Bariatric Surgery
What is a Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is a surgical procedure used to treat obesity and obesity-related conditions. It involves making changes to the digestive system to help people lose weight and improve their overall health.
The goal of gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries, often known as bariatric or metabolic surgery, is to help you lose weight by altering your digestive system.
When diet and exercise are no longer working or if your waist size is negatively impacting your health, bariatric surgery is required. Most weight-loss strategies limit your dietary intake.
Although bariatric surgery has many advantages, all weight-loss surgeries are significant operations with potential dangers and adverse effects. Long-term, healthy dietary changes and frequent exercise are additional necessary to help preserve the continued success of bariatric surgery.
Why It’s Done?
Bariatric surgery is performed to assist you lose excess weight and lower your chance of developing potentially fatal weight-related health issues, such as:
- Particular types of cancer, include prostate, endometrial, and breast cancer.
- Heart disease and stroke.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol levels.
- Sleep apnea.
- Type 2 diabetes.
Usually, bariatric surgery is only performed after you have made an effort to reduce your weight through better eating and exercise practices.
You might be suitable for bariatric surgery, essentially, if:
- Your BMI falls between 33 and 37.9, which is considered obese, and you suffer from an important weight-related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea.
A person who is extremely overweight should have bariatric surgery. To be recognized as eligible for weight-loss surgery, individuals might need to fulfill specific qualifications. To determine your eligibility, you will probably go through a rigorous screening procedure. You also need to be ready to make permanent adjustments if you are interested in developing a more nutritious existence.
It could be necessary for you to take part in long-term follow-up programs that involve monitoring your medical problems, lifestyle and behavior, and diet.
Understand that bariatric surgery is costly as well. To find out if such surgery is covered by your coverage, check with your health insurance company or your local Medicare or Medicaid office.
Risks
Bariatric surgery includes some short- and long-term health hazards, just like any major procedure.
Risks associated with bariatric surgery may include:
- Excessive bleeding.
- Infection.
- Reactions to anesthesia.
- Blood clots.
- Lung or breathing problems.
- Leaks in your gastrointestinal system.
- Rarely, death.
Depending on the type of weight-loss surgery, there are different long-term risks and problems. They may consist of:
- Bowel obstruction.
- Dumping syndrome is a condition that leads to diarrhea, flushing, lightheadedness, nausea, or vomiting.
- Gallstones.
- Hernias.
- Low blood sugar, is called hypoglycemia.
- Malnutrition.
- Ulcers.
- Vomiting.
- Acid reflux.
- A modification takes place when a second surgery or procedure is required.
- Rarely, death.
How Do You Get Ready?
Your healthcare team provides you with preparation instructions for your particular type of surgery if you are eligible for bariatric surgery. Before surgery, you might need to undergo examinations and lab work. There can be restrictions on what you can eat, drink, and medications you can take. It might be necessary for you to quit smoking and begin an exercise regimen.
Planning for your post-operative recuperation may also be necessary. For example, if you anticipate needing assistance, make arrangements for it at home.
What Should You Expect?
General anesthesia is used during bariatric surgery in hospitals. This indicates that you are not conscious throughout the process.
Your unique circumstances, the kind of weight-loss surgery you have, and the procedures followed by the hospital or physician will all affect the specifics of your procedure. Traditional big abdominal incisions are used in some weight-loss operations. We call this open surgery.
Nowadays, laparoscopic procedures are used for the majority of bariatric surgery procedures. A tiny, tube-shaped device that is attached to a recorder is called the laparoscope for short. Little incisions are made in the abdomen to introduce the laparoscope. The microscopic camera on the tip of the laparoscope enables the surgeon to examine and operate inside the abdomen without typically large incisions. Although laparoscopic surgery can shorten and speed up recuperation, it is not always the best choice.
Typically, surgery takes a few hours. After surgery, you emerge in the anesthesia chamber where nurses monitor you for any problems. You might need to spend a few days in the hospital, depending on your surgery.
Types Of Bariatric Surgery
All types of bariatric surgery have benefits and drawbacks. Continue to discuss them with your doctor. Illustrations of common bariatric surgery operations include the following:
- Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS)
- Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y)
- Sleeve gastrectomy
1. Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y): Usually, this procedure cannot be reversed. It functions by limiting the quantity of food that may be consumed in a single sitting and by minimizing the absorption of calories and fat.
To differentiate the upper portion of the stomach from the rest of the stomach, the surgeon makes a small opening along it. The resultant tube may only contain one ounce of food and is exactly the size of a peanut. About three pints of food can normally fit in the stomach.
The surgeon makes an incision in the container and sews a section of the small intestine directly onto it. Food enters within this tiny capsule of the stomach and then travels directly into the small intestine that is sewn to it, avoiding the remaining contents of the stomach and the first segment of the small intestine. Rather, food enters the small intestine’s midsection straight.
2. Sleeve gastrectomy: A sleeve gastrectomy removes about 70% of the stomach, leaving behind a long, tube-like chamber. There is less capacity for food in this smaller stomach. Additionally, it generates less ghrelin, a hormone that controls hunger, which may decrease the need to eat.
Significant weight loss and the avoidance of intestinal rerouting are two benefits of this surgery. Furthermore, a sleeve gastrectomy demands a shorter hospital stay than the majority of other treatments.
3. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS): Typically, this two-part procedure is done in a single setting. Performing a sleeve gastrectomy is the initial step.
The second stage involves the surgeon cutting off the middle portion of the intestine and attaching the final segment straight to the duodenum, the first segment of the small intestine. The duodenal switch is this. The intestinal segment that has been detached is not taken out of the body. Bile and pancreatic digesting juices can now enter this section of the intestine because it has been reattached to the end. The biliopancreatic diversion is this.
This process limits the quantity of food you can eat and reduces your consumption of nutrients. Despite its tremendous effectiveness, there are more risks, such as vitamin deficits and starvation.
Following Bariatric Surgery
To give your stomach and digestive system time to heal, you will typically be prohibited from eating for one to two days following weight-loss surgery. You will then follow a particular eating plan for a few weeks. Only liquids are consumed at first, followed by pureed and extremely soft foods, and finally, ordinary foods. There can be a lot of limitations on what and how much you can eat and drink.
In the first few months following weight-loss surgery, you will also have regular check-ups with your doctor to keep an eye on your health. It might turn out necessary to perform laboratory tests, blood work, and various additional investigations.
Results
Long-term weight loss is possible with gastric bypass and other bariatric procedures. The type of surgery you have and the changes you make to your lifestyle will determine how much weight you lose. Nearly About 2 years, you might be able to reduce your excess fat by half or more.
In addition to helping people lose weight, gastric bypass surgery can treat or cure diseases that are frequently linked to being overweight, such as:
- Heart disease.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol levels.
- Sleep apnea.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Joint pain caused by osteoarthritis.
- Psoriasis and acanthosis nigricans are two skin disorders that can cause dark discoloration in body folds and wrinkles.
Additionally, gastric bypass surgery can help you do everyday tasks more easily, which may enhance your quality of life.
When Weight-Loss Surgery Doesn’t Work
Not all weight-loss procedures, including gastric bypass, turn out as well as you had planned. You risk not losing weight and developing major health issues if a weight-loss procedure doesn’t work or stops working.
Following weight reduction surgery, make sure to attend all of your follow-up appointments as planned. See your doctor right away if you experience problems or find that you are not losing weight. Your medical team can monitor your weight reduction progress and look into potential reasons why it may have paused.
Additionally, even if weight-loss surgery is performed properly, it is still possible to gain weight or not lose enough weight. If you don’t follow the suggested lifestyle adjustments, such as eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise, you may gain this weight.
Summary
Bariatric surgery is the term for surgical techniques that modify the digestive system to help people who are extremely obese lose weight. When diet, exercise, and medication have failed to produce noticeable weight loss and when obesity-related health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnea present considerable concerns, these operations are usually taken into consideration.
While bariatric surgery is an effective weight-management and health-improvement strategy, it necessitates a thorough assessment, close medical monitoring, and sustained commitment to a healthier way of living.
FAQs
Can I resume my regular life following bariatric surgery?
You can begin your journey to a longer, healthier, and more satisfying life with weight-loss surgery. It is a tool to help you reduce weight, not an obesity treatment. Your capacity to adhere to dietary, exercise, and lifestyle modification recommendations will determine your long-term success.
Bariatric surgery: what is it?
Introducing adjustments to your digestive system to help you lose weight is the goal of gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries, commonly known as bariatric or metabolic surgery. When diet and exercise have failed or when your weight is causing major health issues, bariatric surgery is performed.
Does bariatric surgery cause pain?
It might surprise you to hear that bariatric surgery has a relatively low pain rating on the typical 1–10 scale. Remember that a sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally invasive treatment that takes about 30 minutes and involves only four to five little Band-Aids.
How much time does it take to recover following bariatric surgery?
After undergoing weight loss surgery, you can often leave the hospital one to three days later. Start going back to your regular activities after four to six weeks. After having a gastric band fitted, you will be scheduled for a follow-up consultation to have the band modified in light of your weight loss and food consumption.
In bariatric surgery, which organ is removed?
The organs surrounding the stomach are released. Eighty percent of the stomach is removed with surgical staplers, greatly reducing its size.
How much weight may one have before undergoing bariatric surgery?
Have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater, or a BMI in the range of 30 to 35 and a condition associated with obesity, such as severe sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. be under 450 pounds in weight, which is the most weight that hospital radiological equipment can support.
Is it safe to get bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery can be a safe and efficient method for obese people to lose weight over the long term, but it cannot replace a balanced diet and regular exercise.
References
- Bariatric surgery – Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bariatric-surgery/about/pac-20394258
- Bariatric surgery. (2025, January 2). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bariatric_surgery
- Professional, C. C. M. (2024, November 18). Bariatric surgery. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/bariatric-surgery
- Bariatric Surgery Procedures – American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. (n.d.). American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-procedures/
- News-Medical. (2023, June 19). What is Bariatric Surgery? https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Bariatric-Surgery.aspx
- Cherney, K. (2022, July 28). Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about bariatric surgery. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/obesity/bariatric-surgery
- Website, N. (2024, February 14). Weight loss surgery. nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/weight-loss-surgery/
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