Sometimes, weight loss cannot be achieved through diet and exercise alone. Several surgical procedures are available that can help you lose the weight you need, and live the life you want. It is important to understand your weight loss surgery options. Consult with your doctor regarding your weight loss goals, as he can best guide you to the procedure that will work best for you.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is often considered the "gold standard" of weight loss surgeries, and has decades of statistics to back up its success. In this procedure, about 5 percent of the top portion of your stomach is separated from the main stomach and used to create a tiny pouch. With this surgery, the stomach becomes much smaller, allowing only tiny amounts to be eaten at a time, and because part of the intestine is bypassed with this procedure, fats are not absorbed as readily. Patients that opt for the RNY procedure should expect to take bariatric vitamins in order to maintain health, as nutrients are not absorbed as readily, either. Also, some patients experience "dumping syndrome," a malady that causes nausea, excessive drool, and diarrhea if too much sugar or other carbohydrate-rich foods are eaten.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Quickly becoming one of the top weight loss surgery options in the world, the vertical sleeve gastrectomy restricts the amount of food you can eat by essentially removing 85 percent of the stomach. Because the pouch portion of the stomach is removed, what is left is a banana-sized portion of the muscular part of the stomach, which resists stretching out over time, a concern that many weight loss patients may have with the RNY surgery. Because the sleeve gastrectomy restricts portion size, but has no malabsorptive properties because no intestines are moved around, and your anatomy remains essentially the same, weight loss may be slower initially than with RNY, but can continue longer. According to the Obesity Help website, two-year results are similar to the RNY procedure. Patients also experience fewer complications such as ulcers around new incisions, dumping syndrome or intestinal strictures.
Duodenal Switch
The duodenal switch, according to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery, can be one of the most complicated bariatric surgeries, giving malabsorptive properties to the vertical sleeve gastrectomy by "switching" the small intestine around to change the digestion process. Often, more intestine is bypassed than with the traditional RNY surgery, which heavily limits food absorption. With the DS surgery, patients must be even more careful about taking bariatric supplements, as failure to do so could damage the liver and other life-sustaining organs. If you have a body mass index higher than 40, you may be a good candidate for this procedure.
Gastric Banding
According to Duke University Hospital's weight loss surgery division, gastric banding is the second most popular weight loss surgical procedure performed there. Gastric banding is a laparoscopic surgery in which an adjustable medical grade silicone band is wrapped around the top portion of the stomach, cordoning it off from the rest of the stomach, and thereby forcing the patient to only eat very small portions of food. While this surgery is less costly to the patient and insurance carriers at the time, there is risk of band slippage, erosion, or lowered weight loss results. Gastric banding is considered the least invasive of weight loss surgeries, and can be reversed more easily than others.
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