to have weight-loss surgery, partner up with your doctors so the intervention is as successful as it can be.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained are strictly for informational purposes only. The Content is NOT intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please ALWAYS seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.