What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, is one type of procedure that can be used to cause significant weight loss if you are very obese. Gastric bypass surgery reduces the amount of food that enters and passes through the digestive tract and promotes weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold.
Who are candidates for Gastric bypass?
Gastric bypass surgery may be recommended if you are morbidly obese. Morbid obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 40. Bariatric surgery is an option only after other treatments such as diet and exercise have been unsuccessful or in the case where you are suffering from complications of obesity. You should discuss your particular risks with your doctor.
Because you must commit to major behavioral lifestyle changes after the surgery, you will be screened for depression, alcoholism, and other mental or behavioral disorders prior to the surgery that could interfere with the post-operative outcomes.
What is the Bariatric Surgery recovery process?
Most people typically stay in the hospital for a few days or less after gastric bypass surgery. Some may need to stay four to five days. Your doctor will approve your discharge home once the following is true for you:
You can move without too much discomfort.
You can eat liquid and/or pureed food without vomiting.
You no longer require pain medication given by injection.
You will remain on liquid or pureed food for a week or two after the surgery. Even after that time, you will feel full very quickly, sometimes only being able to take a few bites of solid food.
Upon follow up, your doctor will determine if you need replacement of iron, calcium, vitamin B12, or other nutrients. Supplements, such as a multivitamin with minerals, will be prescribed to provide any nutrients that you may not be getting from your diet. A lack of nutrients can occur because you are eating less and because the food moves through your digestive system more quickly.
Other recommendations you should follow:
Once you are eating solid food, remember to chew each bite very slowly and thoroughly.
Eat small meals frequently throughout the day, rather than large meals that your stomach cannot accommodate. Your new stomach probably won’t be able to handle both solid food and fluids at the same time. So, you should separate fluid and food intake by at least 30 minutes and only sip what you are drinking.
Avoid high fat, high sugar foods and alcohol.
Resume physical activity six weeks after the operation. Once you are fully recovered, you should strive for daily physical activity in order to maintain weight loss after the surgery.
Seek social support from others who have undergone weight loss surgery.
The weight loss results of gastric bypass surgery are generally good. Most patients reach a stable weight between 18 and 24 months after surgery. Often, the greatest rate of weight loss occurs in the very beginning.
What are alternatives to Bariatric Surgery?
Alternative treatments to bariatric surgery include strict weight loss and exercise programs that are monitored by your doctor and other health professionals.
Prior to any weight loss operation, a psychological evaluation will be given to you. This will determine whether you are ready to adhere to a healthier lifestyle. You will also receive extensive nutritional counseling before (and after) your surgery.