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Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is also referred to as "Bariatric Surgery", a term derived from the Greek word "baros" meaning "weight". It evolved out of cancer/ulcer operations involving the removal of part of the stomach or small intestine. As patients undergoing these operations lost weight afterwards, Doctors developed the idea of using similar types of surgery to treat morbid obestity. Due to the current high levels of obesity among all asian and US age-groups, and the lack of success with non-surgical weight loss methods, bariatric surgery is becoming a significant option for severely obese patients. Operations such as lap band procedure and Roux-en-Y stomach bypass are now being performed on adolescents as young as 13 years. Bariatric Surgery is known to be the most effective and long lasting treatment for morbid obesity and many related conditions, but now mounting evidence suggests it may be among the most effective treatments for metabolic diseases and conditions including Type-II Diabetes in low BMI patients. Patients who are 15 kg or more overweight.

"Surgery for severe obesity goes way beyond weight loss. This surgery results in the complete remission or significant improvement of Type-II Diabetes and other life-threatening diseases in most patients, and now it can be applied to almost all Type-II Diabetics who are at least 15 kg overweight.

 

Excessive body fat (obesity), leads to a number of health risks including an increased risk of premature death. Obese patients (BMI 30+) are estimated to have a 50-100 percent increased risk of death from all causes, when compared with people of normal weight (BMI 20-25). The risk of premature death increases significantly in cased of morbid obesity (BMI 40+). By the time the BMI is 40, the risk is close to 3 times as great, and super-obesity (BMI 50+). Most of the increased mortality rate from obesity is due to co-morbidities like atherosclerosis, heart attach or stroke. Other obesity related health conditions include diabetes, hyperinsulimia, insulin resistance, obstructive sleep apnea, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, gastroesophageal reflux disease, low back pain, arthritis, heartburn, urinary incontinence, and venous disorders.

 

How weight loss surgery works is simple. The bariatric Surgery alters your digestive system (stomach and / or small intestine) to make it impossible for you to eat much food at one sitting without suffering unpleasant side effects such as dumping syndrome. This digestive side effect acts as a brake on calorie intake, and typically leads to significant loss of weight in the 2 years after surgery. There are three types of procedures of Bariatric Surgery - 1. Restrictive 2. Malabsorbtive 3. Combined.

 

Gastric bypass operations (eg.Roux-en-Y, biliopancreatic diversion, duodenal switch or fobi pouch) go further. Typically they involve a 2 stage process. First, the surgeon reduces the sizes of the stomach. Second, the first part of the small intestine is bypassed. This causes food to pass much more rapidly through the digestive tract and significantly reduces the amount of nutrients and calories that can be absorbed, which is why this type of operation is referred to as malabsorptive surgery. The point is, even if patients overeat, they will absorb fewer calories. This is why gastric bypass operations typically lead to greater weight loss than gastric stapling or banding.

 

Bariatric operations may be conducted using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques using instruments connected to video monitors. These allow the surgeon to view the inside of the patient without having to make large incisions. Patients who undergo laparoscopic operations typically experience fewer perioperative and post-operative health complications than patients who have traditional "open" surgery, and typically remain in hospital for 2-3 days, compared to 4-5 days for open surgery. They return to work within 2-3 weeks, compared to 4-6 weeks for traditional surgeries.

 

As a lap band or bypass surgery patient, you must be prepared for a drastic change of eating habits following your operation. Due to the small size of your new stomach pouch, you will feel full after a very small amount of food. A typical diet after gastric reduction surgery starts with clear liquids only, then broadens gradually to include any liquids, then semi-solids, then a low-fat solid diet. This should become a permanent way of eating if you wish to achieve permanent weight loss.

 

The effects of Bariatric Surgery on mortality are significant, in addition, patients can expect a number of health benefits. For example, hypertension is cured in about 70 percent of patients, while measurements of cholesterol and other blood fats show visible improvements. Type-II Diabetes is cured in 90 percent of diabetic patients while hyperglycemia and associated conditions such as hyperinsulimia and insulin resistance are improved. Sleep apnea is cured in about 85 percent of patients, shortness of breath is relieved in 75-80 percent of cases, while asthma attacks are significantly reduced, especially when associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Obesity surgery also relieves back pain, arthritis, heartburn, urinary incontinence, and venous disorders. Weight loss is 95 percent of excess body weight.

 

 

Bariatric Surgery or Gastric Bypass Surgery may be an option for you :