Surgery for Weight Loss? Say Hello to Bariatric Surgery

Once, a young man I had been dating for a few months told me how much he liked skinny ladies and that if we eventually ended up together he would appreciate it if I ensure that I do not put on too much weight. Out of curiosity, I probed a little more to find if it would really be a big problem if his wife gained weight after having babies, to which he said yes. This young man went on to tell me that he would feel very unsatisfied if his wife put on a lot of weight and that on his part, he would spare no cost to see that his wife always looked good for him, even if she had to take a surgical procedure to maintain a slim figure. I was surprised at the seriousness in his tone. At first, I reasoned along the lines of “what happened to unconditional love?”. I wasn’t sure how to respond to it, but after I gave it some thought and rubbed minds with a few other persons, I realized it really was a concern to many men, who just wanted their women skinny. Of course, there are a lot of men who prefer chubbier women, but for those who are attracted to skinny women, they really don’t want them to change that much and migrate to the chubbier side. 

Outside of the man-woman relationship, society indeed puts a lot of pressure on people to aim for the fit physique, little wonder why a wide range of products from slimming tea, diet drinks, to low fat foods, are making it big in the market. Amidst all of these, weight loss surgery (or bariatric surgery) is also gaining more popularity, and seems to be an option for many who are able to afford it and sometimes can’t achieve a healthy weight by other means. Some may wonder why a person will be willing to pay a high amount of money to go under the knife for a surgery to lose weight; but there are pros and cons to it.

Shall we?

WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY?

Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery includes a variety of procedures performed on people who are obese. 

Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. BMI is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. Class 1 obesity means a BMI of 30 to 35, Class 2 obesity is a BMI of 35 to 40, and Class 3 obesity is a BMI of 40 or more. Classes 2 and 3, also known as severe obesity, are often hard to treat with diet and exercise alone.

Bariatric surgery is an operation that helps you lose weight by making changes to your digestive system. Some types of bariatric surgeries make your stomach smaller, allowing you to eat and drink less at a time and making you feel full sooner. Other bariatric surgeries also change your small intestine; the part of your body that absorbs calories and nutrients from foods and beverages.

Bariatric surgery may be an option if you have severe obesity and have not been able to lose weight or keep from gaining back any weight you lost using other methods such as lifestyle changes or medications.

WHY DO PEOPLE OPT FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY?

Bariatric surgery isn’t for everyone who is severely overweight. You may need to meet certain medical guidelines to qualify for weight-loss surgery. You likely will have an extensive screening process to see if you qualify. You must also be willing to make permanent changes to lead a healthier lifestyle.

You may be required to participate in long-term follow-up plans that include monitoring your nutrition, your lifestyle and behavior, and your medical conditions.

TYPES OF BARIATRIC SURGERY

Each type of bariatric surgery has its positives and negatives. Talk to your doctor about these. Some common types of bariatric surgery include:

1. Roux-en-Y (pronounced as “roo-en-wy”) gastric bypass. This procedure is the most common method of gastric bypass. This surgery usually cannot be reversed. It works by decreasing the amount of food you can eat at one sitting and reducing absorption of nutrients.

2. Sleeve gastrectomy: With sleeve gastrectomy, about 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a long, tube-like pouch. This smaller stomach can’t hold as much food. It also produces less of the appetite hormone ghrelin, thereby reducing your desire to eat. 

3. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. This is a two-part surgery in which the first step involves performing a procedure similar to a sleeve gastrectomy. The second surgery involves connecting the end portion of the intestine to the duodenum near the stomach, thereby bypassing the majority of the intestine. This surgery limits how much you can eat and reduces the absorption of nutrients. While it is extremely effective, it has greater risk, including malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.

The type of weight-loss surgery that is best for you depends on your specific situation. Your surgeon will consider many factors, including body mass index, eating habits, other health issues, previous surgeries and the risks involved with each procedure.

RISKS OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

As with any surgical procedure, bariatric surgery could be risky, both in the short term and long term.

Risks associated with the surgical procedure can include:

1. Excessive bleeding
2. Infection
3. Adverse reactions to anesthesia
4. Blood clots
5. Lung or breathing problems
6. Leaks in your gastrointestinal system
7. Death (rare).

Longer term risks and complications of weight-loss surgery vary depending on the type of surgery. They can include:

1. Bowel obstruction,which is obstruction of the large intestine

Dumping syndrome, which leads to diarrhea, flushing, lightheadedness, nausea or vomiting

2. Gallstones
3. Hernias
4. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
5. Malnutrition
6. Ulcers
7. Vomiting
8. Acid reflux
9. The need for a second, or revision, surgery or procedure
10. Death (rare).

BENEFITS OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

Of course, there are some health benefits that make the risks worth it for some. Some of these benefits include: 

1. Improved health status for people with type 2 diabetes.
2. Improved cardiovascular health. Weight loss surgery decreases a person’s risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral heart disease. 
3. Relief of depression. Many obese people feel depressed because of poor body image and social stigma. Even younger people who carry significant excess weight find it difficult to participate in activities they might otherwise enjoy, leading to social isolation and depression. Losing this excess weight can improve emotional health in these patients.
4. Eliminate obstructive sleep apnea. Achieving and sustaining a normal weight overtime, often allows people with sleep apnea to sleep better.
5. Joint pain relief. Excess body weight puts a lot of stress on your weight-bearing joints, often causing pain and joint damage. The significant and sustained weight loss that occurs after bariatric surgery relieves the stress on joints and allows people to stop using pain medications and enjoy more mobility.

HOW TO PREPARE

If you qualify for bariatric surgery, your health care team will tell you how to prepare for your specific type of surgery. You may need to have various lab tests and exams before surgery. You may have restrictions on eating and drinking and which medications you can take. You may be required to start a physical activity program and to stop any tobacco use.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Bariatric surgery is done in the hospital using general anesthesia. This means you’re unconscious during the procedure.

What happens during your surgery depends on your individual situation, the type of weight-loss surgery you have, and the hospital’s or doctor’s practices. Your doctor will explain the procedure to you.

After weight-loss surgery, you generally won’t be allowed to eat for one to two days so that your stomach and digestive system can heal. Then, you’ll follow a specific diet for a few weeks. The diet starts with liquids only, then you can move on to very soft foods, and later to regular foods. You may have many restrictions or limits on how much and what you can eat and drink.

Surgery is only a tool to speed up weight loss. Patients who thereafter, follow the dietary, exercise, and lifestyle changes recommended by their doctor, will have the best chance for life-long success with their weight.