There are some people who have tried every possible diet to try to lose weight, but cannot do so successfully. For them, weight loss surgery may be the best option. It should be the last resort as it is a very serious procedure, and afterwards the person will need medical supervision for the rest of their lives. It is only really suitable for those who are morbidly obese or who have developed serious diseases as a result of their issues.
The health risks of being very overweight are extremely well documented. If someone is in a high risk category then surgery may be the best option for them to lose weight in a controlled manner. There are quite a few surgical options to consider, and of course your surgeon can advise you on the best one for your needs, but here are a few details about some of the available surgeries.
There is a part of the stomach called the Fundus, which produces a hormone called Ghrelin. Ghrelin stimulates appetite. Sleeve gastrectomy removes the Fundus, so that after surgery the patient does not have such a big appetite, and as part of their stomach has been removed they will physically have to eat less.
It is considered a very safe operation to have, as nothing is placed into the body. The weight loss is not extreme, but is slow and steady at a couple of pounds a week. Once this operation has been carried out it cannot be reversed.
Another kind of surgery is to fit a lap band. A silicone band which can be inflated is fitted using laparascopic surgery. It is placed around the upper part of the stomach so there is just a small pouch for food. This heavily restricts the amount of food a patient can eat, so they feel fuller sooner.
This type of surgery does not create very much trauma for the patient, and is thought to be very safe. It only needs tiny incisions, and no cuts are made to the intestinal area. The patient can recover much more quickly form this type of surgery.
Another advantage is that the band can be adjusted. It can have fluid added to, or removed so that the band can allow less or more food according to the patients needs at that given time. It is a good surgery for anyone who has a very high body mass index, or who has developed certain diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure due to being overweight.
Another form of weight loss surgery is gastric banding. This is where a hollow band is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The surgery is done using laparoscopy, and a tiny camera is inserted to show Richard Collier exactly where to place the band. The band creates a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach, and allows food to pass through a very narrow gap into the lower stomach.
The slow movement of food means that the person feels fuller for much longer, and cannot eat so much at mealtimes. The size of the band can be adjusted so that the weight loss can be monitored. It can result in the patient losing weight very quickly, but is a very serious undertaking. All of these methods require the patient to make long term changes to their eating and exercise habits. They are not a quick fix, but weight loss surgery can be very successful, and has changed many peoples lives.
Get the exclusive low down on how weight loss surgery can help you if you are very obese or morbidly obese now in our online guide to Lap Band surgery .
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