Weight loss surgery is not a quick fix option as it has serious implications for a persons life style and eating habits. These long term effects have to be taken into consideration, and the person will need the professional help of a dietitian to adjust to their new and healthier life. It is the ideal solution for someone who has spent years trying to unsuccessfully lose weight.
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.
A popular method is sleeve gastrectomy, which involve removing part of the stomach. The part that is removed contains the Fundus, which produces the hormone that stimulates the appetite, which is called Ghrelin. After the surgery the patient will not feel so hungry all the time. Their reduced stomach size means that they will physically be unable to eat so much.
This kind of procedure produces a moderate weight loss. A person who has this procedure is likely to have a very steady weight loss of one or two pounds a week. It is good as nothing is implanted into the stomach, and is considered a low risk operation. However it is irreversible.
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.
Laparoscopic surgery allows the patient to recover very quickly as the cuts made are minimal. The use of the band means no cutting to the intestinal area. This makes the surgery far less traumatic for the patient.
It has the added advantage of being fully adjustable, as fluid can be added to, or removed from the band according to the patients specific needs at the time. It is ideal for anyone who has a very high body mass index, or who is suffering from a disease caused by being overweight, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Gastric banding is very similar to lap banding. The band that is placed around the stomach is hollow, and the operation is carried out using laparoscopy. A minute camera allows Richard Collier to put the band in precisely the right spot. Once the band is in place it forms a small pouch at the top part of the stomach. Food can still pass through to the lower part of the stomach, but can only do so very slowly.
However it can only do so very slowly so that the person feels fuller for far longer, and is unable to eat such large meals. The band is adjustable so that weight loss can be sped up or slowed down according to the patients medical needs. Its possible to lose weight very quickly through this method. No weight loss surgery should ever be undertaken lightly, as its only really for people who cannot lose weight any other way. It requires the patient to make major changes to their lifestyle that will last a lifetime.
Get the exclusive low down on how weight loss surgery can help you if you are very obese or morbidly obese now in our complete online review Lap Band surgery .