Kick Obesity With These Weight Loss Surgery Ideas

There is a big difference between being overweight and being obese, and the difference entails more than just the way you look and feel. The fact is that obesity, which is indicated when you are 100 or more pounds overweight, can lead to very serious health complications. These complications include heart disease, diabetes, pulmonary issues, stroke, high blood pressure, and more. If you are dealing with obesity and have had no luck shaving off the weight, you can benefit from a few weight loss surgery ideas and options. These procedures are safe and effective, and can be done in a minimally invasive manner.

Gastric Sleeve

The gastric sleeve procedure is performed by specialists in the field of bariatrics. This bariatric surgery can be performed laparoscopically and entails actually cutting away a portion of the stomach. What is left is stitched down the side to form a vertical sleeve. The result is that you now have a stomach that is only a fraction of its original size, meaning that you will feel full far more quickly, and your overall food intake is greatly limited.

Lap Band

The lap band is a very popular option today. It is generally performed by surgeons who specialize in laparoscopic weight reduction surgery. The lap band is a silicone band that is inserted around the top of the stomach, creating a pouch. This pouch becomes the new “stomach,” which holds food when you eat it. It reduces your appetite, and a small opening is made in the bottom of the pouch to allow waste to move slowly through the rest of the stomach and into the intestines. This surgical procedure can be reversed; the band can be removed, loosened, or tightened.

Stomach Stapling

A procedure that has been performed for years, stomach stapling remains popular among the various weight loss surgery options. Doctors who perform stomach stapling use surgical staples to separate a portion of the stomach from the area in which you will take in food. Because there is no part of your stomach actually removed, it is an easily reversible procedure. There is little risk involved, but If you do not adhere to the prescribed diet, you could stretch your stomach or experience a tear at or near the staples.

Duodenal Switch

Unlike some other popular weight loss surgery options, the duodenal switch focuses on the small intestine rather than the stomach. When physicians and their medical associates perform a duodenal switch, they basically rearrange the small intestine and reroute the food that is generally absorbed through the intestinal wall so that it is eliminated with the bile. This minimizes the amount of food and fat that is being absorbed into the body.

The duodenal switch is often done in conjunction with another surgical procedure. For example, your doctor may recommend a gastric sleeve first. Once you have recovered from this surgery, he or she may recommend a duodenal switch as well. This gives your body the benefit of a diminished appetite plus malabsorption to work double time toward substantial sustainable weight loss.