Types of Weight Loss Surgery
There are several types of weight loss surgery available to overweight people, usually to those weighing more than 100 pounds over their ideal weight. Each type of surgery carries risks and benefits. A bariatric surgeon can help you determine which one is best for you.
The vertical banded gastroplasty is oftentimes called stomach stapling. This surgery involves placing staples into the stomach, dividing it into two. The upper pouch is closest to the esophagus and contains receptors that signal to the brain that you are full. Because it is now smaller, it is quickly filled with food upon eating thereby allowing you to eat less. The food then goes into the lower pouch where it travels into the small intestine and is digested normally. There are
Laparoscopic gastric banding, also known as the lap-band, is another form of weight loss surgery. This surgery is much like vertical banded gastroplasty except a flexible band is used rather than staples. This band is filled with saline and can be made larger or smaller through a small port, which can help control weight loss. While the band is intended to be permanent it can be removed. This surgery is considerably less invasive because it is done laproscopically, but it can result in slower weight loss or lower overall weight loss.
A roux-en-Y gastric bypass also creates a small pouch in the stomach but this pouch is connected to the middle part of the small intestine, bypassing a part of the small intestine. Because the pouch is smaller than the stomach it allows you to eat less food. In addition, by bypassing part of the small intestine the amount of food absorbed is reduced thereby reducing the number of calories absorbed.
In biliopancreatic diversion surgery a large portion of the stomach is physically removed and the small part remaining is connected to the last segment of the small intestine. This type of surgery can result in nutritional deficiencies because so many nutrients are absorbed throughout the small intestine.
Regardless of the type of surgery you choose to help you lose weight, it is important to weigh and benefits for your weight loss needs.