Is Bariatric Bypass Surgery For You?
By Eddie Tobey, Thu Dec 8th
There are two basic types of bariatric surgeries for weightloss: restriction procedures and malabsorption procedures.Restriction procedures reduce the size of the stomach throughthe use of a gastric band, staples, or both, and do notinterfere with the normal digestion process. Malabsorptionprocedures, on the other hand, reduce the size of the stomachand bypass duodenum, the first segment of the small intestine,and sometimes the whole of the jejunum (the mid-section of theintestines). Some bariatric procedures combine the two.
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is widely accepted as themost effective surgical weight loss treatment available. Duringthis procedure, the stomach is divided into two sections,reducing the size of the new pouch 90 percent, fromapproximately two quarts to one or two ounces. This drasticreduction limits the new stomach pouch’s ability to hold food,causing the patient to feel full after eating only a smallamount of food. This also causes the food to bypass part of thedigestive system, reducing the amount of calories the bodyabsorbs.
A more extensive gastric bypass procedure calls for the removalof portions of the stomach. A small pouch remains, which is thenis connected directly to the final segment of the smallintestine, completely bypassing the duodenum and jejunum.Although this surgery can result in substantial weight loss, itis seldom used due to the high risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Other options include adjustable gastric banding, where thestomach is encircled with an inflatable band allows only a smallportion of the stomach to be used for holding food. Patientstypically achieve less weight loss with this procedure becauseno intestine is bypassed and there is no malabsorption, but theabsence of stapling makes it the least invasive and lowers therisks involved.
About the author:Bariatric SurgeryInfo provides detailed information on bariatric surgery,including cost, patients, centers, diet, financing, andcomplications, as well as specific procedures like laparoscopicand bypass surgery. Bariatric Surgery Info is the sister site ofGastric BypassSurgery Web.
