Surgery for Weight Loss, Part 2

     Good afternoon, FAMILY...  Let's continue are talk about Surgeries for Weight Loss.  Previously we spoke about the gastric sleeve.  Now let's have a little discussion about Gastric Bypass...

     Gastric bypass is another surgery used to help with weight loss.  As per the Mayo Clinic, this weight loss happens in two ways.  First, there is restriction which limits the amount of food the stomach can hold, hence a decrease in calorie intake.  The second method is malabsorption which happens because surgery shortens or bypasses part of the small intestine which reduces the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs.  Bariatric Surgery Source (BSS), states that having gastric bypass surgery will leave you feeling full sooner while eating and absorb fewer minerals.
     Gastric bypass is not for everyone who wants weight loss surgery.  This surgery is usually limited to people who have a BMI of 40 or more or is at least 100 pounds over their recommended weight.  Keep in mind a normal BMI ranges from 18-25.  This surgery may also be recommended for people with a BMI of 35 or more that also have medical conditions that may improve with weight loss, like diabetes or heart disease.  As per obesitycoverage.com, the average cost of gastric bypass surgery is
$23,000.  Historically, gastric sleeves, duodenal switches, mini-gastric bypasses and other ‘experimental’ procedures are not covered. Today gastric sleeves, laparoscopic gastric bypass and lap gastric bands are typically covered by most major insurance companies. But this doesn’t necessarily mean your policy includes coverage. (Picture supplied by obesitycoverage.com)
     This surgery is NOT REVERSIBLE.  The surgical procedure has 2 components to it.  Medline Plus describes the procedure pretty simply:  The first step makes your stomach smaller by dividing it into a small upper section and a larger bottom section.  The small top section is "the pouch" and that is where the food will go.  This pouch is about the size of a walnut and holds about 1 ounce of food.  The small size of that alone will cause you to eat less and lose weight.  The second step is the bypass.  The surgeon will connect a small part of the small intestine into a small hole in the pouch.  The food you eat will now travel from the pouch into this new opening and into your small intestine.  As a result, your body will absorb fewer calories. 
     This procedure will definitely produce significant long-term weight loss.  Most people will lose 10-20 pounds a month.  If anyone has seen the show my 600-lb life, you know that those EXTREMEMLY obese patients lose even more than that in their first month.  Typically, patients who are successful with this surgery, tend to maintain >50% excess weight loss.  It is important for the patients to FOLLOW the behavior modification programs and nutritional programs prior to and after their surgery to avoid complications and have successful weight loss.  Is gastric bypass for you? 
Let's discuss the Lapband surgery next...

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