Types of Bariatric Surgery: Which One is Right For You?

Exploring the types of bariatric surgery can help you find the best options for your health. These procedures can help make informed choices for lasting weight loss and better health. 

However, bariatric surgery is not suitable for everyone. It is performed for people who face serious health risks due to excess weight, and it is not a cosmetic procedure. It does not just help you lose weight but can also make you feel better and reduce the risk of serious health problems.

Let's discuss everything you need to know about bariatric surgery and which is best for you.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery helps people lose weight. Usually, it is necessary for people who are very overweight and have not been able to lose weight through diet, exercise, and other treatments.

Your doctor may suggest this surgery if you are extremely overweight and also have health problems like diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, high blood pressure, and joint pain. Losing weight through this surgery can help improve these health issues.

There are different types of bariatric surgeries. Which one is right for you depends on your overall health and what health problems you have.

Most Common Type of Bariatric Surgery

• Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is a type of weight loss surgery, and it is also called sleeve gastrectomy. In this surgery, the doctor removes about 80% of your stomach. After the surgery, your stomach becomes very small and you can’t eat as much food as before.

This surgery also reduces the amount of a hormone called ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry.

What kinds of Conditions Can Bariatric Surgery Treat?

Being overweight can lead to many serious health problems, some of which can even be permanent. But losing weight through bariatric surgery can help improve and even reverse many of these conditions.

‣ High Cholesterol

High cholesterol means there is too much fat in your blood, and these fats can stick to your blood vessels, causing blockages. However, high cholesterol can increase the risk of a heart attack and stroke.

‣ High Blood Pressure

It is also called hypertension, which means your heart is pumping blood too forcefully through your blood vessels. However, this puts extra pressure on your heart and blood vessels, increasing your chances of stroke and heart problems.

‣ High Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar level is too high, it means your body is not using insulin properly can damage your nerves, organs, and blood vessels, and increase your risk of getting diabetes.

‣ Heart Disease

Obesity makes it harder for your heart to work well, and it can lead to heart failure, blocked arteries, heart attack, and stroke.

‣ Kidney Disease

Conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can harm your kidneys, causing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and even kidney failure.

‣ Sleep Apnea

Many people with obesity suffer from sleep apnea, in which you can stop breathing stops for short periods while sleeping. This reduces oxygen to your body and can be dangerous for your heart.

‣ Osteoarthritis

Carrying extra weight puts more pressure on your joints, like knees and hips. Over time, this can cause worsening arthritis, which leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced movement.

‣ Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Having too much fat in your body can build up in your liver. This can lead to liver damage and inflammation. In severe cases, it may cause liver failure.

How Much Weight Can You Expect To Lose?

People lose different amounts of weight after bariatric surgery, and how much weight you lose depends on your body and the type of surgery.

However, research shows that people lose weight between 38 and 87 pounds in the first year after surgery. Among all types, gastric bypass surgery usually helps people lose the most weight.

Along with weight loss, this surgery can also improve your overall health, such as:

• It reduces the risk of heart problems.
• Reduces the chance of getting liver and kidney diseases.
• Control of high blood pressure.
• Healthier cholesterol levels and lower triglycerides.
• It reduces blood sugar with type 2 diabetes.
• Improvement in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can help with fertility.
• Higher levels of testosterone in men.

How Does it Help Reduce Weight?

• Limits food intake because the stomach size becomes smaller.

• It reduces hunger sensations by removing a hormone (Ghrelin) that plays an important role in regulating body weight.

• In bypass surgery, food passes through about 60% of your small intestine. This leads to higher levels of malabsorption and more weight loss.

Understanding the Different Types of Bariatric Surgery and How to Choose The Right One For You

Bariatric surgery is the best way to treat obesity, especially when diet and exercise don’t work. It helps people lose a lot of weight and also improves health problems like diabetes and high blood Pressure.

However, with different types of surgery available, it can be confusing to choose the right one.

Let’s break down the main types of bariatric surgery, so you can understand how each one works and what to expect.

⦿ Gastric Sleeve Surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy)

In this surgery, doctors remove a big part of your stomach, and you feel full faster because your stomach is smaller, you eat less food, and this helps you lose weight. It also changes some hormones in your gut, so you feel less hungry and your blood sugar may improve.

‣ The gastric sleeve is one of the most common weight loss surgeries.

‣ It doesn’t involve rerouting your intestines.

‣ Recovery is usually faster than some other surgeries.

⦿ Gastric Bypass Surgery (Roux-en-Y)

Gastric bypass surgery can make a small pouch at the top of your stomach, which is directly attached to your small intestine. That means food skips most of your stomach and the upper part of your intestine.

‣ You eat much less because of the small pouch.

‣ Your body absorbs fewer calories.

‣ Hormones in your gut change, too, so you feel full faster and your metabolism improves.

⦿ Adjustable Gastric Banding (Lap-Band Surgery)

Adjustable gastric banding uses a soft, flexible band that is placed around the top of your stomach and creates a small pouch. The band can be tightened and loosened later using a small port under your skin, and controls how much food your stomach can hold.

‣ The band can be adjusted without more surgery.

‣ Sometimes, people need another surgery if the band causes problems.

⦿ Duodenal Switch Surgery (Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch)

This is a mix of two surgeries, like shrinking the stomach and changing how food is digested. The other is that doctors remove part of your stomach and then change the path of the small intestine so your body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients.

‣ This is one of the most beneficial surgeries for weight loss.

‣ It works very well for people with overweight and have health problems.

Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery can also make your overall health much better in many ways:

• Bariatric surgery helps to reduce your blood sugar level.
• It improves your heart condition, lowers cholesterol levels, and reduces your blood pressure.
• It reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke because of better blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• If you have trouble breathing while sleeping, it can get much better.
• Your back, hips, and knees feel better after bariatric surgery because they carry less weight.
• It also reduces the risk of death from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other causes becomes less.

FAQs