Sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition have caused an obesity epidemic in the U.S. Gastric bypass and banding (lap-band) surgeries are the two common weight loss procedures used to combat obesity. The surgeries are generally performed on morbidly obese people with life-threatening illnesses or with a body mass that is 40 or higher. Before undergoing gastric bypass and lap-band surgeries, their risks and benefits should be carefully considered.
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass surgery is the process of inducing weight loss by cutting the stomach to create smaller stomach pouch. The new smaller stomach is stapled directly to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. There are two types of gastric bypass surgery, incision and laparoscopic. The laparoscopic procedure is minimally invasive and consists of making small incisions to the abdomen, while the incision procedure is a more invasive open surgery that requires making large incisions in the abdomen.
Lap-Band
Lap-band surgery is a laparoscopic procedure that does not require stapling or rerouting major organs. Instead, a silicone ring is placed around the top of the stomach. A balloon inside the lap-band connects an access point to a small tube; the access point is buried deeply beneath the left side of the stomach and the balloon is inflated or decreased to induce the desired weight loss.
Risks
Gastric bypass inhibits the absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients into the system; this is mainly caused by the rerouted stomach. Patients also report temporary hair loss, blocked bowels, loss of muscle mass, nausea, vomiting, excess skin and scarring. More serious complications include blood clots, birth defects caused by the mother's nutritional deficiencies; pneumonia, leakage of bowels into the abdomen; and an .08% mortality rate.
Lap-band surgery complications include nausea, vomiting, temporary hair loss, loss of muscle mass and intolerance to food. Less common side effects include infection, erosion of the pouch into the stomach and slippage, which requires patients to revert back to a liquid diet. The mortality rate is reported at .05%.
Benefits
Both surgeries provide significant health benefits and eliminate many chronic conditions, including hypertension, type II diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea. Asthma and gastrointestinal reflux disease are also eliminated by gastric bypass and lap-band surgery. In addition to improved physical health, gastric bypass and lap-band procedures also aid in improving self image.
Best Overall
Gastric bypass is considered the better overall procedure because of its weight loss results and its ability to improve long-term health by eliminating major chronic illnesses. Studies have shown gastric bypass to be highly successful in combating type II diabetes; many physicians recommend the surgery to eliminate the condition in obese people.
Helpful Tips
The surgeries are only performed on patients who have been obese for 5 years or longer.
Obese people between ages 18 and 65 are candidates for the procedures.
Surgical procedures contain a myriad of risks. It is important to consult a health care professional for more extensive information.
