Weight Loss Surgery Options

Bariatric surgery is surging in popularity as a successful treatment for obesity and obesity-associated health conditions.

For individuals who have faced obesity for a good portion of their life and have tried to lose weight in the past through diets and exercise yet have failed to succeed, there are certain weight loss surgery options which may be taken into consideration. Weight loss surgery options come in a variety of forms and there are a number of different surgeries that one may choose from in order to help in their weight loss pursuit. The following paragraphs will describe various weight loss surgery options as well as any advantages and possible drawbacks which may go along with each one.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

The vertical banded gastroplasty is a restrictive procedure which helps to promote weight loss in individuals who have the surgery performed. When patients have the vertical banded gastroplasty performed, their upper stomach portion is stapled vertically which creates a smaller stomach pouch. The pouch outlet is restricted by a band that acts to slow the emptying of the stomach thereby making the individual feel full for a longer period of time.

The advantages that are concomitant with vertical banded gastroplasty are that the individual who has this surgery performed can lose weight as there is less food getting into the system and the individual feels full more quickly, thereby eliminating the need to eat to satiate hunger. Additionally, the way that this surgical procedure is completed, it allows individuals to still process food as they have done in the past which allows them to receive the necessary vitamins and nutrients from their food as they did prior to the surgery. Lastly, it has been shown through studies that individuals who have had this surgery performed have maintained ½ of their targeted excess weight loss after 10 years.

As for the possible drawbacks to having vertical banded gastroplasty performed as a type of weight loss surgery, there are a few which should be mentioned. There is always a chance that staple-line disruption may occur, which is where the staples open up and can cause leaking or infection within the individual. It has also been noted that although individuals undergoing this type of surgery will feel full after eating they will not feel the satisfaction others feel after they have eaten enough. Also, about 40% of the individuals who have undergone this type of surgery have lost less than ½ of their excess weight.

Malabsorptive Procedures

Another type of weight loss surgery which is available to individuals is the malabsorptive procedures. There are three types of surgeries which fall under this category: biliopancreatic diversion, extended (distal) roux-en-Y gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. With these types of surgeries, the size of the stomach is reduced such as in the vertical banded gastroplasty but it is larger than what results with the gastroplasty. Patients who undergo this type of surgery are having their food intake limited as well as having their digestive process switched around. Those who have this surgery performed will have their nutrient and caloric intake minimized as a result of the procedure.

Advantages that have been cited along with malabsorptive procedures include a high degree of patient success, a high degree of patient satisfaction with hunger fulfillment, great success with excess weight loss over the years (approximately 80%-90% in many cases) and long-term weight loss maintenance. These advantages are what make malabsoprtive procedures highly favored when compared with the other alternatives.

As for any drawbacks, there are a few to speak of. Individuals who have had one of the three surgeries performed may experience bowel movement problems, bloating, the need for lifelong vitamin supplement intake, increased risk of gallstones and gallbladder problems and possible intestinal irritation.

Combination of Restrictive and Malabsorptive Procedures

Individuals also have the option of choosing a combination restrictive and malabsorptive procedure. This combination procedure is known as gastric bypass Roux-en-Y. This type of weight loss surgery is actually one of the most common which is performed in the United States. In a gastric bypass Roux-en-Y, the stomach is stapled to create a pouch while the remainder of the stomach is completely stapled shut so that it is sealed off from the smaller pouch. The outlet from the pouch empties directly into the jejunum which skips calorie absorption.

There are both advantages and potential drawbacks to the Roux-en-Y. The advantages include higher average weight loss than would be seen in patients undergoing solely restrictive surgery, large amount of weight loss of excess body weight, individuals do well at maintaining weight loss and certain pre-existing health conditions in individuals may improve post-surgery. As for the possible drawbacks, individuals who have this combination surgery performed may experience poor absorption of iron and calcium, metabolic bone disease, anemia and dumping syndrome, which can cause nausea, diarrhea and weakness.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Another type of weight loss surgery option is the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. This restrictive procedure involves having a band placed around the upper portion of the individual's stomach. The band divides the stomach into one larger and one smaller portion. Individuals who have this surgery performed will feel fuller more quickly and still have their digestion go through its normal routine. Since it is a laparoscopic procedure, the intensity of the overall surgery is less than some other weight loss surgeries and the recovery time is less extensive as well.

Some advantages of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (lap band surgery) include restricting amount of food which can be consumed, full absorption of food which is taken into the body, good amount of excess weight loss over the years, adjustable band composition and should it be necessary to do so, the band can be removed. These advantages are what make the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding a great weight loss surgery option for many individuals looking to take the surgical route with regard to weight loss.

There are some potential drawbacks to having laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding performed. These include possible perforation or tearing in the stomach, access port leaking, lack of satisfaction with regard to fullness, outlet obstruction, nausea, vomiting and slippage.

Discussing Your Weight Loss Surgery Options

The previously mentioned surgeries are many of the weight loss surgeries which are available to individuals pursuing weight loss these days. In order to ensure that one picks the correct weight loss surgery option which fits them best, it is important to review all of the options and discuss the choices with a health care professional.