Life is too short to be unhappy and no one needs to feel uncomfortable about their weight. It’s time to take charge of your life through weight loss surgery. It’s clear that undergoing weight loss surgery for extreme obesity can drastically improve your health and self-esteem, yet the surgery can also solve more serious health concerns such as TYPE 2 diabetesheart disease, and sleep apnea.
Obesity has long been known to be a major contributor toward developing many life-threatening diseases. Much research has been published on the correlation between bariatric surgery and the alleviating of symptoms and disease resulting from type 2 diabetes.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabete affects 34.2 million Americans—just over 1 in 10—have diabetes, which can contribute to the onset of heart attack and stroke. Much research has occured in recent years on the beneficial effects that gastric bypass, one of several weight loss procedures, can have on lessening the effects of Type 2 diabetes.
Bariatric surgery can offer you sustainable weight loss if you are extremely overweight. It helps anyone who has not achieved success long-term through traditional attempts like diet and exercise. There are several bariatric surgeries that are available. Some of the most common include gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy).
Gastric Bypass Saves Lives
Did you know gastric bypass surgery can improve the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes even before weight loss occurs. Studies indicate that bariatric surgery in obese patients may be associated with a modest reduction in depression, and the use of antidepressant medications in primary care. Yet these effects appear to occur up to three years following the procedure.
How Does Gastric Bypass Work?
Designed to reduce the size of your stomach and to bypass part of your small intestine, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery uses a combination of restriction and malabsorption. This procedure is considered the cornerstone of bariatric surgery. During the procedure, your surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch. The doctors then attach a Y-shaped section of your small intestine directly to the pouch. This allows food to bypass a portion of your small intestine, which absorbs calories and nutrients.
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery affects your weight loss in two ways: 1) the smaller stomach pouch restricts food intake and 2) bypassing a portion of the small intestine means that calories are absorbed less than they normally would be.
What Are the Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery?
- Fast weight loss. Patients lose an average of 70 percent of excess body weight within 12 to 18 months after surgery.
- Proven long-term weight loss. Studies show long-term success 10 to 14 years after surgery, patients have maintained an average loss of 60 percent of their excess weight.
- Reduces deaths. The procedure significantly reduces, and even eliminates conditions related to obesity like high blood pressure, Type II diabetes and sleep apnea. In fact, Type 2 diabetes is often eliminated even before ideal weight loss is achieved.
- Reduces hunger. Patients report that they feel fuller faster and are satisfied with eating less. Now, overeating is less likely to occur.
What Are the Health Benefits?
Studies indicate that gastric bypass:
- Resolved type 2 diabetes in 83.8% of patients and often resolved the disease within days of surgery.
- Resolved high blood pressure in 75.4% of patients.
- Improved high cholesterol in 95% of patients.
Quality of Life
One analysis indicated that bariatric surgery patients who experienced significant weight loss:
- Greatly improved their quality of life.
- Improved physical functioning and appearance.
- Improved social and economic opportunities.
How is Gastric Bypass Surgery Performed?
Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y surgery is performed laparoscopically or by robotic assisted surgery. During either procedure, your surgeon makes several small incisions and uses specialized small instruments, a tiny camera and a console to perform the surgery.
A gastric bypass includes the reconstruction of your GI tract so that it allows drainage of your stomach. Once the surgery is over your stomach will be about the size of a golf ball. This means you will only be able to eat 1 – 2 tablespoons of food.
The Results
If you elect gastric bypass, you will lose around 70 – 80% of your excess weight within a year to a year and a half. Most patients experience an average weekly weight loss of about 5 – 15 pound throughout the first few months.
In a robotic sleeve gastrectomy, about 60 to 80 percent of the stomach is removed. This creates a sleeve shape. By reducing the size of the stomach, you will feel full eating less. Getting a gastric bypass can help you lose weight while still absorbing the full amount of nutrients in your food.
Gastric Sleeve: How is it done?
First, a gastric sleeve (or sleeve gastrectomy) has a lower complication rate than gastric bypass surgery. During a robotic gastric sleeve, your surgeon makes a few small incisions in your abdomen and is assisted by a robotic platform to help your surgeon perform the surgery. A camera enables your surgeon to see inside your body while using small tools to cut your stomach vertically into two sections. The larger section is removed and the remaining stomach is stapled shut, which creates the sleeve shape.
In a gastric sleeve surgery your surgeon doesn’t perform surgery on your small intestine and the food you eat later progresses naturally through your digestive system.
Gastric sleeve surgery is usually performed using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System. Robotic-assisted surgery provides your surgeon with greater visualization and dexterity, and it’s a less invasive approach compared to traditional surgeries. Benefits to you include smaller incisions, less blood loss and quicker recovery.
Name the Benefits of a Gastric Sleeve Surgery
After a gastric sleeve, you will feel hungry less often. Most patients can expect to lose 60 to 80 percent of excess body weight within one to two years after the procedure.
Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the procedure doesn’t require the intestines to be detached or rerouted. You will still absorb the full amount of nutrients and minerals from your food. Losing weight can prevent new and cure existing obesity-related diseases including diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea.
Since the procedure is minimally invasive, most patients can expect a shorter hospital stay, less pain, fewer complications, lower risk of infection and a faster recovery than traditional surgery.
Who is a Candidate for Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve?
Many factors such as your health and weight-loss goals will determine if you are a qualified candidate for laparoscopic gastric sleeve. For starters, you must be over 18 and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or you’re more than 100 pounds overweight. You also need go agree to treatment and lifetime follow up.
If your BMI is between 35 and 39.9, you can qualify if you have one or more obesity-related conditions like Type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders or heart disease.
Why NOVA Bariatrics?
Over time, obesity along with breathing issues or other life-threatening diseases will cause a breakdown in your body’s systems. This can lead to a deterioration in your health and significantly decrease your life expectancy. Robotic-assisted bariatric surgery is a powerful tool that lets us reverse and prevent you from contracting life-threatening diseases like breathing issues, diabetes, heart disease, gout, cancer and many others associated with extreme obesity.
Dr. Mustafa H. Alibhai, MD, FACS, FASMBS is expertly trained in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. He performs a wide range of weight loss and bariatric surgeries. Dr. Alibhai and the surgical team at NOVA Bariatrics understand your weight loss goals and will recommend weight loss options to treat your obesity. Together, their combined experience and expertise go a long way to help those who have been unable to achieve significant weight loss through dieting and exercise alone.Ready to reinvent yourself, gain more confidence, treat any weight-related illnesses like diabetes, and experience lasting weight loss? Then contact Dr. Alibhai or our team at NOVA Bariatrics today and either book online or call us at 459-639-0953. We have convenient offices in Irving and Arlington, TX and we’re waiting to help you achieve all your weight loss goals.
