Obesity is one of the health challenges that is increasing rapidly and affecting the health of people globally. With this health issue, individuals have to face excessive weight gain along with serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. When different lifestyle changes and procedures such as exercise, therapies, diet, or medications don’t offer significant and effective results, bariatric surgery offers an effective and life-changing solution. This surgery is considered the best for those who want to lose weight but have failed to achieve long-term weight control with other methods.
What is bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery, a life-changing solution, is a group of surgical procedures that are designed to help people who are struggling with excessive weight gain and are considering an effective surgical procedure to lose weight. This surgical procedure allows individuals with severe obesity to lose weight by altering the digestive system. The amount of food consumed is limited through this procedure, which can help reduce the absorption of nutrients and control appetite.
Bariatric surgery is considered when the other conservative methods have failed to bring desired weight control.
Conditions improved by Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a medically recognized treatment for obesity and its related conditions. This surgical procedure is helpful with different obesity-related health conditions, including:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- High Blood Sugar
- Osteoarthritis
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Type 2 Diabetes
What are the types of Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is performed for significant weight loss and helps with long-term weight control. Different types of bariatric surgery are performed worldwide for weight loss. Some common types of bariatric surgery include gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric sleeve-to-gastric bypass.
Gastric Bypass, or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, is a surgical procedure that helps in weight loss by changing how the digestive system works. In this procedure, a small pouch is created from the stomach and rerouted to the small intestine. The food passes through the stomach and a section of the small intestine with this surgical procedure. The food is taken through a smaller stomach and small intestine, which can produce considerable weight loss. This procedure is recommended for patients who are obese. Irrespective of weight loss, other conditions can be improved by the gastric bypass procedure, such as heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes, and many more.
Possible Outcomes of Gastric Bypass Surgery:
- Significant weight loss
- Improved quality of life
- Improving obesity-related issues
- Long-term weight control
Sleeve gastrectomy is an effective surgical procedure for weight loss and helps improve quality of life by managing health problems related to obesity. In this procedure, a large part of the stomach is removed, and a small banana-shaped pouch is left, which can decrease the size of the stomach. The gastric sleeve lowers the hormone production that starts hunger and makes you feel full with a small amount of food.
Benefits of the sleeve Gastrectomy procedure:
- Enhanced overall health
- Improved quality of life
- Sustained weight control and loss
Gastric Sleeve to Conversion Gastric Bypass
Sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss surgical procedure that removes the stomach by creating a tube-like structure that can help control appetite and offer long-term weight loss results. This procedure can reduce the food intake. Some of the patients face challenges in maintaining it and have disappointing effects; then they should consider converting a failed gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass, which offers long-term weight loss results. Gastric bypass is a weight loss procedure that reduces food intake and creates a small pouch from the upper stomach to reduce food consumption. This surgery is helpful for patients who want to lose weight rapidly.
What are the Requirements for Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is an effective surgical method for weight loss, but it is not suitable for everyone. Candidates need to understand the criteria to be eligible for bariatric surgery. Candidates must meet specific medical requirements to qualify for this procedure. To qualify for bariatric surgery, here are some common requirements for bariatric surgery:
- Candidates who have a BMI of 40 or higher are eligible for bariatric surgery. This BMI indicates extreme obesity and is an eligibility factor for bariatric surgery. Those who have a BMI of 35 or higher with serious weight-related issues can qualify for this surgical procedure.
- Candidates who have a history of unsuccessful weight loss attempts can go for bariatric surgery.
- Individuals are required to understand the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery properly.
- Understanding the post-surgical changes is also crucial. It is important to understand that bariatric surgery is a procedure that requires making significant changes in your eating habits and activities. One can achieve and maintain long-term weight loss with the proper understanding of post-surgical changes.
- Age can play an important role in the eligibility for a surgical procedure, as bariatric surgery is generally recommended for teens and adults.
- Most insurance companies require specific criteria for bariatric surgery coverage, including a documented history of unsuccessful weight loss attempts and a letter for medical necessity.
- Weight limits can also be considered, as some hospitals can have weight limits for patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
- The obesity-related health issues can influence the eligibility and type of surgery to be recommended.
What are the Benefits of Bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery offers a variety of benefits, including weight loss, improved quality of life, and reduced cancer risks. This procedure can help manage and resolve obesity-related issues and offer increased energy levels. Here are the benefits of bariatric surgery:
- Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective treatments to help with long-term weight loss and improved overall health.
- Surgery can help improve conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and joint pain.
- This surgical procedure helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attack.
- Bariatric surgery can help reduce the risk of cancer, such as prostate cancer.
- The surgery is beneficial to improve sleep and increase energy levels.
- With significant weight loss, bariatric surgery can improve mobility and lead individuals to participate in physical activities.
- With health improvement, individuals need fewer medications, which leads to lower healthcare costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bariatric Surgery
Question. Who is the best surgeon for performing bariatric surgery?
Answer. Dr. Sosa is a well-known and experienced surgeon for bariatric surgery based in Miami, Florida. He specializes in offering the best treatment of bariatric surgery by using advanced techniques. He has performed more than 20,000 successful surgeries in the last 23 years by performing various minimally invasive weight loss procedures, such as laparoscopic gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and sleeve-to-bypass conversion.
Question. How do I know if I am eligible for bariatric surgery or not?
Answer. To be eligible for bariatric surgery, it is essential to have a body mass index of 40 or higher. Those with a BMI of 35 or higher with serious obesity-related problems, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, are also eligible for bariatric surgery. Unsuccessful weight loss attempts can also be considered eligible for this surgical procedure.
Question. What is the cost of bariatric surgery?
Answer. The cost of bariatric surgery can vary with different factors, including the patient’s conditions, surgery types, and treatment procedures. Still, the average cost of bariatric surgery at The Sosa Clinic is $10,500 to $21,500.
Question. In how many days can I return to my regular activities?
Answer. Fully recovering after bariatric surgery can take a few weeks or months. It may take a few weeks to return to normal activities. Most patients return to their usual activities within 4-6 weeks, while some take a few weeks.
Question. Does bariatric surgery have risks or complications?
Answer. Yes, there can be risks and complications with bariatric surgery. Several possible risks of bariatric surgery include infection, bleeding, and nutrient-related problems. Discussing the risks and complications with the surgeon for proper suggestions and instructions is important.