Types of Weight Loss Surgeries

a woman pointing towards her flat belly

Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is a bariatric surgery that involves changes in the digestive system to lose weight. This surgery works when diet and exercise do not work or does not give a specific result. There are many weight loss surgical operations available in the world, but finding the correct and right option seems challenging. There is three important and primary weight loss surgery being performed across the world. Weight loss surgeries are also known as bariatric surgeries. Some weight loss surgery takes place by a laparoscopic method when you are asleep. 

The three types of weight loss surgeries are:

  • Gastric bypass 
  • Gastric banding 
  • Sleeve gastrectomy.

All these surgeries provide benefits in having weight loss but also has a few disadvantages along with the advantage of weight loss. Along with this surgery, one has to follow a proper diet, exercise and other weight loss tips that help in losing weight. There are some rules for weight loss surgery as a person willing for weight loss surgery must have a BMI that is a body mass index of above 35 or 40. 

This weight loss surgery is done to lose excess weight and reduce the risk of life-threatening diseases that include heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes.

Types of Weight loss surgery

Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass surgery is the best procedure for weight loss and has been performed for the past few long years. In this surgery, the process involves a general surgeon cutting the stomach on the top developing a walnut-sized pouch. This type of surgery is used to create small pouches at the top of the stomach. The pouch that is developed on top of the stomach is later attached to the small intestine to bypass the food through the stomach and pass it to the small intestine. This makes you have less food and make you fuller and help you absorb few calories from the food you eat. This means that this procedure is a combined procedure known as malabsorption that is restricting the portion size of food and limiting its absorption level.

Gastric Band

Gastric Band is a band that creates a pouch on the top of the stomach and this type of surgery has also been carried out for the last 10 years. The band used is the silicone band that is adjustable and placed around the upper part of the stomach. As the food required is less to fill the pouch, there is no need to eat much food. The band is usually a small device that is placed under the middle of the chest. This band is tightened after surgery to tighten your stomach.

Sleeve gastrectomy

The sleeve gastrectomy is FDA approved and involves the general surgeon who removes 85% of the stomach and then attaches the remaining portion of the stomach together. This process is the restrictive process that leads to less consumption of food before surgery. 

Intra-gastric balloon

Inta gastric balloon consists of a soft balloon that is filled with air or with saltwater placed into the stomach through a thin tube passed in the throat. This process is also known as gastroscopy. As the balloon is left for six months, you will not be able to eat as much as you can to fill your stomach.

Biliopancreatic diversion

In a biliopancreatic diversion, the pouch on the top of the stomach is connected to the small intestine and this surgery is similar to gastric bypass. The biliopancreatic diversion procedure has more side effects than gastric bypass so this method is rarely used. In this procedure, you can absorb fewer calories from the food you consume. 

Primary obesity surgery endoluminal

This type of surgery is a new technique that shrinks your stomach as a tube called an endoscope is passed into the stomach, later a tiny tool is passed to the stomach through the endoscope making it into many small folds.

Best weight loss surgery

All the types of surgery claim to full fill the requirement for significant weight loss but yet they have some advantages and disadvantages that are mentioned below:

  • Gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy cause more weight loss than gastric banding.
  • There is always the risk of complications for gastric bypass surgery more than sleeve gastrectomy. 
  • As gastric bands have removable bands the surgery can be reversed which may cause serious problems.

Always consult the surgeon or doctor if you plan for any weight loss surgery as they may help suggest which suits you the best according to your health and body.

Advantages of weight loss surgery:

  • It is a very simple and short surgery.
  • It can be done on obese people.
  • It has effective weight loss and has improvement in obese conditions.

Disadvantages of weight loss surgery:

  • The surgeries are non-reversible procedures
  • The surgery may cause acid reflux and heartburn.

Take Away

Weight loss surgeries are done only after trying many other effective methods like diet and exercise. Different procedures require different methods or techniques. This surgery has many advantages and disadvantages, some methods can be reversible and some are not reversible. Along with surgery, a low-calorie diet and exercises are also important.

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