The number of people who choose to undergo weight loss surgery is growing every year. There are several versions of these surgeries to consider and a number of factors that can determine which surgery will be best for the patient. For all of these surgeries, there are a number of criteria that have to be met before they can even be scheduled. These criteria include:
– A BMI of 40 or greater, however the BMI may be 35 to 39 if there are other underlying conditions which can include diabetes, elevated blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.
– The patient must have been obese for at least five years.
– There should be no ongoing problem with alcohol.
– There should also be no untreated depression or major psychological disorder.
– The patient should be between 18 and 65 years of age, although some doctors will perform the surgery on younger patients.
(Source: Surgeryinfo.com )
Before the surgeon schedules the surgery, he should make sure that the patient is informed of every aspect of the procedure, including all the risks and possible outcomes. There are several types of weight loss surgery to choose from, and only the doctor can help determine which of these should be used.
Types of Weight Loss Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery, which may be the most commonly known of all of the weight loss surgery types, makes the stomach smaller by creating a small pouch at the top portion of the stomach with staples. The patient is then able to feel full faster on a smaller amount of food. There are other guidelines that must be followed after the surgery is completed. The Lap Band system is accomplished by placement of an adjustable silicone belt around the top portion of the stomach, again making it smaller. In addition to being removable, the Lap Band is also adjustable so that weight loss can be constant. As weight is lost, the doctor can inject saline through a port which will make the band tighter. If the band becomes too tight for any reason, it can be adjusted as well.
Patients recover more quickly from Lap Band surgery than other weight loss options and may be able to return to work in as little as a single week.
For patients who are more seriously obese, the doctor may consider the typical weight loss surgery to be too dangerous and choose another type of surgery. The sleeve gastrectomy is used to reduce the size of the stomach to about 15% of its original size. This procedure is not reversible, but it eliminates the need for a foreign body. For some patients, the sleeve gastrectomy is performed first and then converted to a more conventional weight loss surgery option. For other patients, this may be all that is needed.
In addition, there is an endoscopic surgery option that allows the surgeon to go in through the mouth, implanting a small, plastic food bypass tube which sends food from the throat into the small intestine, bypassing the stomach altogether. Studies are still being conducted on this type of weight loss surgery, which may be suggested for one year placement before other weight loss surgery is used. (Soruce: Gever, 2009)
In all of these surgical types, it is important to know that the size of the post-op stomach is around two ounces and that the way food is consumed will be changed dramatically.
The Need for Good Nutrition and Supplements
Because the surgery leaves the stomach so small, every single bite that goes into the mouth is very important and must provide valuable nutrition. In addition, too many simple sugars or empty calories can lead to a condition known as dumping syndrome which is caused when food moves through the stomach and intestine too quickly. Symptoms for dumping syndrome include shaking, sweating, dizziness, rapid heart rate and severe diarrhea. Because the patient is not getting enough nutrition in the first place, diarrhea may lead quickly to dehydration and can be very serious.
Vitamins and nutritional supplements are very important to maintain good health. Because patients cannot drink beverages with meals, they have to choose one or the other. Vitamins and other supplements are needed, but can be difficult to find for the post-operative patient. In most cases, the stomach can only hold 2-3 ounces at a time. Immediately after surgery, the patient is on a liquids-only diet moving to soft foods and then to other foods that are cut into small bites and chewed thoroughly.
Profect, a protein supplement from Protica may be the perfect option. First, it is small (under three ounces) and only 100 calories. It gives 25 grams of protein per serving plus a full day’s worth of vitamin C and 10% of the day’s B complex vitamins. There are no carbohydrates and no fats in Profect. In addition, there is an all natural version of this supplement called Proasis. Both Proasis and Profect come in a number of fruit-based flavors and come in different sizes as well.
Weight Loss Surgery and Protein Supplements: A Case Study
After years of struggling to lose her excess weight, Barbra has decided that it is time to have weight loss surgery. After discussing her needs with her doctor, they agree on the gastric bypass option and set her surgery date for three months in the future. Her goal during this three-month period is to continue working to lose weight so that the surgery is less problematic and she will face fewer complications. In addition, the doctor does not want her to think that these three months are her time to just let loose and eat whatever she wants.
Barbra learns about proper nutrition by attending nutritional counseling courses at the community college as well as reading books, magazines and websites. She starts walking every day, bringing her beefy English bulldog with her because he needs to lose weight, too. One of the things that Barbra will also add to her diet is Profect, a protein supplement from Protica, an addition that she will continue after her surgery is completed.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey liquid protein for weight loss surgery patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright