What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric Surgery is an umbrella term that refers to surgeries that are essentially done for weight loss. 

Overview:

Losing weight is a difficult task, especially for people who are extremely overweight. To lose weight, many people consult dieticians, nutritionists, and personal trainers. They are recommended to follow diet plans, workout routines, and other forms of weight loss training. For most people, these things certainly work out and they lose a considerable amount of weight in a few months.

Today, laparoscopic surgery is used for the majority of bariatric surgeries. A laparoscope is a little tube-shaped instrument with a built-in camera. Small abdominal incisions are used to introduce the laparoscope. The surgeon can see within the abdomen and do operations there without using conventionally huge incisions thanks to the tiny camera on the laparoscope's tip. Although laparoscopic surgery can shorten and speed up recovery, but not everyone is a good candidate.

Common Bariatric Surgeries:

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB): In LAGB surgery, the surgeon makes small incisions on the upper part of the abdomen. Then, an adjustable band is placed around the top part of the stomach, creating a small pouch in the stomach. This pouch will give you the feeling of being full after eating a small portion of food. This procedure helps in losing weight due to less food being consumed.

Roux-en-Y (Gastric Bypass): Commonly known as Gastric Bypass surgery, the Roux-en-Y is another type of Bariatric surgery. In this surgery, a small pouch is created in the stomach and this pouch is then directly connected to the small intestine. This newly created pouch becomes the only part of the stomach where the food reaches. 

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is the surgery in which the stomach is surgically reduced to merely 15-20% of its original size. This helps in lessening the requirement for food, and the individual feels full after eating only a small amount of food. 

How should you prepare?:

If you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, your medical team will provide you with preparation guidelines. A number of lab tests and examinations could be required before surgery. You can be limited in what you can eat and drink as well as what drugs you can use. You might have to give up tobacco use and begin a physical activity regimen.

Planning ahead for your post-surgery recuperation may also be a must for preparation. For instance, plan to have assistance at home if you believe you will require it.

Advantages:

• Lower surgical time and easier technical requirements
• Can be carried out in some people with high-risk medical problems.
• Patients who have significant obesity may get this procedure as their initial step.
• May serve as a transitional measure before gastric bypass or SADI-S procedures
• Effective weight loss and alleviation of obesity-related conditions

Side-Effects of Bariatric Surgeries:

Bariatric surgeries certainly provide fast and durable weight loss. However, the fact cannot be denied that these surgeries are rather risky and may cause severe side effects. Some common symptoms faced by patients after Bariatric surgeries are:

• Nauseousness
• Low blood pressure
• Breathing issues
• Infection
• Excessive bleeding 
• A process that cannot be reversed
• Heartburn and reflux symptoms could get worse or start to appear.
• Compared to bypass surgeries, it has a smaller impact on metabolism

Conclusion:

In conclusion, for morbidly obese individuals who are unresponsive to non-surgical therapy, bariatric surgery is a more affordable and safe option. Concerns about the deterioration of mental health issues following bariatric procedures have been raised by several studies.

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