Weight Loss Surgery

Being overweight is not without consequences. Obesity does not have to lead to high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol; symptoms can be as trivial as low energy, or troubled breathing and sleeping. To fight this, weight loss surgery is an accepted method of treatment today.

Obesity

Healthy weight loss can improve our feeling, contribute to our general health and increase our levels of energy. However, it is never enough to just lose the weight; it is keeping the weight off that matters. The criteria for overweight are individual as it is based on your personal BMI (body mass index). In general, a BMI of 35-39.9 is considered obesity and of 40 or more is considered extreme obesity.

When you and your doctor find you to be a suitable candidate for weight loss surgery, it is important to explore all available options. Medical tourism is one industry providing medical solutions for this condition. It is also crucial you understand that undergoing weight loss surgery will not be sufficient. Following the procedure the patient will need to make drastic changes in their lifestyle.

Lap Band Surgery Video

Weight Loss Surgery

The various types of weight loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery) alter your digestive system, usually by limiting the amount of food one can eat. The surgical procedure is performed in order to help the patient lose weight and can lower the risk of medical problems associated with obesity in the future. Several surgeries are available to assist obese patients with losing weight.

Presented next are some facts and general information about the most popular types of bariatric surgery:

Lap band

Lap-band® is an adjustable gastric band system. The system is designed to help you lose weight and improve your health. LAP-BAND® is the trademark for the FDA approved adjustable gastric banding device.

What is a Lap Band®

The lap-band® reduces your stomach capacity thus restricting the amount of food one can eat. This will help decrease the amount of food a patient can consume, leading to the extra weight lose.

Lap-band® does not require any stomach cutting or stapling. The technique used during the procedure is laparoscopic, hence the word Lap. The surgeon uses long, thin instruments inserted via several small incisions and the lap- band (a silicone ring) is inserted and placed around the upper part of the stomach. Once the silicone ring is on place, it is filled with saline. At this point, the patient has a smaller stomach and they will feel full a lot faster.

The lap-band controls the stoma (the stomach outlet) situated between the upper stomach and the lower stomach, as the food moves slowly through the ring and the desire to eat is diminished.

During the procedure a tube is connected from the band to a small access port located under the skin of the abdomen. This access port will allow the surgeon to perform required adjustments (adding or removing saline for example) to the lap-band. This is usually done between 4 to 6 weeks following the surgery and the adjustments are performed in order to optimize the weight loss.

Lap-band® can be performed on an outpatient basis, and will take approximately an hour.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass is considered to be a major type of bariatric surgery. Following a gastric bypass you will be required to make changes in your lifestyle as the success of the surgery depends on those changes.

Gastric Bypass Types:

Gastric Bypass Surgery - During a gastric bypass a Roux-en-Y is performed and the stomach is stapled to create a small pouch and passage for food to go around. This limits the amount of food and creates the filling of fullness.

Biliopancreatic Diversion - During the procedure approximately 80% of the stomach is removed and the remaining part of the stomach becomes a thin sleeve-like stomach. In a biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch, a smaller portion of the stomach is removed.

Gastic Bypass Example Video

Gastric Sleeve

A gastric sleeve procedure (also known as a sleeve gastrectomy) is sometimes used as a preview to the Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. This procedure is performed when the patient's BMI is 50 or more. During a gastric sleeve procedure, the structure of the stomach is altered and shaped as a tube. The tube restricts the amount of calories the body can absorb.

Tummy Tuck

As opposed to weight loss surgery, a tummy tuck (also known as Abdominoplasty) is considered to be more of a plastic surgery procedure. During a tummy tuck, excessive skin and fat is removed from the abdomen and the muscles of the abdominal wall are tightened.

Who are the candidates for a tummy tuck?

Patients who have developed laxity in the skin and muscles of the abdomen and stomach areas.
Women after several pregnancies or cesarean section combined with a large weight lose afterwards.

Weight Loss Surgery Abroad

Many medical tourism options are available for those interested in weight loss surgery. Discussing the suitable procedure including all relevant implications is important and one will seek the most experienced doctor to receive counsel from.

A TicketMed agent can give you all the information you need to make your decision. We are here to help you discover your options and peruse your dream undergoing bariatric surgery and lose the extra weight. Please contact us for additional information or ask for a quote.

Get A Quote

Recommend Your Health Center

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Weight Loss Surgery FAQ

| Open All

Am I a suitable Candidate for Weight-Loss Surgery?

Usually, suitable candidates for weight loss surgeries are at the very least, 100 pounds overweight, which translates into a BMI of 40 or more. In addition, you should have tried to lose weight in more traditional ways before approaching a weight loss surgery, including diets and professional help with your nutrition.

How much weight am I expected to lose?

The answer depends firstly on the individual and secondly on the procedure you are going through. In a gastric bypass, you may lose up to 70% of the excess body weight over the period of 2 years. In a gastric band surgery, you may lose up to 60% of the excess fat in your body over a period of 2-3 years.
You should coordinate expectations from the surgery with your physician prior to the procedure.

What are the preparations I am facing before a weight loss surgery?

After you've been cleared as a suitable candidate, you are expected to go through the regular tests patients usually go through before surgery. These include routine checkups at the surgeon and at the anesthesiologist, you will have to have a blood test done in order to make sure that you are not anemic or suffer from blood clotting problems. It is also important to make sure that you do not suffer from high blood pressure.
Depending on your age, you may have to go through a chest x-ray and have an ECG done in order to properly asses your pre-surgery status.

What is the recovery period for weight loss surgery?

Depending on the procedure, your release from the hospital will be 1-3 days after the surgery has ended. The healing process will take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of surgery. An endoscopic surgery will lead to the fastest healing process and invasive surgery healing process will take a little longer. After this period, you will be able to go back to work, depending of course on how you are feeling.

Will my diet change after the surgery?

For the first few weeks after your surgery, you will be allowed to consume fluids and food in the form of fluids. You will also need to watch the number of calories taken in after surgery. Two to three weeks after surgery you will gradually be allowed to go back to regular healthy foods. You will of course receive specific diet instructions from your doctor for after the surgery.
You must understand that going through this surgery also requires a change in your life style, especially with your diet.

| Open All