When a person is obese, there are many health problems that can develop, from joint problems to serious medical problems like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Sometimes when a certain point is reached, a person is unable to lose all the excess weight on their own, and it is for such people that bariatric surgery is recommended.
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery refers to a number of procedures that are performed on patients who are extremely overweight or obese. In these surgeries, the size of the stomach is reduced, in order to achieve weight loss, by implanting a medical devise such as a gastric band, or by removing a portion of the stomach itself or by creating a small stomach pouch out of the intestines by re-secting and rerouting them.
What Procedures Are Performed In Bariatric Surgery?
The procedures that are performed in bariatric surgery for weight loss are mostly restrictive procedures, in which food absorption and intake is restricted. These include:
- Vertical banded gastroplasty
- Adjustable gastric band
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Intra-gastric balloon (gastric balloon)
- Gastric Plication
- Mixed procedures
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch
- Implantable gastric stimulation
Eating After Bariatric Surgery
The patient is restricted to a liquid diet immediately after bariatric surgery and can only take foods such as diluted fruit juice, clear broth and sugar free gelatin desserts. This diet continues until the gastro-intestinal tract has healed somewhat from the intense bariatric procedure. After this, the patient can take a pureed or blended sugar free diet which mostly consists of cream of wheat, protein drinks, skimmed milk, mashed potatoes and pureed fruits. Since the size of the stomach is restricted, overeating is severely discouraged as it leads to nausea and vomiting.
Risks Involved With Bariatric Surgery For Weight Loss:
Like all surgical procedures there is a certain amount of risk involved in bariatric surgical procedures. This is why it is very important to weigh the pros and cons with your surgeon before going for this drastic weight loss procedure. Bariatric surgery is very successful for weight loss, as long as proper precautions are taken.
Reply