Introduction
Bariatric surgery is seen by many as a potent weight loss surgery for achieving notable, long-lasting weight loss. Once you have passed the eligibility criteria for weight loss surgery, selecting the best bariatric surgical operation can be a daunting task because there are several varieties available, each with unique advantages and drawbacks. This article will provide you with all the necessary information you need to have about different types of bariatric surgery so that you can learn about their distinctive characteristics and talk with a healthcare professional who will help you choose a procedure that caters to your unique requirements.
Why multiple types of bariatric surgery?
- Obesity and associated health problems do not have a single, universally applicable cure, so there are various forms of bariatric surgery.
- Each kind of bariatric surgical technique aims to address a distinct facet of metabolic health and weight management, providing a range of strategies to assist patients in achieving their weight loss objectives.
Understanding the different Types of Bariatric Surgery
Numerous factors determine which kind of weight-loss surgery ( bariatric surgery), may be most effective in assisting a patient in achieving weight. You must consult your surgeon to seek guidance about the most appropriate option for you. Various kinds of weight-loss surgery consist of:
1.Gastric bypass surgery
- With over 20 years of experience, gastric bypass surgery is the most often performed technique among the different types of bariatric surgical operations.
- A walnut-sized incision is created by the surgeon making a slit across the top of the stomach during the procedure.
- Food can pass through the stomach and enter the small intestine directly after the surgeon fastens the pouch to the small intestine.
- Since gastric bypass surgery is a combination treatment, it reduces food absorption, a condition known as “malabsorption,” and regulates portion size.
2. Sleeve Gastrectomy
- The surgeon eliminates the majority of your stomach during gastric sleeve surgery, also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy, leaving only a banana-shaped portion that is stapled shut.
- After the operation, you feel fuller sooner because your stomach can hold less food. Resection of the stomach might affect hormones in the gastrointestinal tract or microbes that control hunger and metabolism.
- A procedure of this nature cannot be reversed because a portion of the stomach is removed permanently.
3.Gastric Band Surgery
- To create a little pouch, the surgeon creates a ring around the top of your stomach that has an inflatable band inside of it.
- The gastric band causes you to feel full after a small amount of food, similar to gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery. Inside the inner band is a circular balloon filled with saline solution.
- The surgeon can modify the inner band to widen the entrance from the pouch to the remaining area of your stomach.
- You will need to arrange multiple follow-up appointments following surgery to modify the size of the band opening. The surgeon may remove the band if it is causing you discomfort or if it isn’t assisting you in losing weight.
4.Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS)
- In order to create a tiny, sleeve-shaped stomach, the first step of the process entails removing about 70–80% of the stomach.
- The small intestine is divided, with the duodenum, the first segment being bypassed and the remaining section rejoined to the end of the newly formed stomach pouch. This distraction reduces the quantity of nutrients that are taken up from the diet.
- Finally, the gut is divided and reorganized to reduce the amount of nutrients and calories absorbed. Creating a common pathway for bile and digestive enzymes to mingle with food is part of this process. The biliopancreatic limb, which makes up the bulk of the small intestine, is bypassed, which reduces the absorption of nutrients and calories.
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Advantages and Drawbacks of Bariatric Surgery
1. Gastric Bypass
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Benefits
– Remissions of type 2 diabetes, lowered blood pressure, and relief from sleep apnea are common in patients undergoing Gastric Bypass Surgery
– It has been observed that gastric bypass surgery has positive long-term results, with many patients reporting persistent weight loss and increased quality of life.
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Drawbacks
– General anaesthesia is administered during this procedure.
– Complications include bleeding, leaks from the surgical connections, and infections. Blood clots pose a concern as well.
– The bypass modifies the capacity of the digestive system to absorb nutrients resulting in vitamin and mineral shortages, including those in B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D.
2. Sleeve Gastrectomy
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Benefits
– In the first 12 to 18 months after the procedure, most patients lose 60–70% of their excess weight.
– The intestines are not rerouted with this kind of weight reduction surgery.
– Compared to gastric bypass surgery, there are fewer serious nutritional problems.
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Drawbacks
– Since a portion of the stomach is surgically removed, the procedure cannot be undone in case complications occur.
– Success over the long run is dependent on following dietary and lifestyle modifications. If these modifications are not maintained, some patients may acquire weight again.
– The surgery may exacerbate pre-existing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or raise the chance of developing GERD.
3. Adjustable gastric band
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Benefits
– This type of weight loss surgery is more flexible because the band may be removed or modified as needed.
– Usually carried out laparoscopically, it requires less time to recuperate than other bariatric surgical techniques.
– The lap band doesn’t change how nutrients are absorbed, unlike gastric bypass.
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Drawbacks
– Generally, this surgery results in less weight reduction than other procedures. About 40–50% of excess weight is lost on average in the first one to two years.
– This bariatric surgery may result in problems such as infection, erosion, or band slippage.
4.Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS)
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Benefits
– Patients often lose between 70 and 90 percent of their excess weight in the first 18 to 24 months. Among bariatric surgeries, this is usually the most significant weight loss that is accomplished.
– It has been observed that the BPD/DS is beneficial in helping people sustain weight loss and get better health outcomes over a number of years.
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Drawbacks
– Compared to other bariatric procedures, BPD/DS is a more involved and intrusive procedure that requires a longer hospital stay and a more difficult recovery.
– Risks associated with this type of bariatric surgery include infection, bleeding, intestinal blockages, leaks at surgical sites, and potential anastomotic strictures.
Note- In addition to the advantages and disadvantages of different types of weight loss surgery, you might also want to consider the weight loss surgery cost and the type of bariatric surgery procedure suitable for your body type. Therefore, before you make a choice, consult with a medical expert.
Key Insights on Recovery After Weight Loss Surgery
- Getting up and moving around the house could hasten your recuperation.
- Start out cautiously and follow the advice of your healthcare provider regarding the kind of safe physical activity you can engage in. Increase your level of physical activity as you get more at ease.
- You will transition to a soft diet over a few weeks, consisting of things like soup, yoghurt, and cottage cheese.
- Eventually, you’ll resume eating substantial meals.
- Your healthcare practitioner can advise you on which meals and beverages to avoid and which ones you may consume.
- You must chew your food properly and have light meals.
Conclusion
To sum up, bariatric surgery provides individuals with obesity with a variety of efficient solutions that are customised to meet their unique demands and objectives. There is a treatment that can meet a range of patient profiles, from the restrictive character of the gastric sleeve to the benefits of the gastric bypass that are malabsorptive to the customisable nature of the LAP-BAND. Choosing the right operation relies on consultation with a healthcare professional, who will help you identify your unique health problems, weight reduction objectives and lifestyle choices. It must be remembered that bariatric surgery is not a stand-alone treatment, even if it can be a useful tool in the quest for improved health.
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