What Type of Bariatric Surgery Is Right for You?
It’s about much more than having a slimmer waistline.
Bariatric surgery —also called weight-loss surgery—is not merely about appearances. Obesity places you at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and several other serious health problems.
We want the best for you.
That means living a healthier life.
For many, diet and exercise are simply not enough to lose the amount of weight needed. Exploring the different types of weight loss surgery to find the right one for them is a solution.
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
As mentioned earlier, this is often referred to as weight loss surgery. It’s for those who are 100 pounds over their ideal body weight or those who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more. If you’re not sure what your BMI is, you can check it online. You can also view the other qualifications for bariatric surgery.
How Does Bariatric Surgery Work?
Weight loss surgery reduces the size of your stomach. Therefore you feel full after eating a small amount of food.
Most of our bariatric surgeries can be performed laparoscopically. This means we use a laparoscope to perform them. A laparoscope is a long, thin tube that is outfitted with a camera and tiny surgical tools. It enables us to complete the surgery using just a few small incisions. This is much better than a large incision that is required for “open” procedures.
Robotic Advancements in Bariatric Surgery
But that’s not all—some of our bariatric surgeries can be performed through the revolutionary daVinci Surgical Robot. This robot is controlled by the surgeon, allowing a close-up, 3D field of view.
Think of it this way, if traditional surgery is like watching a football game from the sidelines, the daVinci robot makes it more like watching the game on the 50-yard line!
We’ll review the different types of bariatric surgery, how they are performed and the advantages to each one.
What Are the Different Types of Bariatric Surgery?
There’s no one “right” type of bariatric surgery. The key is to utilize a technique that fits your situation. That’s why your doctor will work closely with you to determine the method that is best for you.
We’ll go over these and the advantages of each type of surgery.
The most common ones are the:
- Laparoscopic gastric bypass
- Sleeve gastrectomy
We’re pleased to be able to offer these surgical weight loss treatment options to meet the varying needs of our patients. We’ll take a closer look at some of them.
Gastric Bypass
In this procedure, a smaller stomach is created by separating the top of the stomach from the rest of it. The small intestine is divided, essentially bypassing the larger portion of the stomach. It’s designed so that digestive enzymes that help break down food are still used.
It has several advantages, including weight loss of up to 60 or 80 percent. Several patients say they also have increased energy after having the procedure.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
You may have heard this referred to as “the sleeve” technique. It removes 80 percent of the stomach, creating a pouch that looks like a banana.
Because the stomach pouch is smaller, it holds less food. That means you consume fewer calories but still feel full.
The result is often rapid and significant weight loss—generally greater than 50 percent. While each individual patient is different, in general, the procedure requires two days in the hospital.
Important Facts About Bariatric Surgery
Weight loss surgery requires you to make several lifestyle changes in order to ensure that you’ll maintain the weight loss and your health.
First, because the surgery affects the digestive system, your body will be missing key nutrients. We’ll give you supplements to be sure you receive them. You’ll also need to have lab work done to help
Second, you’ll have to dramatically change the way you eat.
After surgery and a brief hospital stay, you’ll be able to return to work in one or two weeks (although we realize this can vary depending upon your individual situation). You may have low energy after surgery. This is normal. We encourage you to ease into your work schedule and not try to take on too much.
You’ll still need to watch what you eat after surgery. This means maintaining healthy fruits and vegetables in order to ensure you’ll get the most out of your surgery.
Most insurance companies will cover the cost of bariatric surgery, however, we encourage you to speak to your company representative for more information.
How Do I Know Which Surgery Is Right for Me?
Quite simply, each of these has its advantages. Your surgeon will help you make the decision based upon your health, any chronic diseases you may have and other factors.
Learn More About Bariatric Surgery at Conway Medical Center
Interested in learning more? We encourage you to sign up for one of our online weight loss seminars.
For more information on our bariatric services, contact our CMC Weight Loss location.
