The World Obesity Atlas 2022 predicts that over a billion people globally will be obese by 2030. But weight loss surgeries are a great way to lose and keep weight off. While there are different types of weight loss surgery, they all work by reducing the amount of food you can eat at one time.
We’ve put together an article with information on the different types of weight loss surgeries so that you can learn more about them before making your decision. Also, we’ve gone into more detail about how each type of surgery works and what you need to know before making your decision.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy is also known as gastric sleeve or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and it can be used to treat obesity. This procedure involves removing part of the stomach so that food intake is restricted, which helps you lose weight. It is one of the most common procedures. Experts at the Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery reveal that 60%-70% of primary surgeries are sleeves.
The surgeon removes 75% of your stomach, leaving only a thin tube-shaped “sleeve” in place that connects to your esophagus and small intestine. The remaining portion of your stomach holds about 150 ml. It may seem small compared to its original size before surgery, but it still has enough room for you to eat without getting full very quickly.
Biliopancreatic Diversion
Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) surgery is a weight loss surgery that removes the top part of the stomach and bypasses it with a small intestine so that food bypasses the first part of the small intestine. BPD surgery reduces the size of the stomach, making it easier to feel full after a small meal.
The surgery requires general anesthesia or conscious sedation, which means you’ll be asleep for most of this procedure. During your BPD surgery, your surgeon will make an 18 to 24-inch incision near your belly button and create two tunnels from this opening.
Of these two tunnels, one is for bile and another for pancreatic enzymes. These tubes will connect directly to your small intestine so that food passes through them before entering it.
Weight loss depends on how much fat you have in your body. If you’re overweight but don’t have much fat around specific areas such as hips or thighs, then there will not be much changed in these areas after biliopancreatic diversion surgery.
Gastric Bypass Surgery (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass)
Gastric bypass surgery involves a pouch at the top of your stomach, which limits how much food you can eat. The surgeon then attaches that pouch to the middle part of your small intestine so that food goes straight from your stomach into this pouch and then into your jejunum.
The surgeon also connects the lower part of your stomach to an opening in your small intestine, which allows food to bypass parts of the digestive tract that normally absorb calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from food.
This operation will make you feel full quickly after eating, but it’s not like other types of bariatric surgery where you can’t eat solid foods. You’ll still be able to eat lots of foods after gastric bypass, including fruits and vegetables and protein sources such as chicken breast and fish fillet.
Gastric Balloon/Intragastric Balloon System
The intragastric balloon system, also known as the gastric balloon or gastric sleeve surgery, is a minimally invasive procedure often used to treat obese patients. It involves placing an inflatable balloon inside your stomach before removing it.
The Intragastric Balloon System fills up most of your stomach to make you feel full quicker and reduce your appetite. It allows you to eat less food and lose weight more easily over time.
Gastric Banding
In gastric banding or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), a small silicone band is placed around the upper part of your stomach and used to create a small pouch that fills with food. This pouch can’t expand past a certain point, so you feel full after eating only a small amount of food.
The band restricts your food intake because your stomach capacity is reduced. But at the same time, it allows all needed nutrients and vitamins to pass into your intestines for regular absorption into your body.
A surgeon will place an inflatable balloon inside the new pouch created by the band that restricts how much food can be ingested at one time by stretching out over two hours for patients to feel full faster than usual.
Which Weight Loss Surgery is Ideal for You?
The WHO reported last year that worldwide obesity is now triple what it was in 1975. But as you can see, there are several options for weight loss surgeries. Each has pros and cons, so you must decide what is best for you. You must consider each surgery’s risks, benefits, and costs before deciding if it’s right for you.
To choose a weight loss surgery, it is necessary to know the parameters that are important for you. These parameters include:
- Cost of surgery: The cost of weight loss surgery may vary from one clinic to another. The cost depends on various factors, such as the type of procedure, facility, and surgeon. However, remember that there are many other expenses related to weight loss surgery, such as travel and lodging.
- Insurance coverage: Some insurance companies cover weight loss surgeries while others do not. If your insurance company does not cover your surgery, it is up to you whether or not you want to go through with it.
- Type of procedure: As we have already established above, there are different types of procedures available for weight loss, such as gastric bypass, gastric band surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, etc. These procedures vary in terms of effectiveness and risks involved in each one. It would help if you discussed with your doctor which procedure would suit your needs before undergoing any surgical procedure.
Conclusion
If you have been struggling with your weight and are ready to make a change, the decision to undergo bariatric surgery is essential. While these surgeries can help you lose weight and improve your overall health, they do not work for everyone. The best approach is to speak with your doctor about your options.
