Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery for weight loss can be done by traditional methods which make abdominal incisions in a standard manner, or by laparoscopy. With the laparoscopic bariatric surgery, surgical instruments are inserted through half-inch incisions and then guided by a small camera that the doctor can watch via video monitor. These days, bariatric surgery is mostly done by laparoscope because of the smaller incision required.

Laparoscopic surgery causes less tissue damage, has fewer complications, allows the patient to go home sooner. Post-operative complications like hernias are also reduced through the use of this surgical method. Unfortunately, not all obese patients are suitable for laparoscopy. Individuals who are extremely obese, who have had previous abdominal surgery, or have complicating medical problems will most likely need to have traditional weight loss surgery performed.

Gastric bypass divides the stomach into sections, thereby creating a smaller gastric pouch. A significant length of small intestine is therefore bypassed. By making one’s stomach smaller, the volume of food which can be consumed is dramatically restricted. By bypassing a portion of the small intestine, the amount of nutrients absorbed by the body decreases substantially. These two factors are known as restriction and malabsorption, and form the basis of successful weight loss surgery.

Morbid obesity is a chronic overweight condition that is very difficult to treat. Surgery for weight loss that interrupts digestion or restricts food intake is therefore a viable option for severely obese people. A BMI (body mass index) over 40 (100 lbs.  overweight for males and about 80 lbs. overweight for females) indicates that an individual is morbidly obese and thus a candidate for bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery can also be considered for those individuals with a body mass index of 35 to 40 who suffer from severe sleep apnea, obesity-related heart disease or diabetes. Successful results from this type of surgery hinge upon what the person does after the surgery to change their lifestyle and habits.

Soon after the surgery, most patients lose weight rapidly and continue to do so for the next two years. While many patients eventually regain some of their lost weight, few gain it all back (if they follow the rules). Bariatric surgery helps to improve the majority of obesity-related conditions. Blood sugar levels of most obese patients with diabetes return to normal after surgery.

From 10 to 20 percent of people who have weight loss surgery require follow-up procedures due to complications. Hernias of the abdomen are the most common reason for further surgery. Other complications include stretched stomach outlets and breakage of the staple line. One in three obese patients who undergo bariatric bypass surgery develop gallstones. During rapid weight loss, a person’s risk of developing gallstones is increased. This condition can be prevented by taking supplemental bile salts for six months following the surgical procedure. Almost one-third of patients who have surgery are afflicted by nutritional deficiencies such as osteoporosis, anemia and metabolic bone disease. It is therefore vital to supplement one’s diet with vitamins and mineral tablets to avoid this circumstance and give the surgery a better chance of success for the long-term.