About Bariatric Surgery for Beginners Who Don’t Know What It Is

If you are new to the topic of bariatric surgery, then you have come to the right place. The whole idea of this surgery is to cure extreme obesity. Accumulation of fatty tissues and excess weight can lead to morbid obesity.

Bariatric surgery is final option for people who have tried several weight reducing methods such as dieting and exercising. If you are a person belong to this category and want to consider bariatric surgery, there are several factors that you should be aware of.

The cost of the surgery. Bariatric surgery is not covered by most health insurance policies because this can be considered as a cosmetic method. But there are some instances where the surgery is necessary to protect your health condition. During such cases, a portion or all the surgery cost is covered by your health insurance policy.

There are several types of bariatric surgery procedures. All the procedures are identical, but the only difference is the process that differs from country to country or even surgeon to surgeon. The main idea behind the surgery is to make you feel full quickly making you to consume less food and finally losing the weight. Remember that this surgery is not only for weight loss; even after the recovery it helps you to maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the bariatric surgeries that involve splitting your stomach into 2 pouches. Upper pouch is smaller of the two and lower one is larger. After completing the procedure, the surgeon then reattaches small intestine to both the pouches. This surgery is a safe and proven effective for several people, but the major part of this procedure is recovery. During the recovery, you should be prepared for the new diet and exercise program.

If you want to know more about any kind of bariatric surgeries, do all your research to find out whether you are a suitable candidate. Searching online helps you find several resources based on the surgery. After searching all the necessary options for weight loss, still if you feel that bariatric surgery is only the choice for you, then you need to consult a surgeon to know their opinion. A surgeon may help you in all the aspects of the surgery, such as benefits, risks and also refer you other professionals who are specialized in bariatric surgery.

12. October 2011 02:29 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Importance of Body Contouring after Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery and body contouring are the most common and more expensive surgeries these days. Body contouring helps patient’s skin fit their new body. After a massive amount of weight loss, most patients have loose and saggy skin that can cause wounds, rashes, infection and limit comfortable mobility.

Body contouring after a significant weight loss improves the shape and tones the underlying tissues that support fat and skin and removes excess sagging fat and skin.

Typical problems that occur after a significant weight loss include:

Loss of breast volume, droopiness or breast ptosis: Most women consider breast lift after weight loss. It can be done with or without the addition of breast implants to remove the shape, cleavage and fullness. For men there are various breast reduction techniques available based on the extent of correction required.

Sagging of the facial skin: Facelift, forehead lift and eyelid surgery are the required procedures to achieve complete facial rejuvenation.

Excess abdominal skin: Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty or lower body lift is the most preferred procedure after weight loss surgery. Total lower body lift can help to contour the entire lower body such as hips, abdomen, buttocks, outer and posterior thighs.

Skin hanging under the arms: Arm lift surgery is the needed procedure to lift and tighten the skin of the arms.

Wrinkling and excessive bagginess of the thighs: A thigh lift surgery can lift the inner thighs, while a lower body lift can deal with the outer and posterior parts of the thighs.

8. October 2011 06:03 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass Roux-En-Y works by using surgical staples in order to make small pouch at the top of your stomach. Then a segment of a small intestine is attached to this pouch. The stapled stomach only holds one ounce of fluid. Also, the surgery constructs a tiny stomach outlet that reduces the speed food leaves the stomach.

Due to the smaller stomach size, you feel full for only small amount of food and for a longer period of time. Roux-En-Y gastric bypass surgery can be considered by people who have BM of 40 or higher or people who have BMI 35 or higher and have obesity related diseases.

This surgery decreases the stomach volume by 90% and the gastric bypass pouch is formed where the stomach is least susceptible to stretching. People who have gone through Roux-En-Y gastric bypass surgery should change their lifestyle, dietary, and behavioral changes.

Not only Roux-En-Y gastric bypass surgery helps to reduce weight, also it helps with diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, gastric reflux and improves fertility.

Similar to any other surgical procedure, Roux-En-Y gastric bypass surgery also have some difficulties. It causes intestinal obstruction, dumping syndrome, behavioral and lifestyle changes, more frequent bowel movements, nutritional deficiency, etc.

5. October 2011 06:16 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Facts about Lap Band Surgery

Lap band surgery is the fastest growing invasive laparoscopic weight loss surgery program in US. Lap band process help patients in losing weight up to 90 percent of their excess body weight when diet and exercise do not help in losing the unwanted weight .Knowing facts about lap band surgery will help you to decide whether to go for it or not. The main theme of the lap band surgery is to help in restricting caloric intake in people who are obese and are tired after trying with all severe weight loss programs. The lap band surgery process is a proven one, safe, less painful with fewer complications, quicker recovery and effective method of weight loss worldwide.

Lap band is a flexible band that is placed around the upper part of the stomach with very few slits. Small tubes are injected into the skin of the stomach through notches to the operating part and are connected to the system after it is in proper place. Adjustments are made to the lap band through the access port directly under the skin. Especially intended devices and cameras are injected from the tubes to do surgery. Camera will take the pictures and then sends to the monitor which helps surgeon to look into the abdomen.

Lap band helps in reducing the weight loss through confining food consumption by slowing digestion. By restraining the food taken at each time reduces the hunger sensation and help individual to eat less which helps in reducing great amount of weight. The gastric pouch formed by gastric bands will reduce the amount of food taken and slows the clearing process from the abdomen to the intestines. The lesser the pouch the lesser is the digestion rate and you will feel fuller sooner and for longer time. The band is adjusted and lets you take the less or more food as required.

The lap band can be adjusted during surgery. Below the skin, access port will be created and it is linked to gastric band through tubing. Inflating or deflating can be done through saline and is effortlessly added or it can be removed by the doctor through the access port by means of thin needle. Adjusting the incision is a different feature of lap band surgery.

There are several rules to be followed during the lap band surgery:

  • The person who wants to undergo the lap band surgery should have 18 years of age.
  • Patient must have a BMI greater than 40 and 100lb weight.
  • Patient should have a serious history of all other weight loss programs attempts.
  • Patient must suffer from over weight for a period of at least 5 years.
  • Women, who are pregnant and other conditions which enhance weight gain, are not eligible for the lap band surgery.
  • Emotionally the person must ready to undergo the lap band surgery and must be ready to follow all the changes which support the surgical process.

Apart from all the advantages there are also has some risks associated with lap band surgery. With lap band surgery there is a risk of death both during and after the process. It is very important to discuss all the risks associated with the surgery with a medical professional prior to the surgery.

2. October 2011 18:22 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

How to Cure Vitamin Deficiency after Bariatric Surgery?

After undergoing bariatric surgery, you will be able to eat only a small amount of food at a time. This calorie restriction can help to lose weight. Remember that you need to make healthy food choices to stay healthy for the rest of the life. If your diet is not nutritiously balanced, you can easily get vitamin deficiencies.

Anemia is the most common deficiency that occurs after the lap band surgery. Anemia results when your body is lack of iron. According to the studies, 18% of the patients who have bariatric surgery have anemia before the procedure. For this, your surgeon may suggest iron supplements to keep the iron levels well balanced in your body. Also, you need to ensure that the diet you consume includes iron-rich foods such as liver, leafy greens, scallops and oysters. Every person should need at least 18mg of iron per day.

B-12 is another common vitamin deficiency in people who underwent bariatric surgery. Take a multi vitamin supplement that includes all the essential vitamins that you need for the whole day. A person should consume at least 400 iU of B-12, which is essential for nervous and brain system functioning. Vitamin B-12 rich foods include: liver, eggs, shellfish, poultry and lean meat.

For the first few weeks after undergoing the surgery, you may not be able to eat much solid food. During this time, you can take nutritional shakes that are rich in iron and B-12. Ask your surgeon about any recommendations. Getting sufficient iron and B-12 vitamins can help you stay healthier and energetic throughout the day.

29. September 2011 02:37 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Plastic Surgery after Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery leads to successful weight loss, after removing excess fat from the body excessive amounts of skin accumulates and the skin becomes loose and hangs in various parts like face, upper and lower abdomen, breasts, flanks, armpit, buttocks, arms, thighs, forearms, legs and calves. The excess skin causes many hygienic problems like skin irritation, skin breakdown, pain and infections. Along with these the patients also face some irregularities in the skin. The fat may not be removed evenly or the weight loss may not happen evenly.

Under all these conditions the patient needs to go for plastic surgery. Especially for the persons who has lost 100lbs or more in a short span after the weight loss surgery has sagging skin in many areas. The skin will be different for the person who has undergone the weight loss surgery when compared to a normal person. The elastic tissues are permanently damaged to a greater extent. The patient’s skin will become saggy with age. The shape of the skin can be improved but the quality cannot be improved.

Patients with excess folds of skin and who are physically healthy and physiologically stable and those who look for more youthful skin by removing the excess sagging skin are the candidates who are eligible for plastic surgery after the weight loss surgery.

Many varieties of surgical procedures are followed and are often necessary at different times depending on the areas or parts which bother you. The surgery is done based on the area which bothers you the most. Surgery is done mostly to the abdomen first, breast lifting, face lift, arm lift are done after that.

Plastic surgery should be done considerably after the person has stabilized after the weight loss surgery. In order to stabilizem, a person requires 18 months or more depending on how much weight the person has lost during the surgery. The plastic surgery should be done to tighten the skin and it should be done gradually giving a gap of at least three months between the operations.

The person may go home after two or three days after the surgery or need to stay in the hospital for two or three days based on the type of surgery the person has undergone. Pain is mild to moderate and the person can take shower on the second or third day. Swelling disappears after 6 weeks. A person who has undergone the plastic surgery can resume some of the activities in the first week and the all the activities normally after four to six weeks.

The results after plastic surgery are very high. The area which has undergone surgery will be tightened and lifted.  Touch ups and revisions are required frequently after the surgery. A person after the surgery will be more confident and can wear all types of clothes which he or she likes. The person will have more natural and good presentable appearance.

26. September 2011 07:33 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Comparison between Lap Band and Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most common types of weight loss procedures, which are being used over 30 years and with impressive weight loss results. On the other hand, lap band surgery is a modern approach for weight loss and is less invasive and making it more popular due to its long term weight loss and fewer side effects.

Here is the brief comparison between lap band and gastric bypass surgery:

Procedure

Lap Band Surgery

Gastric Bypass Surgery

The procedure

A silicon belt is fitted around the upper part of the stomach and creates a 1-2 oz stomach pouch

Portion of the stomach is stapled to reduce the portion size and small intestine cut and rerouted

Weight loss approach

Reduces amount of food intake and slows your digestion process

Reduces amount of food intake and also reduces absorption

Dietary guidelines

1. 800 calories/day for initial 2-3 years and then 1000-1200 calories per day

2. Consume foods rich in protein

3. Drink 6-8 cups of water a day between meals

4. Avoid high carb and high calorie foods

5. Avoid carbonated drinks

1. 800 calories/day for initial 1-2 years and then 1000-1200 calories per day

2. Consume foods rich in protein

3. Drink 6-8 cups of water a day between meals

4. Avoid high carb and high calorie foods

5. Avoid carbonated drinks

Operating time

One hour

Two hours

Hospital stay

2 days

2-3 days

Time off from work

1 week

2-3 weeks

Recovery time

About 6 weeks

About 3 months

Eating habits

1. 3 small meals a day is recommended

2. Avoid snacking in between the meals

3. Consume food slowly and chew thoroughly

1. Eat small amounts

2. Avoid snacking in between the meals

3. Consume food slowly and chew thoroughly

Nutritional supplements

Multivitamin and calcium

Multivitamin, calcium, iron and B12

Advantages

1. Adjustable

2. Reversible

3. Simple and relatively safe procedure

4. Less invasive

5. Short recovery time

6. Less malnutrition risk

1. Rapid weight loss within 6 months

2. Controls the amount of food can be eaten

3. Reduces the amount of calories absorbed by the body

18. September 2011 19:32 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Bariatric Surgery May Help with Your Heart Health

Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective weight loss procedures for severely obese people. These surgeries promote weight loss by altering the anatomy of digestive system, by limiting the amount of food that can be consumed and also digested.

Apart from losing great amounts of weight, people who have gone through any kind of bariatric surgery reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by almost 50%. Still the connection between obesity and cardiovascular disease is not fully understood; however obese people often show signs of structural changes to the heart, including excess heart muscle mass in the left ventricle and enlargement of the right ventricular cavity. Both the conditions are connected to heart failure and various other problems.

Also, people who have gone through the bariatric surgery noticed a significant improvement in diabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, all these are risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

9. September 2011 21:49 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Weight Loss Surgery Success Depends On The Right Surgeon

The decision of having weight loss surgery is a big turn in everyone’s life. It might be a mixture of something that you choose to do or something that your doctor has recommended you to consider. Whatever might be the reason; there are various things that you need to consider prior making your final decision.

Most obese people are afraid of the stories that come from people who have undergone the surgery. So, it is very important to do proper research and find the right surgeon for your weight loss success. Before beginning your search for the right surgeon, you need to prepare a list of questions that will be asked.

When you consult your surgeon, initially you need to know whether you are a right person to undergo among the various weight loss procedures. After that you need to know why the surgeon recommends that particular procedure. Then know how many of this kind of procedures the doctor has previously performed and know the reviews from the patients.

Don’t go with general surgeons; you need to find a surgeon who is specialized in the particular field of weight loss surgery. This way, you can be sure that you will get the best based on the surgeon’s experience. If the surgeon is not willing to answer your questions or takes time to answer the questions, then you need to consider that he/she may not be the right choice. Look for more experienced surgeon in the field of weight loss surgeries.

4. September 2011 07:54 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

Can Mild Obese People Undergo Bariatric Surgery?

According to new studies, weight loss surgery is suggestible for even mildly obese people. As without any surgery, obese people may not have any hope. Most individuals think that mild obese people shouldn’t go for bariatric surgery and instead they try to lose weight by dieting and working out.

Research suggests that there is only a fraction of mild obese people who lose weight with dieting and exercising. Also the study confirmed that bariatric surgery is cost-effective in spite of the extent of obesity.

Researchers have given below details based on the study

BMI Range

With diseases Diabetes and Hypertension

Cost per quality-adjusted life year gained

35-40

Yes

$2,413

35-40

No

$3.872

40-50

Yes

$1,853

40-50

No

$3,770

 

Researchers explained that bariatric surgery is cost-effective for obese people with BMI above 35 kg/m2 as incremental cost effective ratios are less than US $4,000 per quality-adjusted life year gained.

The study was conducted on women who have BMI 46 and the average age was 45. People who have undergone surgery, the life expectancy was about 38 years and people who don’t have any surgery, the life expectancy was 32 years.

28. August 2011 19:16 by bariactric | Comments (0) | Permalink

About Bariatric Care Center

The Bariatric Care Center is dedicated to the holistic approach to morbid obesity. We believe that surgery is only a small fraction of the whole process of losing weight and a powerful tool when used appropriately. In order to achieve that, our team includes a specialized panel in Psychiatry, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology.

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