The Holiday Season is a Time for Giving
This year, give yourself one of the best gifts you can give to yourself – good health.
If you’re struggling to lose weight through traditional means, bariatric surgery may be right for you. This is a recommended weight loss solution for those with a body mass index (BMI) of over 40, and those with a BMI of 35 and higher with co-morbidities such as heart problems or diabetes.
Weight Loss Surgery Procedures
There are different types of bariatric surgery available. It’s best to talk to your doctor if you’re considering this weight loss option.
Gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and the loop duodenal switch are examples of bariatric procedures offered at Foothills Weight Loss Specialists in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass is a popular bariatric procedure. This surgery is typically irreversible and works by decreasing the amount of food you can eat in one sitting and reducing the absorption of nutrients. The most popular type of gastric bypass is Roux-en-Y.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Often called the sleeve, sleeve gastrectomy is a procedure that requires removal of about 80 percent of the stomach. What results from this procedure is a tubular pouch that resembles a banana. Most patients that sleeve gastrectomy is as effective as the gastric bypass when it comes to weight loss and improving type 2 diabetes.
Loop Duodenal Switch
In this procedure the upper part of the stomach is removed, creating a banana-shaped sleeve. Although the stomach capacity is reduced, the basic function of the stomach is preserved. This is a new variation of the standard Duodenal Switch operation. The stomach is restricted and absorption is decreased while providing good long-term weight loss with less complications and malnutrition risks.
What to Expect
General anesthesia is used in bariatric surgery, which means you are unconscious throughout the procedure. Some of these weight loss procedures are done with traditional large or open incisions in the abdomen while some of them can now be done laparoscopically.
After the procedure, you will be taken to the recovery room where you will be continually monitored for possible complications following surgery. You may stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days, depending on the outcome of and your general health.
Once returning home, proper care and dedication to a change in life-style and diet are crucial to the success of the procedure. If you’re considering bariatric surgery to achieve weight loss, Foothills Weight Loss Specialists in Knoxville can help.
To find out if weight loss surgery is right for you, we invite you to attend a free seminar with our bariatric surgeons. Learn more at an in-person Q&A session. Call our office at 865-984-3413 to register, or sign up online.