|
Bariatric surgery is the professional term for what we commonly refer to as weight loss surgery. This profession includes the Lap Band procedure as well as a gastric bypass. When looking into the possibility of undergoing a weight loss surgery then chances are you will be going to a bariatric clinic in order to speak to a surgeon about your procedure. These procedures are done as a means to treat varying levels of obesity through the means of altering the patient’s gastrointestinal tract in order to reduce and control the nutritional intake of the patient. Weight loss surgeries included in the bariatric surgery field are those in which the gastrointestinal tract is modified and do not include other popular procedures such as liposuction or abdominoplasty.
When it comes to a bariatric surgery, there has to be certain qualification met due to the heightened chances of risks associated with the various weight loss procedures. Basically in order to qualify for a bariatric surgery you have to be considered morbidly obese or be at least 100 pounds overweight. You will also be required to be fully committed to the program which includes a lot of exercise and a change of eating habits and lifestyle following the procedure. In the event that your surgeon does not feel that you are committed to the program, he or she may delay your procedure till they feel you are ready or even cancel it all together.
In a bariatric surgery, the patient will undergo general anesthesia and the surgeon will then make an incision. If the patient has opted for a Lap-Band procedure the surgeon will then attach the inflatable band to the stomach. If you are going in for a gastric bypass, it is a bit more complex. After undergoing general anesthesia and the incision the surgeon will then create a small pouch in the stomach before cutting the intestines and reattaching the ends in a “Y” shape. After this the surgeon will then attach the exposed end of the intestines to the newly created pouch. Then the incision will be closed up. If you opted for the Lap-Band then you will be able to go home shortly but if you chose the gastric bypass, you will be in the hospital for a few days for observation. |
