Weight Loss Surgery: Is It Safe

MoreFrom HelloLife

• As part of a healthy lifestyle, Digestrol safely adds daily nutrition to help support your dietary choices for healthy digestion
• Contains a proprietary blend of active, natural digestive enzymes to support your healthy lifestyle

Learn more about Digestrol

As you look in the mirror, you cannot help but wonder what happened to that skinny person that you were.You were an athlete in high school, but twenty years later, you certainly would not know it. Sometimes now you are so embarrassed of how you look that you do not even want to go to work, church, or even to the mall.Seats have become uncomfortably small, and if you have to fly, you have to book two seats. Although you are a sports fan, you gave up your season tickets to stay home and watch from your couch.You decided.You have to do something.You will make an appointment to speak with your doctor about weight loss surgery.

What Kind of Weight Loss Surgeries are Available?

There are four types of weight loss surgery.Gastric bypass surgery is the most popular, and the surgeon makes the stomach very small and attaches the lower intestine to it, bypassing the lower part of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. Adjustable Gastric Banding is another option, and here the surgeon places an inflatable, adjustable band around the stomach and tightens it like a belt making a tiny tube between the two parts of the stomach.Another weight loss surgery is Vertical Banded Gastroplasty where the surgeon uses staples to divide the stomach into two smaller compartments limiting space for food.The fourth option is Biliopancreatic Diversion where a portion of the stomach is removed.The part that remains is connected directly to the lowest third of the small intestine.

Is Gastric Bypass Surgery Safe?

Gastric bypass surgery, along with a regimented diet, will cause weight loss.There are risks, however.Although the rate is less than 3 out of 200, there is a risk of death in this surgery.In addition, there is a risk of pulmonary embolism, a blood clot to the lung.There is a high risk for iron and B-12 deficiencies-they occur more than 30% of the time.There is also a possibility for ulcers or hernias developing.Additionally, there is a risk that the opening between the stomach and the small intestine will narrow.One more thing that can develop is dumping syndrome where the patient experiences nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweats and dizziness.

Are the Other Weight Loss Surgeries Safe?

The three other types of weight loss surgeries have risks also.Besides the post-operative risks of death and blood clots, there are other serious issues.Adjustable Gastric Banding and Vertical Banded Gastroplasty are not as successful in weight loss because the patient can cause the stomach to grow again by eating too much food.Biliopancreatic Diversion, because it skips two parts of the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed, often causes malnutrition issues.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/Weight-Loss-Surgery/Gastric-bypass

http://www.webmd.com/diet/Weight-Loss-Surgery/Gastric-bypass