Bariatric Surgery Information
The rise of obesity in the U.S. has led to an increased interest in bariatic surgery. Bariatric surgery is designed to help obese patients achieve their weight loss goals when they have exhausted other options. Surgery should never be taken lightly.
Types
There are three popular types of bariatric surgery. The gastric bypass is probably the most well known. It involves stapling the upper part of the stomach so that it's the size of a small pouch. The small intestines are then severed and reattached to the new smaller stomach. The patient can only eat small amounts of food at a time after the procedure. This surgery takes one to four hours to complete.
The Lap-Band procedure involves placing a silicone rubber band around the top part of the stomach. The rest of the digestive track stays intact. A small amount of food can be eaten at a time. The small stomach pouch at the top of the stomach takes food in slowly and it slides slowly into the larger part of the stomach and into the rest of the intestines. This procedure takes 30 minutes to one hour.
The gastric sleeve procedure is a surgery that is often performed before a gastric bypass. This surgery, which takes up to four hours, removes about 60 percent of the stomach, leaving the stomach looking like a sleeve. When the patient has lost a significant amount of weight, a full gastric bypass is then completed. This surgery makes gastric bypass safer for certain patients.
Patients should discuss the options with their doctor. Your doctor can help determine which type of surgery is best for you and can answer any questions.
Candidates
To be considered a candidate for bariatric surgery, a patient must be able to demonstrate that he has failed at weight loss through diet and exercise. Other things that doctors consider are high risk factors for disease and high body mass index. Good candidates are between the ages of 18 and 65, may have been obese for more than five years, and have no drug or alcohol problems. If you think you might be a candidate for weight loss surgery, discuss it with your doctor.
Risks
There are risks associated with every surgery, but there are specific risks for bariatric surgery. Infection at the incision site, pulmonary embolism, peritonitis, staples that loosen, stomal stenosis, and dumping syndrome are possible problems that can occur. A pulmonary embolism occurs when the blood flow is blocked in the lungs. Peritonitis occurs when stomach contents leak into other parts of the body. Stomal stenosis is the narrowing of the part between the stomach and intestines. Dumping syndrome occurs when food moves too quickly through the digestive track.
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed that although there are serious risks involved in weight loss surgery, it is just as safe as having gallbladder surgery. Only .3 percent of patients die from the surgery after the 30-day mark. Only 4.3 percent of patients had one major side effect from the surgery.
Recovery
Most people take about six weeks before they can return to their normal activities, but recovery time depends on each individual's situation. Adapting to life after weight loss surgery can be difficult. The stomach can only hold a few ounces of food after the procedure and it can be hard for people to adapt to this. Once recovery is complete, the weight comes off quickly, which can leave the person with sagging skin. Many people opt to have the excess skin surgically removed after they have reached their goal weight.
Costs
Bariatric surgery costs vary depending on the type of surgery elected. Costs range from $17,000 to $30,000. Other costs may include the other surgeries many people choose to have after the initial surgery such as a breast lift, tummy tuck or other cosmetic procedures to remove loose skin. The good news is that many doctors and clinics offer payment plans. Some patients may find that their insurance covers the cost of the surgery while others may obtain outside financing at local banks or credit unions.
