Is Obesity Surgery Right For You?
Posted on 17. Apr, 2009 by Valerie in Surgical Procedures
These days, as obesity rates continue to increase people are looking for better ways to lose weight. Bariatric surgery or obesity surgery is becoming quite commonplace. While not right for everyone and certainly something that should only be considered when diet and exercise alone are not enough, obesity surgery certainly has a great number of successes attributed to it, and the results are enough to make many people consider the procedure.
While relatively safe and common, bariatric or obesity surgery is not without risk. Because the surgery is only advised for obese patients who have health problems related to their weight, the complication risks with these surgeries are higher. For this reason it is recommended that patients first try alternatives, such as medication in conjunction with diet and exercise.
For people who decide to undergo the surgery, there are a few options. Gastric bypass is a common surgery that essentially involves creating a smaller stomach pouch, bypassing a large portion of the stomach and causing patients to feel full much faster. This is by far the most commonly performed weight loss surgery. Other options include gastric bands and resectioning of the stomach and small intestine.
While studies show that there are a significant number of complications, approximately 20%, following these surgeries, many are small and include bloating and diarrhea. These effects are commonly controlled by medications and by eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than large meals three times a day. These results are often outweighed for many by the fact that studies also show that these procedures decrease mortality rates from obesity related diseases as well as a decrease in the severity and symptoms of these diseases.
In short, obesity surgery is not for everyone. If, however, medication, diet, and exercise have been tried but have not been enough, you may want to talk to your doctor about bariatric surgery. For people who do not respond to conventional treatments, obesity surgery can change their lives permanently and considerably, helping them reach the weights they have always desired.
Bariatric Surgery Houston
21. Jan, 2012
You may find it hard to believe that the doctor actually reduces the size of your stomach to about the size of a whiskey shot glass, but this is true. Of course it seems abnormally small and you won’t be able to hold more that three tablespoons of food at a time. This can make it extremely easy to get sick from overeating or drinking too much water.