Wednesday, July 29, 2015

By Olive Pate


Many severely obese individuals living in Ridgewood, NJ have tried everything they know possible to lose the extra weight. When even the most restricted diet and strenuous exercise fail to produce the desired results, many people start to consider bariatric surgery as an option. This is especially true if the obesity is causing medical complications. Anyone who wants to discuss this option with a professional can find bariatric surgeons NJ residents rely on for help.

Bariatric surgery requires patients to make a lifelong commitment to changing the way they consume food. Going through with the surgery requires careful consideration because the various procedures alter the body's ability to absorb calories. Stomach and small intestine reconfiguration restricts the amount of food the patient can consume before feeling full.

Adjustable gastric band surgery is the least invasive of these procedures. The surgeon places a band around the stomach, limiting its capacity to approximately one ounce. Normally, the stomach can hold three pints. The surgeon can inject saline to make the band tighter or looser.

Another option for creating a smaller pouch is gastric bypass surgery. The surgeon staples together the stomach in a way that makes it smaller. The second step involves moving the location where the stomach empties into the small intestine. This bypasses the duodenum, an area within the intestine that is responsible for calorie absorption. Patients lose weight because they fill up with less food and their bodies absorb fewer calories.

Duodenal switch surgery is more complicated. A portion of the patient's stomach is removed leaving a cylinder between the small intestine and the esophagus. The surgeon cuts only a portion of the duodenum. The surgeon reroutes the small intestine allowing food to pass through only a small portion of it for digestion. This type of surgery results in the most weight loss but it also carries the highest risk of complications. People who undergo this procedure must follow a lifelong regimen of taking mineral and vitamin supplements.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy reduces stomach size and lowers levels of ghrelin in the patient's circulatory system. Ghrelin is called the hunger hormone because it controls appetite. The surgeon removes large portions of stomach leaving a small cylinder in place between the small intestines and the esophagus.

After the surgery, patients must have regular medical follow-up, sometimes for the rest of their lives. They have to adjust to eating smaller meals forever because the results are permanent. The more involved surgery options are irreversible. Patients who fail to follow through with regular exercise and eating healthy foods are at risk of gaining weight even after surgery.

Individuals who had obesity related illnesses before the surgery will often see dramatic improvement in health after the procedure. They are at lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and severe sleep apnea. Surgery alone does produce short-term weight loss but patients must make healthy lifestyle choices about exercise and diet to enjoy long-term success with this type of weight loss program.




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