What Is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery, more commonly known as weight loss surgery, is a collective term for medical procedures designed to address morbid obesity or severe overweightness. These methods achieve significant weight loss by controlling food intake, or reducing the amount of nutrients the body absorbs, or a combination of both. Subsequently, bariatric surgery helps prevent or control weight-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.

Bariatric surgery is recommended for those who have difficulties losing weight despite adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle. The criteria to become an eligible candidate is as follows:

• Body mass index (BMI) is, or higher than, 40
• Body mass index (BMI) is 35 or higher, and diagnosed with one or more weight-related illness

Types of Bariatric Surgery

There are several types of bariatric surgery, each having its own benefits for the patient. The most common are:

Gastric Bypass

Regarded as the gold standard for weight loss surgery, gastric bypass surgery or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass involves separating the top part of the stomach from the rest of it. This creates a small stomach pouch, which is then connected to the small intestine. Similarly, the larger, bypassed stomach is also attached to the small intestine.

Gastric Balloon

An endoscopic, non-surgical approach to weight loss, this method involves inserting a silicone balloon into the stomach through an endoscopic tube. Once inside the stomach, the balloon is filled with saline, which gives the patient a feeling of fullness. The balloon is deflated and removed after 6 to 12 months.

Gastric Banding

An adjustable band is placed around the top of the stomach, and then tightened, thereby reducing the size of the stomach that can hold food. To adjust the tightness of the band, a sterile saline solution is injected or ejected through a port that is implanted under the skin. Similar to the gastric balloon, gastric banding surgery is reversible and is non-surgical.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Similar to a gastric bypass, a gastric sleeve involves creating a smaller stomach to limit the amount of food a patient eats. The difference is that with this procedure, the bariatric surgeon permanently removes a large part of the stomach, approximately 75% to 80%, leaving behind a smaller, banana-shaped stomach pouch. Doing so has the added effect of bringing on hormonal changes, which suppress hunger and quicken a feeling of fullness.

For these procedures, laparoscopic techniques are preferred due to their less-invasive nature resulting in less pain, bleeding and scarring, and quicker recovery.

Risks of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is not an instant solution for permanent weight loss. While the abovementioned techniques are safe and effective, they should be combined with proper diet and lifestyle choices to maintain a healthy weight long-term. They also carry certain risks, including pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

Other complications, while rare, are more serious and may require additional surgery to treat. These include heavy bleeding, wound infections, blood clots, ulcers and abdominal hernias.

On the other hand, with bariatric surgery, its benefits far outweigh the risks. Aside from keeping weight in control, such procedures reduce one’s risk of contracting life-threating, weight-related conditions.