Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is an effective solution for individuals who have struggled with obesity for many years and have been unable to achieve significant weight loss through diet and exercise alone. Bariatric surgery alters the stomach or intestines in order to decrease the amount of food that can be consumed or the absorption of calories from food.
The procedure is designed to help you achieve your weight loss goals, improve your overall health and quality of life, and reduce your risk of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea.
Bariatric Surgery Types
Who is bariatric surgery for?
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The person has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, which is classified as severe obesity.
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The person has a BMI of 35 or higher and also has obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.
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The person has been unable to achieve significant weight loss through diet and exercise alone.
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The person has tried multiple weight loss programs or diets and has been unable to maintain weight loss.
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The person experiences chronic body aches and pains as a result of their weight.
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The person's excessive weight limits their ability to engage in everyday activities or causes difficulty in performing daily routines.
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Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass is a type of bariatric surgery that involves creating a small stomach pouch by stapling part of the stomach and rerouting the small intestine to this new pouch. This limits the amount of food that can be consumed and reduces the absorption of calories. Gastric bypass surgery typically results in significant weight loss and improvement in obesity-related health conditions.
Gastric Bypass Surgery Benefits
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Significant Weight Loss: Gastric bypass surgery typically results in significant weight loss, with patients losing an average of 50-70% of their excess weight in the first year after surgery.
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Improved Health: Gastric bypass can improve or resolve obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and heart disease.
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Long-term Weight Loss: Gastric bypass is a permanent procedure, and most patients are able to maintain a significant amount of their weight loss long-term.
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Improved Quality of Life: Gastric bypass can improve overall quality of life by increasing mobility and ability to engage in everyday activities, and improving self-esteem and self-confidence.
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Reduced Mortality: Gastric bypass surgery has been associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality, particularly in patients with severe obesity and related co-morbidities
Gastric Bypass Surgery Procedure
(Step-by-Step)
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Anesthesia: Gastric bypass surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia, which means that the patient is put to sleep for the duration of the procedure.
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Incision: The surgeon will make a small incision in the upper abdomen, typically using a laparoscope, which is a long, thin tube with a camera and light attached. This is considered a minimally invasive technique and it results in smaller incisions, less pain and quicker recovery.
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Stomach Stapling: The first step in the surgery is to create a small stomach pouch by stapling part of the stomach. This limits the amount of food that can be consumed and reduces the absorption of calories.
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Intestinal Rerouting: The next step is to reroute a section of the small intestine to this new stomach pouch, which reduces the absorption of calories. This is done by attaching a Y-shaped section of the small intestine to the new stomach pouch.
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Closure: After the surgery is completed, the incision(s) will be closed with stitches or staples.
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Recovery: After the surgery is complete, the patient will be taken to a recovery room to be closely monitored for any complications. Most patients are able to go home within 2 to 5 days.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, involves removing a large portion of the stomach, leaving behind a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach. This limits the amount of food that can be consumed, leading to weight loss. It's a less complex operation than gastric bypass surgery and recovery time is relatively shorter.
Gastric Sleeve surgery benefits
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Significant weight loss: Gastric sleeve surgery typically results in significant weight loss, with patients losing an average of 50-70% of their excess weight in the first year after surgery.
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Improved Health: Gastric sleeve surgery can improve or resolve obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
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Long-term weight loss: Gastric sleeve surgery is a permanent procedure, and most patients are able to maintain a significant amount of their weight loss long-term.
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Low complication rates: Gastric sleeve surgery is considered to be less invasive and has a lower complication rate than other bariatric procedures, such as gastric bypass.
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Reduced Appetite: The surgery reduces the volume of the stomach, which leads to a reduction in appetite and leads to decreased calorie intake and weight loss.
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Improved Quality of Life: Gastric sleeve can improve overall quality of life by increasing mobility and ability to engage in everyday activities, and improving self-esteem and self-confidence.
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No foreign object left in the body: Unlike adjustable gastric banding, gastric sleeve surgery does not require the placement of a foreign object in the body, which reduces the risk of complications.
Gastric Sleeve Procedure(Step-by-Step)
The surgeon staples off more than half of the stomach vertically using surgical stapler, and then takes that part out, decreasing the volume of the stomach significantly and changing its shape to become a sleeve-like thin tube, and this anatomical change in the stomach helps reduce the amount of food that the stomach can accommodate before feeling full.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia; the surgeon opens a few tiny openings, each of which is 3 cm in length, and surgical instruments are advanced through these openings, along with a camera with strong illumination device to enhance vision during the operation, and the surgeon follows what's happening inside the abdominal cavity via an electronic screen in front of them.
The abdominal cavity is insufflated with inert carbon dioxide, and most of the stomach is isolated and then excised vertically as we mentioned earlier.
Adjustable Gastric Band
In adjustable gastric banding, a band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach to create a small stomach pouch that limits the amount of food that can be consumed. The tightness of the band can be adjusted over time to achieve the desired level of restriction. Gastric banding is considered to be less invasive than gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy and the operation is reversible
Adjustable Gastric Band Surgery Procedure
(Step-by-Step)
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Anesthesia: Adjustable gastric banding surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia, which means that the patient is put to sleep for the duration of the procedure.
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Incision: The surgeon will make a small incision in the upper abdomen, typically using a laparoscope, which is a long, thin tube with a camera and light attached. This is considered a minimally invasive technique and it results in smaller incisions, less pain and quicker recovery.
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Placement of the band: A ring-shaped band, made of silicone material, is placed around the upper portion of the stomach to create a small stomach pouch that limits the amount of food that can be consumed. The band is designed to be adjustable by adding or removing saline solution through a small access port that is placed under the skin of the abdomen.
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Attachment of the access port: The access port is then attached to the band and tunneled under the skin. This allows the surgeon to adjust the tightness of the band after the surgery.
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Closure: After the band is placed and the access port is attached, the incision(s) will be closed with stitches or staples.
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Recovery: After the surgery is complete, the patient will be taken to a recovery room to be closely monitored for any complications. Most patients are able to go home within 1-2 days.
Gastric Balloon Surgery
Gastric balloon is a non-surgical weight loss procedure that involves placing a deflated balloon into the stomach and then inflating it with air or saline. This creates a feeling of fullness, which limits the amount of food that can be consumed. The balloon is removed after 6 months.
Gastric Balloon Benefits
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Non-surgical: Gastric balloon is a non-surgical weight loss procedure, which means that it doesn't require incisions or general anesthesia, this often results in less pain, shorter recovery time and lower risks than surgical procedures.
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Short-term solution: Gastric balloon is a short-term solution to weight loss, the balloon is placed in the stomach for a period of six months, after which it's removed and discarded.
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Significant weight loss: Gastric balloon procedures can result in significant weight loss, with patients losing an average of 20-30% of their excess weight in the first 6 months after the procedure.
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Reduced Appetite: The balloon in the stomach creates a feeling of fullness, which reduces appetite and leads to decreased calorie intake and weight loss.
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Improved Health: Gastric balloon can improve or resolve obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
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Low complication rates: Gastric balloon is considered to have low complication rates as there is no surgery involved.
Gastric Balloon Procedure
(Step-by-Step)
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Consultation: The first step in the gastric balloon procedure is to have a consultation with a qualified bariatric surgeon or weight loss specialist to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. You will have a physical examination, discuss your medical history, and go over the risks and benefits of the procedure.
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Pre-procedure preparation: Before the procedure, you will be asked to follow a specific diet to prepare your body for the procedure. You will also be required to stop smoking and to stop taking certain medications.
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Anesthesia: Gastric balloon procedure is typically performed under sedation, which means that you will be awake but feel relaxed and pain-free.
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Placement of the balloon: The balloon is inserted into the stomach through the mouth, using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera and light attached. The balloon is then filled with saline solution to the required volume, which is determined by the manufacturer's specifications.
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Monitoring: After the placement, you will be monitored for any complications, and given instructions on how to care for yourself during the recovery period.
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Duration: Gastric balloon remains in the stomach for a period of six months, after which it's removed and discarded.
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Follow-up Care: After the procedure, you will be required to attend follow-up visits with your specialist to monitor your progress and to make sure the balloon is working as intended.
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Lifestyle modification: Gastric balloon procedure is a tool to aid weight loss and should be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes such as healthy eating habits and regular exercise to achieve and maintain weight loss success.
Gastric Botox Surgery
Gastric Botox is an innovative and non-surgical method to reduce appetite and promote weight loss by injecting Botox into the walls of the stomach which makes the stomach less sensitive to hunger-causing hormones. This method requires no incision and no recovery time. However, it's not widely available yet and the long-term effects are not well established yet.
Gastric Botox Benefits
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Non-surgical: Gastric Botox is a non-surgical procedure, which means that it doesn't require incisions or general anesthesia, this often results in less pain, shorter recovery time and lower risks than surgical procedures.
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Reduced Appetite: Gastric botox procedure reduces appetite by making the stomach less sensitive to hunger-causing hormones, which can lead to decreased calorie intake and weight loss.
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Short-term solution: Gastric botox is a short-term solution and the effects of the procedure can last between 3 to 6 months, after which the procedure needs to be repeated.
Gastric Botox Procedure
(Step-by-Step)
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Consultation: The first step in the gastric botox procedure is to have a consultation with a qualified bariatric surgeon or weight loss specialist to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. You will have a physical examination, discuss your medical history, and go over the risks and benefits of the procedure.
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Pre-procedure preparation: Before the procedure, you may be asked to follow a specific diet or to stop taking certain medications.
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Anesthesia: Gastric botox procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia, which means that the area where the injections will be administered will be numbed, so you will not feel pain or discomfort.
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Injection: The Botox is injected into the walls of the stomach using a very thin needle. This makes the stomach less sensitive to hunger-causing hormones and reduces the appetite.
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Monitoring: After the procedure, you will be monitored for any complications, and given instructions on how to care for yourself during the recovery period.
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Duration: The effects of the procedure can last between 3 to 6 months, after which the procedure needs to be repeated if the effects are desired to be maintained.
Bariatric Surgery Aftercare
Bariatric surgery aftercare involves a lifelong commitment to healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and regular follow-up appointments with a bariatric surgeon or weight loss specialist. Patients may also need to take supplements to ensure that they are getting enough vitamins and minerals, and may need to make other lifestyle changes to support their weight loss goals. It's important for patients to fully understand the changes they'll need to make before undergoing the surgery, and to have a strong support system in place to help them make those changes and to achieve success long-term.
