With two-thirds of Americans qualifying as obese or overweight, bariatric surgery is becoming increasingly common. More than 220,000 bariatric surgeries were performed in 2008, up from 205,000 in 2007, according to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery. Several different types of bariatric surgery are available, with more undergoing clinical trials. The amount of excess weight, the presence of any other medical conditions and the patient's comfort level with different procedures are all factors in determining which type of bariatric surgery to have.
Instructions
1. Choose adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band surgery) if you are at least 100 pounds overweight, have been obese for more than five years, have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher (or 35 or higher with the presence of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea or polycystic ovary syndrome), are comfortable with the idea of a foreign object being implanted in your stomach and can commit to regular follow-up medical appointments for adjustments.
2. Choose gastric bypass if you are at least 100 pounds overweight, have a BMI of 40 or higher (or 35 or higher with the presence of one or more other medical conditions), have been unable to achieve a healthy weight through diet and exercise and are comfortable with a non-reversible procedure that reroutes your digestive tract. Because the bypass reduces the amount of food and nutrients that are absorbed, patients may suffer from nutritional deficiencies and should be prepared to take nutritional supplements for the rest of their lives.
3. Choose duodenal switch if you have a BMI higher than 40 or a BMI higher than 30 with other medical conditions. Duodenal switch may be more effective with BMIs of 55 or higher. According to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery, research has found that duodenal switch results in more weight loss than gastric bypass in severely obese patients. As with gastric bypass, patients must undergone lifelong testing and supplementation for nutritional deficiencies.
4. Choose a sleeve gastrectomy if you are too obese for other forms of bariatric surgery and you need to reach a safe weight before undergoing gastric bypass or gastric banding. A gastric sleeve procedure is typically reserved for patients with a BMI of more than 60. It may also be appropriate for patients who do not wish to have the nutritional deficiencies associated with gastric bypass or duodenal switch.
