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stomach surgery for weight loss

Stomach Surgery for Weight Loss

Obesity and weight gain are the most severe issues in today’s world. Sometimes gaining weight can be checked by maintaining a proper diet plan or doing practical exercises. But when those procedures fail, surgeries become the only option to prevent health risks. Gastric bypass and similar weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, are efficient stomach surgery for weight loss. Along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, these surgeries can be life-changers.

Why Stomach Surgery for Weight Loss is Necessary:

Extreme weight gain can cause complex and love-threatening health problems. In extreme cases, most of them can not be controlled just by improving diet or exercising. Some health problems are mentioned below, and you can go for stomach surgery to lose weight.

  • Heart disease and stroke
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep apnea

Some Common Risk Factors

Stomach surgery to lose weight has long-term and short-term health risks. Some common Risk factors after the surgery that can be developed include- Adverse reactions to anesthesia, excessive bleeding, blood clots. Infection, lung or breathing problems; death in some extreme Cases, and leaks in your gastrointestinal system.

Various Types of Weight Loss Surgery:

There are several kinds of stomach surgeries performed to lose weight. Some of them are discussed below.

  • Roux-en-Y (roo-en-wy) Gastric Bypass: This is one of the most common bypass surgeries for weight loss. Here, by surgery, the stomach is reduced to the size of a wall nut. So it can hold an ounce of food. As a result, the person consumes fewer calories and reduces weight.

  • Biliopancreatic Diversion With Duodenal Switch: At the first step, sleeve gastrectomy is performed, and most of the intestine is bypassed. As a result, the absorption of nutrients is decreased. This surgery is practical, as well as the risks of vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition.

  • Sleeve Gastrectomy: In this type of surgery, the surgery removes around 80% of the stomach. As a result, appetite-regulating hormones are produced in lesser amounts. So the person eats less. This type of surgery is compelling, and more secondary risk factors are involved.

  • Gastric Balloon/Intragastric Balloon System: In this type of surgery, a deflated balloon is kept in the stomach. After being placed, this balloon is filled with saline solution to curb hunger. But there is a risk factor included. Those who have done weight loss surgery before or have liver diseases are recommended not to go through this surgery.

  • Vagal Blockade or vBloc: A pacemaker, a device, is sent into the body to provide regular electrical impulses. It gives a signal to the brain that the stomach is full. This device is kept just under the rib cage and can be operated from the outside. But the problem is that it runs through the battery, and after the complete drainage, it must be reprogrammed.

Stomach surgery and other surgeries for weight loss only sometimes work as expected. Thus, surgeries are, of course, effective, but under some medical conditions. Some of them can develop serious health issues. So before deciding to do any such surgeries, please consult a surgeon and learn from them about every surgery detail.


About the author

I am a medical writer based in Kolkata with over 10 years of experience translating specialized medical topics into easy-to-understand language. Throughout my career, I have written extensively online and for various publications, covering a wide range of subjects from diseases and conditions to treatment methods, wellness advice and healthcare technology. In addition to authoring many articles and blogs, I have also worked as a copywriter developing content for leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies as well as patient education resources. Holding a post-graduate degree in Mass Communication, my goal is to make complex healthcare information more accessible for readers. I strive to improve health literacy through my clear writing style that aims to explain specialized topics understandably.