Bariatric surgery is the technical term for operations that are designed to help people lose weight where diet and exercise alone have failed.
Surgical therapy has been shown to be effective over both the short-term and long-term in achieving weight loss. However, surgery should be
considered as part of an overall plan of weight management - it is not an option for all people who are overweight, and surgery alone without
dietary or lifestyle modifications may not be successful.
There are several operations which are currently
performed to achieve rapid weight loss. Each has its own risks
and complications. Although this should not be seen as a substitute
for a thorough conversation with a medical professional, we
have listed here some of the highlights for various operations
that you may hear of while investigating obesity surgery.
For more information on the various types of weight loss surgeries,
consult a qualified phsycian. Find
a weight loss surgeon.
Procedures may be broadly classified into one of two categories. First, the so-called restrictive procedures, produce weight loss by limiting the
amount of food that may be ingested. The second category is the malabsorptive procedures, which interfere with the body’s normal process of nutrient
uptake and digestion so that ingested food is not properly absorbed. Some procedures incorporate elements of both restriction and malabsorption,
and will be discussed more fully below.
Obesity and being overweight is not the same thing. People who are obese have a great amount of fat and are at risk for serious health problems. In order to determine if a person is obese, Doctors use a measurement called a body mass index (BMI) (? Link “Find out your BMI here”). This BMI is a relation between the person’s height and mass. A person with a BMI in the 95th percentile will be considered overweight. A BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile generally means that the person is at risk for being overweight. For people who are extremely overweight, namely obese, will exceed the 95th percentile. The formula is flawed when measuring very muscular people. These people may score in the risk related percentiles but only due to a large amount of muscle and not fat. Consult your doctor to verify the exact results from BMI. Read more about Obesity...
All surgical procedures carry some degree of risk, and bariatric surgery is no exception. Weight loss surgery is fundamentally an elective procedure, and the risks must be carefully considered before undergoing an operation. Your specific questions may be best addressed by your surgeon, but some general information on risks of the procedure follows. Read more about the Risks & Complications of Bariatric Surgery ...
You and your doctor should organize a detailed documentation of all of your efforts to lose weight. This can include diets, and weight loss programs or exercise. Any illnesses or conditions stemming from your obesity should also be recorded and if their status is getting worse. If you are having trouble performing life’s daily routines, sleeping, walking please consult your doctor to help decide if weight-loss surgery is right for you. Read more about where to go for help...
Contrary to popular opinion, surgery for obesity has been performed for decades. The jejunoileal bypass (JIB) was one of the first operations for the treatment of morbid obesity. These operations had their beginnings at the University of Minnesota in the 1950s. In this procedure, the stomach was left intact, but the intestinal flow was diverted past most of the small intestines. As such, it was a prototypical “malabsorptive” procedure. Read more about the history of Weight Loss/Bariatric Surgery...
Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery
Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery
