What Are The Different Weight Loss Surgeries And The Associated Risks Involved With Each?

With the increasing rates of obesity across the country, more people are looking for an effective method of losing weight. When traditional weight loss programs fail, overweight or obese people will consider weight loss surgery. There are a number of different weight loss surgeries available. The type of surgery chosen will normally depend on the person's health status and body type. Before selecting a particular type of weight loss surgery, it is important to be aware of the different kinds of procedures available and the risks involved with each.

Laparoscopic Gastric Banding (Lap-Band): This type of weight loss surgery is often chosen by those who are overweight or obese. A surgeon inserts an inflatable band around the top part of the stomach to create a small upper pouch. Saline is injected into the Lap-Band which creates restriction. This restriction helps an individual to consume less food which promotes healthy weight loss. A person will also feel fuller after eating less food. The Lap-Band can be adjusted using saline injected into an access port underneath the skin to regulate the amount of restriction. Risks associated with Lap-band surgery include: band slippage, leakage of the device or erosion of the band.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG): This type of surgery is often called stomach stapling. The surgeon uses surgical staples to divide the stomach into two sections. The top section is small which allows only a limited amount of food intake. There is a small opening where food passes from the top section to the lower section of the stomach. To inhibit stretching, a non-adjustable ring is placed around the small opening. Risks of the surgery include: staple line break down, suture tears and leaks.

Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD): With this kind of weight loss surgery, the surgeon removes a large section of the stomach. Once removed, the amount of food and stomach acid production becomes restricted. The small pouch that remains is attached to the end section of the small intestine. By doing so, the food passing through will bypass the other sections of the small intestine. This permits the calories and fat from the food to be sent directly into the colon where they will not be absorbed. The result of less fat and calorie absorption is weight loss. Removing a section of the stomach is quite an invasive procedure. The major risk associated with this procedure is there is a high risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Choosing to lose weight by having a weight loss surgery has become a popular choice for millions of people around the world. It is one of the fastest growing forms of weight loss methods in the United States. If you are obese and are considering weight loss surgery, it is important to learn about each surgery and the risks and benefits of each type of procedure. Consult with your physician or a weight loss surgeon to help determine which surgery is best for your particular situation.

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