Weight Loss > Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery is surgery performed to promote weight loss by modification of the gastrointestinal tract. By reducing the absorption or intake of food, markedly obese individuals who have been unable to lose weight by dieting and exercise can be helped. While the surgery is usually successful, the risks of surgery and its side-effects are significant.
Besides its negative effect on appearance, being substantially overweight is associated with significant medical problems, such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea.
There are several different fundamental approaches to bariatric surgery, some more dangerous than others. Complex intestinal bypass operations are less popular today because of serious side-effects. More commonly used are restrictive procedures that reduce stomach size thereby reducing the intake of calories.
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The stomach can be stapled to create a pre-stomach pouch that then serves as the "new" but much smaller stomach.
Another approach is to apply an adjustable silicone band around the stomach using laparoscopic techniques through much smaller incisions (sometimes called a lap band).
Other approaches includes surgical stomach bypass and partial stomach resections. Still under investigation is an electrical device that stimulates the surface of the stomach, which then sends a signal to the brain that it is full and to stop eating.
Bypass procedures (intestinal or gastric) that lead to malabsorption usually result in more weight loss than restrictive procedure (bands).
Complications after bariatric surgery are frequent, so surgery is best performed by a specialist with extensive experience.
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