BARIATRIC SURGERY

Procedure, Preparation and Recovery

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What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is also known as weight-loss surgery and involves multiple procedures to aid in the goal of long-term weight loss. The surgical procedure works by making alterations in hunger levels, metabolism rate and satiety ultimately causing a decrease in overall weight of a person.

There are four main types of bariatric surgery procedures. These are listed below:

– Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: This surgical procedure helps in reducing the amount of food that you consume at one time. During the process, a small device (port) is placed under the skin of your stomach along with a flexible band around the top of your stomach. The port is filled with fluid and it goes straight to the band to make it very tight around the top of the stomach. Eventually, you can consume only a small amount of food at one time leading to weight loss.
– Gastric bypass surgery: One of the most common bariatric procedures is the gastric bypass surgery. Along with reducing the amount of food you consume at one time, this type of surgery also leads to a decrease in calorie and nutrient absorption from food. The process of gastric bypass surgery involves separating a portion of the stomach to make a small pouch or pocket. This pouch cannot hold much food and is joined to a part of the small intestine. Ultimately, the food does not enter the stomach at all and you do not absorb much calories or nutrients.
– Sleeve gastrectomy: Also known as gastric sleeve or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, this surgical procedure removes almost whole of the stomach leaving very little behind. The stomach is turned into a sleeve-like structure that can hold very less food and this makes you feel satiated after consuming very little food.
– Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS): In this weight-loss surgical procedure, a gastric sleeve is created out of the stomach just like sleeve gastrectomy. But in the next step, the sleeve is joined with a portion of the lower small intestine. This also leads to absorption of less calories and nutrients as the sleeve cannot hold much food.

Visit Healing Hospital, Chandigarh for the best bariatric surgery specialists that can provide you correct guidance on which type of surgery will be best suitable for you.

What does the bariatric surgery involve?

During the procedure of bariatric surgery, alterations are made in the digestive tract to help obese people lose weight.
This surgical procedure is conducted only when lifestyle changes and diet plans have not proven to be useful.
Also, certain overweight people are at a higher risk of getting affected by serious health issues. Therefore, bariatric surgery is the only option left to help them manage their weight.

What are the preparations required for a bariatric surgery?

Your bariatric surgeon at Healing Hospital, Chandigarh will provide you certain guidelines that need to be followed prior to the surgery. Some of these are listed below:

Start with a comfortable workout routine and gradually increase the intensity according to your doctor’s advice so that it will help you in reaching your future weight-loss goals after the surgery.
Secondly, your bariatric surgeon in Chandigarh will ask you to undergo certain blood and urine tests before the surgery. A chest X-ray and an ECG are also important.
You can also be asked to undergo gallbladder ultrasound so that your specialist surgeon can check if you have gallstones.
You need to drastically decrease the consumption of caffeinated beverages at least one month before the bariatric surgery.

What to expect post-bariatric surgery?

The most obvious effect of the bariatric surgery will be that you will lose a good amount of weight.
Secondly, if you suffer from diabetes or sleep apnea due to being overweight, you will find there is a significant improvement in these conditions.
Immediately after the surgery, you will be put on a special diet plan by the bariatric surgery team. Starting with fluid intake, you will be slowly and steadily put on solid foods.
Drinking plenty of fluids is crucial after a bariatric surgery. This will help in dealing with post-surgery complications such as constipation, nausea, kidney issues and weakness.
Protein intake is another factor that needs to be considered after the surgery. Based on your specialist doctor’s recommendation, you will need to focus on high-protein foods.
Avoid starchy and sugary foods as this can hamper the results of your bariatric surgery.
Your specialist doctor will instruct you about the supplements that need to be taken lifelong.
Consuming alcohol can prove to be dangerous after bariatric surgery and should be avoided at all costs.

How much time will it take to recover completely from the bariatric surgery?

Advanced technologies in bariatric surgeries have made the procedures laparoscopic which results in shorter recovery times.
Generally, the patient needs to stay in the hospital for a maximum of 2-3 days after the surgery after which he/she is sent home.
Resumption of normal activities can be done within three to five weeks, depending on what your specialist doctor thinks is apt.