Weight Loss Surgery

There are a few methods of weight loss surgery available today, depending on the individual’s weight status and outcome goals. Obesity surgery, liposuction, jaw wiring, and intestinal bypass are all methods of weight loss surgery. However, the following information is geared mostly toward obesity surgery.

Common Types of Obesity Surgery

Obesity surgery changes the way in which your body digests and absorbs food. It involves the restructuring of the stomach and small intestine. There are two types:

Restrictive: This method uses surgical bands or staples to reduce the size of the stomach. A small stomach pouch is made to limit the amount of food it can hold comfortably. Hence, this method is often referred to as restrictive obesity surgery.

Combined Restrictive and Malabsorption Surgery (Gastric Bypass): This method entails the restrictive surgery described above and also the shortening of the small intestine so there is less opportunity for food to be completely digested and absorbed. Normally, the stomach hooks into the duodenum portion of the small intestine. However, gastric bypass relocates the stomach attachment to either the ileum or jejunum portion of the small intestine, which is much farther along the length of the intestine. This inhibits the opportunity for food to be fully absorbed into the body, which in turn lessens the amount of calories being offered to the body.

Criteria of Weight Loss Surgery

There are definite qualifications that must be met to be a candidate for gastric surgery. These include:

• Severe obesity with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more.
• Severe obesity with a BMI of 35 to 39.9 WITH serious medical conditions related to the obesity status, such as hypertension, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or hypercholesteremia to name a few.
• Inability to perform daily activities of living as a result of obesity.
• All former attempts to lose weight, such as diet modification, exercise, and weight loss medications, have failed.
• Quality of life is severely impacted by obesity.
• Must be motivated to make lifestyle changes in eating habits and physical activity for the long-term.

Does It Work?

Reports have shown that obesity surgery does result in weight loss. In fact, the American Obesity Association reports that a patient weight loss of 60% of excess weight after surgery was demonstrated after a five year period. As an example, that means that a 350 pound person can potentially weigh 140 pounds in five years, with a total weight loss of 210 pounds. In addition, 80% of patients reported losing weight and 30% reaching weight goal after undergoing restrictive surgery. Gastric bypass patients traditionally have been known to lose weight quicker due to the combination of procedures and the greater inability to absorb calories from food.

Complications of Surgery

Although the benefits of surgery appear to outweigh the risks, there are serious side effects that one must be aware of before deciding on undergoing any of the surgical procedures described here. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, protein deficiency, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, heartburn, abdominal pain, injury to the spleen, band slippage or erosion. A common side effect of gastric bypass surgery is called the dumping syndrome. This is when the food enters the small intestine so quickly that nausea, sweating, weakness, diarrhea, and headache occur almost immediately after a meal. Hair loss, depression, and dairy intolerance have also been reported with obesity surgery.

Finding a Specialist

Bariatrics is the medical treatment of obesity and obesity-related diseases. Within the American Society for Bariatric Surgeons you will find specialists who are educated, trained, and licensed to perform weight loss surgery.

Other Weight Loss Surgery Procedures

As mentioned, there are other weight loss surgeries available. Intestinal bypass was once the most common procedure, but has since been replaced with the restrictive and malabsorption practices. Liposuction is most commonly pursued for cosmetic purposes and is performed by plastic surgeons. This procedure removes fat tissues from different areas of the body where fat mass has accumulated. Since little fat tissue can be removed at one time, weight loss is not dramatic. Jaw wiring is only performed on persons without any respiratory problems. It is a drastic measure to limit the amount of food intake and only allows liquids to be consumed.