A comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of gastric bypass

Though there is no denying the fact that there are risks involved with gastric bypass also but the benefits are much more that they outweigh the risks. In most of the cases, the patient is able to lose more than 75% of their excess weight. The patient starts losing weight soon after the surgery and may continue losing weight for many months after the surgery.

Advantages

1. Your high blood pressure problem could reduce to a great extent. It is found that about 60% or more patients were able to go off medication after their weight loss treatment using this surgery.

2. Your cholesterol levels may return to normal within a few months post gastric bypass.

3. Patients with heart disease have a lower risk of getting affected by any serious illness.

4. Diabetes Type 2 patients may require less medication and may be able have the diabetes under control.

5. If you were slightly diabetic, you may be completely cured of it.

6. Probability of reduced asthma attacks.

7. Better functioning of the respiratory tract.

8. Relief from Acid Reflux or acidity.

Disadvantages

1. If you were an alcohol drinker prior to your surgery, you may develop and addiction for it after gastric bypass surgery.

2. In some cases, patients develop UTI or Urinary Tract Infection where bacteria builds up in the urinary tract causing infection.

3. Bowel Obstruction: A section of the bowel (intestine) gets blocked making it hard for the stool to pass.

4. You may face nutritional deficiencies: protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

5. Some patients have Nausea related problems a few months after the surgery.

6. A few patients develop intolerance towards milk and dairy product and also red meat.

7. Irregular Bowel Habits are common till the patient gets used to the new digestive system.

8. Some patients have reported hair loss problems due to the surgical procedure.

Like gastric band surgery, Gastric bypass surgery also helps to alleviate other ailments like hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, joint pain, arthritis, reflux, fatigue etc. It also decreases the chances of pulmonary diseases, heart diseases and cancer like the gastric sleeve surgery.

Lap Band costs

Weight loss surgeries are generally a costly affair. The rising health costs have further increased their costs. The general rule is - more the weight more is the cost. A recent study shows that the amount spent by a severely obese person on healthcare costs is $1,566 more than the normal person. In addition, the study also revealed that an extremely obese person spent $2,845 more than the normal person. So, it’s better to get the lap band surgery now than later as extra weight only increases the surgery costs.

The best candidates for the lap band surgery are the persons who have a BMI of 40 kg per meter square or a BMI of 30 kg per meter square with one or more obesity related conditions. It is only indicated for persons who have tried other weight loss techniques like supervised diet, exercise etc. and failed. Also, if they choose to go for it they have to make significant changes in their eating habits for the rest of their lives.

There is no disregarding the fact that the Lap band is a fairly simple and less problematic surgery as compared to gastric sleeve plication and gastric bypass. Also, it is not a very pricey surgery. The average lap band cost is estimated to be $14,000. Also, you can directly pay through cash without going through the hassle of an insurance company. If you fulfill the basic requirements for the lap band surgery, you can have the surgery done as soon as your surgeon can give you an appointment. And if you are getting an insurance done then the lap band surgery cost may also cover the nutritionist costs and lap band fills. So, all in all, it is a win- win situation for the obese.

Gastric sleeve plication surgery facts

Restrictive technique has become a popular technique in the last few years. It is being widely used by surgeons in weight loss surgeries. The latest example of it’s usage is the greater curvature plication surgery. This surgery is a bariatric surgery for weight-loss and is a minimally invasive method for weight-loss.

Greater curvature plication is popularly called as gastric sleeve plication. This surgery is also performed laparoscopically and works almost like the gastric sleeve surgery. It doesn’t involve any kind of cutting or stapling. Also, there is no bypassing of intestines.

During this surgery, a laparoscope and other small instruments are placed inside the abdomen by making small incisions. A calibration tube is also passed orally through the stomach. After this, the stomach is folded into itself to form a small capacity pouch. The folding is done using non-dissolvable sutures. The folding is mostly done along outer edge of the abdomen. The reduction in the capacity of the abdomen is variable. It may vary from 60% to 85% of the original size. The advantage of this reduced capacity is that the patient gets full sooner and they tend to eat less. This in turn helps in the weight-loss.

Unlike gastric bypass and lap band, this procedure is a relatively new procedure and not much research has been done on this. So, not much is known about it’s side-effects. However, it’s benefits are many. The biggest benefit is that this surgery is reversible. The fold that has been placed on the stomach can be removed any time by removing the sutures. Also, this surgery doesn’t affect the digestive system in any way. It remains intact after the surgery. Also, the patient can easily recover from this surgery as only small incisions are made and they get healed easily and quickly. Also, the patient can keep on eating whatever he likes. Not many restrictions are placed on the variety of foods to be consumed.

Working of the Lap band device

One of the most famous types of laparoscopic weight loss surgery is banding surgery. It is also a minimally invasive surgery. This surgery does not involve any kind of stapling, amputation or cutting of the stomach. In addition, the rate of complications is also very low as compared to the other surgeries. The surgery is mostly performed as a out-patient procedure and the patient can resume his normal activities within one week of discharge from the hospital. The recovery period of the Lap band surgery is also not long, as there are only small cuts that get healed quickly.

As compared to other surgeries like gastric sleeve and gastric bypass, the rate of re-operation and the time period of hospital stay of this procedure is almost three times less. The lap band surgery works by decreasing the capacity of the stomach. This reduces the food intake at a time. The patient feels full faster. This surgery mainly works by tricking the mind of the patient and believing that the stomach is full.

The band is placed around the stomach by using long and thin instruments. The procedure is laparoscopic which means that very small incisions are made in the abdomen to place the band inside. The band is a silicon tube and can be easily handled by the patient’s body. It is both durable and soft and does not hurt or damage the other body organs in any way. The incisions that are made get heeled easily and quickly and this reduces the hospital stay of the patient. He can get discharged within a day of the surgery.

However, it is necessary that the patient gets his lapband surgery done by the hands of a specialist because if the band is not securely placed, it may lead to complications and also, re-operation. Also, this band is a long term implant so the patient should be ready to make some permanent changes to his eating habits and lifestyle.