The information provided here is to help you understand the various types of bariatric weight loss surgery options you have to consider when trying to decide if weight loss surgery is right for you.
Your bariatric surgeon and other physicians will be your best source of information on the weight loss surgery that will be best for you. A basic understanding of the different procedures will assist you in your discussion, understanding of, and the ultimate decision you make with your doctor. After all, you are not only deciding on a weight loss surgical procedure but also committing to a totally new lifestyle.
Your surgeon will require you to sign an informed consent form. Before signing this consent form you should have an understanding of the bariatric weight loss surgery itself and the dramatic change you are about to make in your life. What are the changes required to make the surgery the most effective it can be? You should also be aware of the risks and complications involved with and after the surgery.
As obesity and health related diseases associated with it continue to rise so does the interest in bariatric weight loss surgery. In the U.S. today more than 33% of the adult population is obese. Even worse, over 31% of children are considered obese and that number is on the rise.
Celebrities like Carnie Wilson and Al Roker have helped popularize bariatric weight loss surgery. In 2010 over 200,000 bariatric surgeries were performed in the United States.
There are different types of bariatric weight loss surgeries. Basically there are are Restrictive procedures, Malabsorptive procedures and a Combination of both.
Restrictive Surgeries such as the Lap band and the Gastric Sleeve As well as the new Gastric Plication procedure simply limit the amount of food you can consume by drastically reducing the the size of the stomach.
Malabsorptive Surgeries alone are not widely used. The most common malabsorptive procedure is the Duodenal Switch. It really does restrict the stomach as well but not to nearly to the degree as the gastric bypass procedure does. It does however cause more malabsorption of calories. Most of your weight loss is thus caused by malabsorption, not restriction.
Combination Procedures include Gastric Bypass and Mini Gastric By Pass. The Roux-en-Y Gastric By Pass surgery is the most widely performed surgery and considered the gold standard of Bariatric Surgeries. It and the Mini Gastric Bypass are a combination of restrictive; decreasing the size of the stomach, and malabsorptive; food bypassing part of the intestines.
It is important to learn about all the benefits and risks involved with each type of baratric weight loss surgery and discuss them with your doctor when deciding which weight loss surgery is right for you.