high cholesterol
cholesterolmaintenance.com
By: More articles by davidjohnson
Bariatric surgery derived from the Greek word baros meaning weight is designed to reduce obesity indirectly by restricting the amount of food calories a person can digest. Some bariatric operations (eg. lap band) achieve this by reducing the size of the stomach size. Other operations (eg. rouxenY gastric bypass) go one step further. As well as reducing stomach volume they also reduce the length of the small intestine. This constitutes a more permanent alteration of the digestive tract and makes it more difficult for the patient to cheat.
How To Qualify For Bariatric Surgery
According to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Guidelines on the Identification Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults you may be a candidate for obesity surgery only if: (1) you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40+ (about 100 pounds overweight) or (2) your BMI is 35+ and you suffer from severe weightrelated health problems such as hypertension high cholesterol type 2 diabetes heart disease or severe sleep apnea.
Are You a Suitable Candidate for Bariatric Surgery
Meeting the above criteria does not guarantee your eligibility for weight loss surgery. Most bariatric clinics operate a screening policy and only approve candidates who are (a) ready to make appropriate longterm behavioral changes; and (b) committed to longterm (even lifelong) medical followup. This is because weight loss surgery can only be successful if you are willing to change your existing eating and exercise habits on a permanent basis.
What Are The Main Types of Bariatric Operation
There are two main types of obesity surgery: gastric banding and gastric bypass. These operations may be performed using traditional open surgical techniques or minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques using instruments connected to video monitors which allow the surgeon to see inside the patient without having to make large incisions. Patients who undergo laparascopic surgery suffer fewer perioperative and postoperative health complications and typically remain in hospital for 23 days compared to 45 days for open surgery. They return to work within 23 weeks compared to 46 weeks for traditional surgeries.
Gastric banding is sometimes referred to as restrictive surgery. This is because it works by restricting calorie intake only. During a gastric banding operation the surgeon shrinks the stomach from melon to egg size using special staples or a silicone band. These procedures are more easily reversible as they do not fundamentally alter the anatomy of the digestive system. The drawback is patients find it easier to cheat. Thus stomach banding is not as effective for weight reduction as stomach bypass. Examples of gastric banding procedures include: adjustable gastric banding such as lap band and vertical banded gastroplasty.
Gastric bypass sometimes called malabsorptive surgery since it restricts the absorption of calories and nutrition is a two stage process. First the surgeon reduces the size of the stomach. Second the first part of the small intestine (duodenum and jejunum) is bypassed. This causes food to pass much more rapidly through the digestive tract and significantly reduces the amount of nutrients and calories that can be absorbed. So even if patients overeat they will absorb less. As a result weight loss after gastric bypass is typically greater than after gastric banding. Examples of stomach bypass procedures include: rouxenY biliopancreatic diversion and duodenal switch.
What Can You Eat After Bariatric Surgery
As a bariatric patient you must expect a drastic change of eating habits following your operation. In general due to the small size of your new stomach pouch you will feel full after only a very small amount of food. Overeating or eating too fast can cause extremely unpleasant nausea referred to as dumping syndrome. The typical postoperative diet regimen comprises four stages. Immediately after surgery you may ingest clear liquids only. After 23 days this broadens to include any liquids. After about 2 weeks semisolids may be consumed leading to a lowfat solid diet after 56 weeks. Progress depends upon the individual circumstances of each patient.
What About The Problem of Loose Skin
During the 1224 months following a successful bariatric bypass or banding operation you may lose as much as 5080 percent of your preoperative excess weight. As a result you may develop a significant amount of loose skin. In addition as your weight loss may not occur evenly throughout your body you may suffer from unsightly pockets of excess fat. Generally speaking the only solution for these problems is plastic surgery. Common procedures include: tummy tuck thighlift panniculectomy breastlift male breast reduction armlift and neck lift. Liposuction is not generally considered to be a weightrelated procedure as it only removes fat. It does not excise loose skin or tighten loose muscles. One point to note is that unlike bariatric surgery this type of plastic surgery is not covered by medical insurance as it is deemed to be a cosmetic procedure.
What is The Cost of Bariatric Surgery
The costs of bariatric surgeries vary according to the surgeon the type of procedure performed and the range of support services offered. Basic prices range from $25000 to $35000.
Is Bariatric Surgery Covered By Insurance
Medical insurance coverage varies by state and insurance provider. Several states have passed legislation requiring insurers to offer weight loss surgery for patients providing it meets health criteria laid down by the National Institutes of Health. However getting insurance approval by yourself can be a timeconsuming process. Ideally work with your surgeon/doctor and get him/her to explain to your health insurance provider that the proposed surgery is not a cosmetic procedure but an operation which will help you minimize major health problems later in life. Once your insurance company understands that the surgical operation is a moneysaving procedure they often agree to provide cover. Some bariatric clinics claim an 80 percent successrate for obtaining insurerapproval in this way.
More Information
Bariatric Surgery
Gastric Weight Loss Surgey
David Johnson LLb. is the senior researcher at www.bariatricsurgery.info which offers a range of information about gastric banding stomach bypass and other weightrelated s