Is Weight Loss Surgery For You

If you are having difficulty losing weight and maintain that weight loss, you may want to consider weight loss surgery.

This procedure involves restructuring the digestive system in order to cause the patients to lose weight. Sometime called stomach stapling or lap banding, the procedure decreases the volume of food that the stomach can hold at one time. Sometimes the restriction can be to one quarter cup to one third cup of food.

The smaller volume of the stomach immediately causes the patient to feel full after only a few bites of food. This smaller volume of food means less calories and thus the patient loses weight.

Some of the surgeries also include the restructuring of the large intestine. This restructuring lowers the calories actually absorbed into the system. Patients with this option will lose weight at an even faster rate.

This procedure is usually reserved for patients who are morbidly obese. That means that over thirty percent of their body weight is fat. In practical terms, the person must be at least one hundred pounds over their ideal weight.

Weight loss surgery can lead to complications. Some of the complications are serious enough that they can lead to death. Reported complications include blood clots, excessive blood loss and anesthesia problems.

There are also some serious sided effects from weight loss surgery. Since the volume of food that is taken in is so small, patients may miss out on certain needed vitamins and minerals. Patients should take vitamins daily in order to alleviate this problem. In the procedure where a portion of the bowel is removed, patients may have difficulty absorbing iron and may become anemic.

Before the surgery, your doctor may order some tests to be done. In addition to normal pre-op tests, you may need clearance from a cardiac specialist and a psychiatrist. Additionally you may need a gall bladder test and an upper GI.

After losing vast amounts of weight, patients may have excess skin that cannot shrink to its normal size. This may require a second surgery be performed. This second surgery, called a panniculectomy. This procedure involves removal of the navel.

The advantages of weight loss surgery are numerous. Patients are able to lose and keep weight off. Weight related problems may be reduced. Patients may no longer have back problems and type 2 diabetics may be able to stop taking any medication yet have blood sugar levels remain in the normal range.

Weight loss surgery is a difficult decision and should not be taken lightly.

April Kerr owns website Greg Walton MD which is all about bariatric surgery and vitamins for bariatric patients.

Tags: bariatric, calories, fitness, food, health, lose weight, nutrition, patients, surgeon, surgery, weight loss, Weightloss

Category: Weightloss