Weight Loss Surgery

Introduction
Before making the decision to take part in weight loss surgery it is important to note that it can be a life altering occurrence. 

• This is why you should get as much information as possible before making this type of decision.

• The best resource for information will be the surgeon or nurse that would perform the surgery.  They are the most valuable source because they have been through the whole procedure and they know what to expect.

You will find that the surgeon will be able to more readily answer all questions that you have and give you the reassurance about the procedure.  This will all work to calm your nerves and give you the sense of relief.  There is no virtue in remaining quiet about your questions and fears.  This will only create problems down the road and make for possible complications.

Common questions prior to surgery:
Below are some common questions you should ask prior to surgery:

• Will I have a lot of pain?
• How long will I be in the hospital?
• What are the risks of this surgery?
• Is this procedure covered by medical insurance?
• What kind of lifestyle changes should I expect?

Another valuable resource for information about this type of procedure is other patients.  Often times, your doctor will have a list of patients that are willing to discuss their experience about this type of surgery with others. 

• Contact those patients and ask them how and what to expect when you go through this procedure yourself.

• The internet is also a wonderful resource for information on this type of surgery.  Because this surgery is now gaining world wide acceptance, the amount of information available on the internet is plentiful to say the least. 

• Be sure that the resources you are using are responsible and correct.  Just plain websites may give you incorrect information and give you a false impression of the procedure. 

• Check and see if the site is maintained by a medical professional or if it was created by a person who had the surgery.  If neither of these are accurate then you may need to seek out other internet sources to get the correct type of information.

What is weight loss surgery and how does it work?

There are two main types of weight loss surgery that are currently being practiced in this world.

• Restrictive Surgery
• Malabsorptive Surgery

Restrictive weight loss surgery
This procedure uses a technique whereby the amount of food that can be taken in is restricted. Using a band, the surgeon will actually make the area of the stomach smaller, thereby decreasing the amount of food that it will hold. This creates the illusion that you are full a lot sooner than normal.  With the research that has been done, people have reported great success with this type of surgery.  The main reason being is that it works on two levels.

• First off, the amount of food that can be taken in is drastically reduced.  This is the physical portion of the procedure.  The stomach storage area is reduced, sometimes by half, making it impossible to take in more food.  When this occurs, you will have the sensation of being full.

• The second part is mental but it is directly attached to the physical part.  When you feel full because of your limited capacity for food intake, you begin to change the way you eat by way of how much.  The amount of food that you will begin to eat will decrease as your brain logs the point at which you will become full.  When this point is reached, you are no longer hungry but sitting at the edge of satisfied.  When this occurs, you find that there is no more that you can do.

This surgery has shown great promise but it does come with some strict dietary restrictions.  Before and after the surgery the surgeon will discuss with you the types of foods that you should no longer eat and how often you should be eating.  This will be something that you will need to follow to the letter or there could be some dire circumstances that will occur.

Malabsorptive weight loss surgery

• With this procedure the surgeon will do a small bypass of the small intestine.  In doing this he/she will alter the way that your body digests food.  When this occurs, the amount and rate at which the food is absorbed will be greatly increased and thereby more useful.

• With this procedure, the doctor hopes to increase the rate at which the food is broken down thereby changing it to energy before there is the chance of it becoming fat. 

• More and more, this surgery is actually being used in conjunction with the restrictive type of surgery.  The culmination of these two procedures has greatly decreased the weights of the patients.

• There are however more side effects and risks that are associated with this procedure, especially when it is used in conjunction with restrictive procedures.  Your doctor will discuss all of the risks that are involved prior to the surgery.

Can I have these types of surgery?
There is no definite answer about who can have these types of surgery.  Because of the risks that are sometimes involved, not everyone is a candidate.  Even though there is the great chance that you will lose weight and thereby increase the health of your body, the risks are sometimes too great for the surgeons to overlook.

If you have or ever had any of the following, you may not be a candidate:

• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Heart disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Angina
• Crohns Disease
• Cancer