A Guide To Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery
December 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Weight Loss Information And Tips, weight loss surgery
If you’ve been looking for an alternate form of weight loss you may want to consider laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. This is probably one of the greatest modern trends in terms of medical procedures for folks afflicted with morbid obesity. The problem with this trend is that many people that suffer from morbid obesity have become fascinated by this procedure. There are a number of things to think about before undergoing this surgery. It’s commonly only suggested for folks that are experiencing medical problems because of their weight. Although there are some doctors that will perform this procedure for cosmetic reasons, most doctors and health professionals encourage patients to exhaust all other options before resorting to the surgery.
If you’re considering having the laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure done, there are many things that you need to take into consideration before doing so. First off, you will need to consider the cost. This procedure can often be extremely expensive depending on where you live. Your national healthcare scheme could deem this surgery as cosmetic, if which case you may have to pay. Alternatively, if the procedure is considered a medical necessity, then all or some of it may be covered by your medical insurance.
There are many tests that your doctor or medical health professional should run before you have this procedure. Some of the things that you can expect to experience include studies to assess the condition of your pulmonary, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. Many doctors will also refer you for a psychological analysis to identify how well you may adapt to the changes. This can be one of the key tests that doctors use to ascertain whether a patient is prepared for laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery.
Why is psychological testing necessary before undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery? For some people there are emotional reasons for being overweight. Whether they punish themselves for a perceived flaw by overeating to make themselves obese, or whether they protect themselves from human interaction by creating a situation they feel makes them unlovable. (Note: Being overweight does NOT make a person unattractive. The perception of unattractiveness is entirely dependent upon self image). Even repeated diet failures are used to confirm their perceived unworth. Needless to say, losing weight requires an enormous emotional adjustment and some people are simply not ready to make that adjustment.
Although laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery can be reversed, it is vital to think about all of the advantages and risks before hand so as to make an informed decision on whether or not this procedure is right for you.
The advantages of weight loss are significant. Apart from the obvious increase in fitness and stamina associated with having a smaller body, losing weight also vastly reduces various health risks associated with obesity. Losing weight can reduce the risk and/or incidence of;
- Developing type 2 (onset) Diabetes
- Stroke
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Joint Problems – Lower weight means less strain on joints
- Sleep Apnea
- Cancer
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Respiratory Problems
The risks and complications of laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery include;
- Band leakage
- Gastric reflux or vomiting
- Band erosion into stomach
- Difficulty swallowing
- Enlargement of stomach pouch or band slippage
- Dehydration
- No weight loss
- Blockage of stomach outlet
- Gas bloat
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Ulcers
- Weight regain
- Gastritis (Inflammation of the stomach lining causing vomiting and discomfort)
- In extremely rare cases, death
For those who are unfamiliar with specifically how this procedure works, allow me to explain. It’s really quite a straightforward surgery that usually lasts around 45 minutes. Although this varies depending on the doctor and specifics of the laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. The surgery works by splitting your abdomen into two pouches, the upper section is the smaller of the two and the lower is the largest. After this is done the doctor reconnects the small intestine to each pouch to allow them to operate normally. This procedure is proven to reduce hunger while increasing the sensation of fullness. This can be a perfect solution for people that are interested in losing weight.
