Many types of weight loss surgery are available for treating obesity and overweight.
It’s estimated that 41.9% of people in the United States live with obesity.
Without treatment, obesity could lead to serious complications.
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Surgical weight loss options vary in their advantages, potential drawbacks, and risks.
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Who Are Weight Loss Surgeries For?
Weight loss surgery(bariatric surgery) is a commitment.
It involves making changes to diet and lifestyle to get the most benefits for weight loss and improved health.
Bariatric surgery is for people who are living withobesity.
It’s not always the first choice for weight loss, however.
People with obesity usually try many strategies, but nothing works.
Weight losssurgeryis for people with a particularbody mass index (BMI)and/or obesity-related health conditions.
Restrictive surgeryis effective for weight loss because it reduces the size of the stomach.
After this surgery, people take in fewercaloriesbecause they get full after eating less food.
Malabsorptive surgeryinvolves removing part of thesmall intestineor bypassing it.
Shortening the small intestine means that fewer nutrients are absorbed from food.
Combination surgeriesinvolve the small intestine and the stomach.
Fewer nutrients are absorbed, and people feel full after eating less.
Some types of surgery alsoreduce the amount of hunger hormonesproduced in the stomach.
Removing the section of the stomach that secretes these hormones produces less hunger.
It is primarily restrictive but also results in malabsorption, and it reduces hunger hormones.
Procedure
The procedure involves reducing the stomach’s size.
Staples are used to reduce the stomach to about the size of an egg.
The smaller pouch stomach is then attached to the second section of the small intestine.
Food bypasses the first and part of the second section of the small intestine.
Pros
Gastric bypass surgery is considered the gold standard for weight loss surgery.
This surgery tends to result in more weight loss than other types.
Another study showed the throw in 2 diabetes remission rate was high even if the person regained weight.
Risks
Gastric bypass has a higherrisk of causing complicationsin the first month than other bariatric surgeries.
Adjustable Gastric Banding
This surgery may also be calledlap band surgery or laparoscopic gastric banding surgery.
It is a common form of weight loss surgery that reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold.
In adjustable gastric banding surgery, a band is placed around the top part of the stomach.
It results in a smaller stomach, which leads to being full sooner during a meal.
For people who live withdiabetes, gastric banding surgery brings the disease into remission in 57% of cases.
The part that’s left is narrower, in the shape of a banana.
People have less area in the stomach, so they feel full quickly when eating.
Some people may experience vitamin or mineral deficiencies after having this surgery.
A biliopancreatic diversion is done in two parts, affecting both the stomach and the small intestine.
First, most of the stomach is removed, leaving only a small section.
The duodenum and the ileum are connected together, bypassing the jejunum.
Food travels through the small stomach and the two sections of the intestine.
This surgery, which affects both the stomach and the small intestine, is effective for weight loss.
One research review showed that 59% of people had effective weight loss at 34 months after surgery.
Due to severemalabsorption, 0.5% to 4.9% of people will need more surgery on the small intestine.
Insufficient weight loss might occur in 0.5% to 2.78% of cases.
The remaining 7% had partial remission or tookmedicationto manage the disease.
The risk of anincisional herniaafter this surgery is about 3% per year.
They are less invasive than bariatric surgery, but they may result in less weight loss.
Gastric Balloon
Two types of balloons might be used for weight loss.
A gastric balloon is placed while the person is under anesthesia during the endoscopic procedure.
The balloon is inserted into the stomach and filled with saline.
With less space for food in the stomach, the person feels fuller quicker.
People feel fuller for longer after eating a meal.
A gastric balloon is temporary, which may make it attractive to some.
However, they are only used temporarily, for six to 12 months.
This means that another procedure is needed to remove the balloon within a year of having it placed.
This is not a passive weight loss option.
It involves altering diet and lifestyle.The weight loss is often not as much as with surgical procedures.
After the balloon is placed, some people experiencenausea,vomiting,abdominal painand/or discomfort, andsymptoms of reflux.
About 5% of people might need to have the balloon removed because these symptoms do not resolve.
Infection from bacterial overgrowth is another possible complication.
A vagal stimulation gear is placed usinglaparoscopic surgery.The person is under general anesthesia.
The procedure takes under two hours to finish.
The implanted machine gives off an electrical charge at regular intervals to block the hunger signal.
Studies show excess weight loss of about 24% with vagal blockade.
The procedure is reversible, so people can have the gear removed.
The gear does need to be charged twice a week.
However, most of these symptoms are felt for only a short time and improve on their own.
After 18 months, 7% of people needed surgery again to make an adjustment.
Some things to consider include:
How Do You Qualify for Weight Loss Surgery?
Not everyone will qualify for weight loss surgery.
Certain metrics must be met for be a good candidate.
Some of the qualifications will be different based on where the procedure is being performed.
Weight Loss Surgery for Teens
Guidelines determine the eligibility of teens for bariatric surgery.
The organization recommends that children with severe obesity be referred early to a metabolic and bariatric surgery center.
What Is the Outlook for Someone After Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight loss surgery has become more common and techniques have improved in recent years.
Overall, the risks of complications are low, and most people do well.
One problem that people will need to watch for is regaining weight.
After having weight loss surgery, people can expect to make some changes to their diet and lifestyle.
Vitamin and mineral supplements will be needed for life.
Most people will be encouraged to exercise to get to maintain weight loss.
Quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol will also be recommended.
Summary
Several options are available for weight loss surgery and devices.
People must meet certain criteria to be considered candidates for these procedures.
The surgery and procedures required are not the final step toward weight loss.
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