Many of you familiar with the daily struggle of weight loss and dieting will have heard of the concept of weight loss surgery. You may even have a friend or relative that decided to visit a doctor to have one of these procedures done, and has since shed the pounds miraculously.
While the prospect of getting a real and permanent fix for your weight loss woes is appealing, the idea of going under the knife can be a daunting one. Choosing the right doctor and right type of surgery for you is a serious undertaking. Here, we’ve provided a list of the latest surgery methods available to help you along the way to making the right choice.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Named after pioneering surgeon Charles Roux, this surgery involves reducing your stomach to the size of a small pouch by cutting a portion of your small intestine and rerouting it to close off a large area, the closed ends form the lower part of a “Y” shape.
The newly formed stomach limits your intake of food and drink to a vastly smaller amount, causing you to feel fuller much faster and reducing your daily calorie count by multitudes in the process.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
This is an irreversible procedure that involves the removal of about 80% of your stomach. Leaving a banana sized portion. Again, this works to restrict the amount of food and drink you can consume, while also inhibiting the formation of the hormone “ghrelin” which incites feelings of hunger in our body.
This is fast becoming one of the most popular bariatric procedures available due to its simplicity and long-lasting effects. It’s often recommended for obese teenagers and young adults who have not been able to control their weight gain through more conventional means.
Duodenal Switch
This surgery works as a sort of hybrid of both bypass and sleeve surgeries. Once again, a large portion of the stomach is removed while the small intestine is rerouted to effectively form a new stomach – the new intestinal tracts carry out the duties of food absorption and regulation to the liver.
This bariatric surgery will cause you to feel fuller far sooner, and will inhibit the absorption of calories and minerals into your body.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
Unlike other surgeries on this list, this is not an irreversible procedure. Also known as lap band surgery, this involves placing a band housing an inflatable balloon in the upper part of your stomach then securing it in place. The small resulting pouch is then attached to the abdomen using a port inserted under the skin; this allows the balloon to be inflated or deflated according to the amount you want to restrict your food intake.
The narrow opening to the rest of your stomach at the top of the balloon restricts the amount of food that can comfortably be eaten in one sitting. Though it will not reduce your caloric or nutrient intake, Balloons are usually removed after a period of 6 months so this is a procedure that can be used to train good eating habits.
The Best Option for You
Based on your weight loss goals, and eating habits, you can now make an informed decision on which surgery will work best for you. Remember, no matter which option you go with choose a competent surgeon and aid your surgery with a comprehensive diet and exercise program.
