Weight Loss Surgery Types

Basically there are three weight loss surgery types are available to help people who are considered morbidly obese. Restrictive, malabsorptive, and a combination of the two are all commonly performed on weight loss patients.

These three weight loss surgery types have one goal, which is to help patients with a lot of weight to loss, shed those excess pounds. Each weight loss surgery type is different and each has it’s own benefits and disadvantages.

A health care professional will work closely with you to determine which weight loss surgery type will benefit you the most, when looking into having weight loss surgery. For some, the least invasive weight loss surgery type is the best and for others, a more radical approach is needed.

Whichever weight loss surgery type is determined is right for you, it is very important that you research about the weight loss surgery type and let your doctor know of any concerns you might have prior to the weight loss surgery.

Gastric Bypass

Combination of restrictive and malabsorptive is one weight loss surgery type that is commonly performed on obese patients. This surgery is called the Roux-en Y surgery, or is more commonly known as the gastric bypass.

Gastric Bypass is a very poplar approach to weight loss surgery. It has been performed for several years with a high success weight. The stomach is stapled to make a new, smaller stomach pouch during gastric bypass.

Then, attaching, or stapling a part of the intestines to the smaller stomach pouch bypasses most of the stomach and part of the intestines. The result is that you cannot eat very much at mealtimes and fewer nutrients and the body absorbs calories.

Just as with other weigh loss surgery types there are both advantages and disadvantage of this surgery. Patients that have the gastric bypass can often expect to loss a lot more weight initially following the surgery.

Advantages Of Gastric Bypass

Doctors have perfected gastric bypass to use the least invasive techniques as possible. This means a less recovery and healing time after the surgery is performed. Another benefit of this surgery is that it has been performed for many years in the United States and patients can expect a very experienced doctor.

Disadvantages Of Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass has also got some disadvantages as well. First, there will be more cutting and stapling of the stomach and bowels than with other forms. When compared to the Lap-Band procedure, there is a greater risk for weight loss surgery complications during the procedure.

Another disadvantage of this weight loss surgery type is that the patient will lose some of the important nutrients and may need repeated screening and supplements because part of the digestive system is bypassed.

This weight loss surgery type may also cause some medical problems such as anemia, bone density loss, and hair loss due to the lack of nutrients being absorbed by the body. The gastric bypass is difficult to reverse and is not adjustable based on the patient’s needs.

This weight loss surgery type has a higher mortality rate that with the Lap-Band or vertical banded Gastroplasty procedures. Patients with this weight loss surgery type also report a high rate of the dumping syndrome, which leads to cramping, sweating, nausea and diarrhea.