Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric Surgery is a term that comes from the Greek words, ‘Weight’ and ‘treatment.’ There are a few in the medical profession who would consider Bariatric surgery to be a life saving operation and indeed in many cases they would be right.

Bariatric surgery mainly consists of main gastrointestinal surgeries that seal off the majority of the stomach so that the amount of food a person can eat is decreases or the small intestine is rearranged to decrease the calories that a person’s body can absorb.

There are a number of types of bariatric surgery available although they are commonly known as the term ‘bariatric surgery.’ It should be noted that bariatric surgery is not a magic solution to lose weight.

It is not an easy choice for those who suffer obesity as it is a drastic step. It carries the typical pain and risks connected with major gastrointestinal surgical process. The following are the bariatric surgery risks that are involved with the surgery.

Bariatric Surgery Types

There are three main types of bariatric surgery procedures that are carried out:

Silicone Band

One, known commonly as gastric banding, involves putting a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach so that the amount of food you eat gets restricted.

Biliopancreatic Diversion

The second method is known as "biliopancreatic diversion" and works by reducing the amount of nutrients and calories that the body can absorb and in so doing helps bring about weight loss.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

The third method is the most popular and involves features taken from the other two methods. It is known as the "Roux-en-Y gastric bypass".

No matter which method of surgery you opt for, or are advised would be most suitable for you, the fact remains that once surgery is over, you remain at risk forever of nutritional deficiencies.

This results from your eating habits having to change drastically as a result of the operation - in fact you will become very ill if you eat too much!

Bariatric Surgery Risks

Unluckily due to the very nature of their obesity problem, the surgery itself carries its own risks with some Bariatric patients ultimately dying on the operating table.

As the whole point of this surgery is not to particularly enhance a person's looks, but to ultimately enhance their lifespan Bariatric surgery does not come under the same umbrella as cosmetic surgery.

Very careful considerations need to be given to anyone who is considering Bariatric surgery. Surgeons often have a very difficult option to make as the bariatric surgery risks which arise from not only the surgery but also the anaesthesia can put their patient at risk.

Usually the surgeon has to weigh up the decisions he makes by deciding whether the patient is more likely to die with or without the surgery.

Important Considerations While Choosing Bariatric Surgery

When deciding whether someone is a good candidate for Bariatric surgery, particular guidelines have to be followed and these include considerations such as the following:

Surgeons generally consider the following when assessing a patient as a candidate for bariatric surgery:

Their Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 or more and they are or have experienced obesity related health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
They are 100 pounds or more over their ideal body weight
There is a high risk of health conditions that are related to their obesity.
There is proof of their failures to maintain a healthy weight by using conventional weight control programmes and diets that are medically supervised.

Weight loss surgery is a major type of surgery. Your decision should only be made after careful consideration, evaluation and consultations with experienced surgeons specialising in bariatric patients. You should discuss the following with your surgeon:

Complications can arise resulting in further surgery.
Your health risks that you currently face should be weighed against those related to the surgery.
The surgery does not remove fat like liposuction does.
Weight loss surgery is not and should not be considered cosmetic surgery.
Bariatric surgery is not supposed to be reversible.
Weigh loss surgery will change your relationship with food. Your life will be dramatically changed physically, emotionally, financially.
Weight loss surgery should be considered only if other options such as weight loss programmes (supervised by a health professional) have failed.

Before deciding whether going ahead with bariatric surgery, you should ask yourself whether you are ready to make the lifelong commitment to improving your health. You should ask yourself:

Are you convinced that you can’t lose weight any other way? Have you tried all other options? – have these failed?
Have you researched all the aspects of bariatric surgery and what the procedures consist of?
Will you attend regular doctors appointments for the rest of your life?
Will you be able to eat small, healthy meals and chew everything thoroughly and slowly?
Are you aware and do you understand the risk of complications?
Will you be able to manage how surgery will change your life?

Patient who have undergone the surgery usually enjoy a better, longer quality of life with improved:

self esteem
overall health
self image

Look Forward To

After surgery, most patients enjoy a longer, better quality of life with improved:

Overall health (e.g., fewer symptoms of diabetes and reduced need for medication)
Mobility
Self-esteem
Self-image