Is weight loss surgery the answer?

If you are considering weight loss surgery it is important you understand how the digestive system works to process food. Understanding the natural way the body controls weight will help you understand how bariatric surgeries prompt weight loss with restrictive and malabsorbptive methods.

What happens when I eat?

Every time you consume food, the digestive system works to process the food through the body, absorbing the nutrients your body needs.

The digestive tract section that absorbs nutrients and calories from the body is comprised of the stomach, the small and the large intestines.

The process of digestion is aided by digestive juices made in the gallbladder and pancreas. Together these organs process any food into calories, nutrients and waste products.
Food moves though the body, slowly being broken down and the calories being absorbed gradually.

How does weight loss surgery control calorie intake?

Bariatric surgery methods control weight gain in two ways: first by limiting the amount of calories you can eat and secondly by speeding up the digestion of food to prevent a large number of calories being absorbed.
Limiting the amount of calories you eat is a common method of weight loss- and most diets recommend lowering your daily calories intake by 500 calories to loose weight. Weight loss surgery literally shrinks your stomach, making it impossible for you to consume more than a certain amount of food, thereby restricting the number of calories you consume.
The second aspect of bariatric surgery is speeding up digestion and preventing nutrients being absorbed. Calories and nutrients are absorbed gradually during the digestive process. Weight loss surgery methods, such as Gastric Bypass surgery, shorten the digestive tract, speeding up the time it takes for food to reach the large intestine and limiting the time food remains in the body.

Will weight loss surgery work?

If after surgery patients stick to a healthy balanced diet with regular physical exercise, weight loss results of up to 80% of excess weight are common.

What are my weight loss surgery options?

Depending on how much weight you need to loose, the lifestyle you lead and any other health problems you suffer from, there are a variety of bariatric surgeries that can help put you on track towards a slimmer figure.
Gastric Banding - also known as lap band surgery, is a reversible method of weight loss surgery. Surgeons place a band around the stomach creating a smaller stomach pouch and limiting the amount of food you can eat.
Gastric Balloon - the least invasive weight loss surgery method, a balloon is inflated in the stomach to keep the stomach feeling full and limit the amount of food consumed.
Sleeve Gastrectomy - a procedure only recommended for patients who are morbidly obese, during sleeve gastrectomy procedures bariatric surgeons remove up to 80% of the actual stomach.
Gastric Bypass Roux-en Y - Combining restrictive and malabsorptive methods of bariatric surgery, the intestine is re-routed and the stomach made smaller to limit both the amount of food that can be eaten and the amount of food absorbed.

Is weight loss surgery the right solution for me?

Deciding upon weight loss surgery is not a choice you should make lightly. As these testimonials show, most patients are delighted with the results of surgery and bariatric procedures help them achieve the figure they want. However, you must be committed to making a complete lifestyle change before you go ahead with surgery.

Although bariatric surgeons can alter your digestive system and make it more difficult for you to gain weight, there is no guarantee that surgery will help you loose excess weight, and even less of a guarantee that bariatric surgeries can help you maintain weight loss. Restricting the amount of food you eat, doesn't mean you're prevented from consuming excess calories if you fill up on high calories food. Before undergoing weight loss surgery, patients must be committed to following a healthy diet and lifestyle post bariatric surgery.

While there are many health benefits to loosing weight, there are other factors to take into account. At WhereismyDoctor.com we understand that there is more to healthcare than the surgery procedure. How you feel is important too. When you're certain bariatric surgery is the solution you need to improve your health, make sure you consider your feelings as well:

Loosing weight changes the way you feel about yourself which can impact on relationships with those around you. Talk to those closest to you about your concerns and reasons for surgery to ensure you receive the support you need - both before and after surgery.

You'll need a new wardrobe! Loosing weight will make you feel great and you'll feel even better if your clothes look great! Try to think about the wardrobe changes you'll make when you have a slimmer figure and start to prepare clothes, or save money to buy new clothes as you see the weight coming off. Many patients purchase a special outfit to remind them of their goal and keep them motivated on the weight loss journey.

Is your figure really what you want to change? Is surgery the only way you'll do it? Although there are many reasons for weight gain, some people use food as a comfort and coping mechanism. If this is you, seek help for the emotional problems that are causing you to overeat before surgery to prevent falling back into the trap afterwards.

If you're preparing to take the step towards surgery, make sure you're informed. Research the bariatric surgeries available, send questions directly to the doctors and share your experiences with us.

WhereismyDoctor.com is currently in the process of adding an open forum to the website allowing patients to share stories, offer advice and seek answers from doctors and patients alike. Sharing the story of your weight loss journey could be of benefit to other patients in the same situation. If you would like to share your experiences, please do write to us at contact@whereismydoctor.com.