Senior doctors confirm that bariatric surgeries offer new hope for obese and overweight patients and are a path to a better life and health. Bariatric surgeries not only help in healthily reducing excess weight, but they also protect obese patients from many chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, spinal problems, joint inflammation, polycystic ovary syndrome, and delayed pregnancy for women.
It is worth mentioning that bariatric surgeries have evolved, and their types have increased to serve obese patients and suit all their conditions.
Examples of bariatric surgeries include:
• Gastric Sleeve.
• Banded Gastric Sleeve.
• Gastric Bypass.
• Banded Gastric Bypass.
What is a Gastric Bypass?
Gastric Bypass is a procedure that reroutes the path of food by creating a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach, which becomes the only part that receives food. This reduces the amount of food and drinks consumed, which helps in losing excess weight and reaching the ideal weight.
One of the primary goals of Gastric Bypass is to get rid of obesity permanently and treat type 2 diabetes in two steps. The first step is excluding a part of the stomach that produces hormones that have a negative impact on the pancreas. By excluding this part and the hormones, the pancreas can perform its function better, thus treating diabetes. It is worth noting that the hunger hormone decreases by excluding that part of the stomach, which helps reduce the appetite of obese patients towards food and contributes to their feeling of fullness.
The second step is connecting the stomach to the intestine, two meters away, which reduces the absorption of sugar and helps maintain a stable blood glucose level.
What is a Banded Gastric Bypass?
Technically, a Banded Gastric Bypass is the same as a regular gastric bypass, but with the addition of a silicone ring surrounding the upper part of the stomach to maintain its size and prevent it from expanding in case of overeating. This ring also puts pressure on a nerve in the stomach to stimulate the feeling of fullness and avoid overeating. Therefore, a Banded Gastric Bypass is the perfect solution to get rid of obesity permanently while maintaining an ideal weight and good health without chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and spinal problems.
Requirements for Banded Gastric Bypass Surgery:
1- Carry out various laboratory tests and examinations before the surgery.
2- Provide your medical history and a list of medications you are taking, especially blood thinners or blood clot medications.
3- Stop smoking at least one month before the surgery.
4- If you have diabetes, follow up with your specialist doctor to adjust your diabetes medication or insulin dose.
5- You have a body mass index greater than 40 kilograms.
6- Fast for 12 hours before undergoing Banded Gastric Bypass surgery.
Benefits of Banded Gastric Bypass Surgery:
1- Treatment of type 2 diabetes caused by obesity.
2- Treatment of hypertension caused by hypercholesterolemia and excess weight.
3- Treatment of joint pain and spinal problems caused by obesity.
4- Banded Gastric Bypass is a simple procedure, and the recovery period is not long. The patient can return to his normal life and work within a few weeks.
5- Losing excess weight in a healthy and safe way.
6- Permanent elimination of obesity.
7- Restoring the hope of childbirth for women who have delayed pregnancy due to obesity.
Complications of Banded Gastric Bypass Surgery:
1- Leakage, blood clots, or bleeding, which can be easily avoided by choosing a professional and experienced surgeon and medical team.
2- Dizziness, fatigue, sweating, and increased heart rate.
3- Bloating and gas.
4- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
5- Reflux, which can cause acidity, pain, and inflammation in the esophagus.
6- Intestinal obstruction due to adhesions.
Can complications of Banded Gastric Bypass Surgery be avoided?
Yes, you can avoid Banded Gastric Bypass Surgery complications by two issues. The first issue is to choose a professional and experienced doctor and medical team who will follow up with you before, during, and after the surgery. The second issue is your commitment to your doctor's instructions and guidelines, including:
1- Taking vitamins and nutritional supplements regularly, preferably for two years after the surgery.
2- Following the special diet for the first six weeks after the surgery.
3- Not consuming food and drink at the same time.
4- Chewing food well and preferably eating soft foods.
FAQs:
• How much weight will I lose?
By following your doctor's instructions and guidelines, you can lose 60%–100% of your excess weight. The first six months after the surgery are the fastest in terms of weight loss, and it decreases as the duration increases.
• How long should the patient be hospitalized after Banded Gastric Bypass Surgery?
The patient does not need to stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours after the surgery, as it is a simple procedure.
• Will I feel pain after waking up from the surgery?
You may feel some pain and need analgesics, but this feeling will soon subside.
