Everything about weight loss surgery (Bariatric Surgery) in simple terms

Are you tired of trying to lose weight? Are you tired of dieting, fasting, and exercising? Sometimes, obesity is not something that can be easily controlled. In such cases, when all other methods fail, we are going to talk about a special solution that doctors suggest today. That is weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery.

What exactly is bariatric surgery?

Simply put, this is a surgical procedure. It is used to help people who are obese lose weight. But it is not just a surgery that removes fat from the body like liposuction. What is done here is to make some changes to your digestive system .

Think of it this way, this surgery does two main things:

1. Your stomach is compressed. This greatly limits the amount of food you can eat at one time. You still feel full even after eating a little.

2. In some types of surgery, part of your small intestine is bypassed. This means that the body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients from the food you eat.

Both of these methods reduce the amount of calories your body takes in. Not only that, but after this surgery , the hormone signals that tell your brain that you are hungry (hunger signals) are also reduced. So the feeling of constantly wanting to eat is also controlled.

Why do you need to have this kind of surgery?

Many people think that anyone can lose weight by following a good diet and exercising. That's generally true. But for someone with severe obesity (class III obesity), it's not so easy. Research has found that people with this type of obesity are less likely to maintain weight loss in the long term through diet and exercise alone.

The reason is that when our body gets used to being overweight for a long time, it thinks that weight is its 'normal weight'. When we try to lose weight, the body always tries to go back to that 'normal' weight. This surgery helps to change that process and create a situation where we can really get results from healthy eating and exercise.

What other diseases can be controlled by this surgery?

Obesity is not just about being overweight. It is associated with a number of life-threatening diseases. The good news is that many of these conditions can be significantly improved or completely controlled with weight loss after bariatric surgery.

Here are some such conditions:

Who is eligible for this surgery?

This surgery is not done for everyone. There are certain criteria for it. The main thing that is looked at is your body mass index, or BMI (Body Mass Index) . BMI is a simple measure that measures whether you have a healthy weight for your height.

Generally, those who qualify for surgery are:

• If the BMI is 40 or higher , this is considered severe obesity.
• If you have a BMI of 35 or more and one or more of the above-mentioned medical conditions associated with obesity (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure).

This eligibility is determined by your doctor after examining you and conducting the necessary medical tests.

How do you prepare before surgery?

Before you are given a day to have surgery, the medical team will make sure you are physically and mentally ready for it.

• You will be examined by a team of specialist doctors.
• The advantages, disadvantages, and risks of the surgery will be explained to you in detail.
• Necessary blood tests and scans are performed to ensure that the surgery can be performed safely.
• If you smoke, use drugs, or drink excessively, you will need to stop completely before you are eligible for surgery .
• A few weeks before surgery, your doctor will tell you to follow a special diet (pre-bariatric surgery diet). This is to reduce the amount of fat in your belly, making the surgery safer and easier.

What are the main types of weight loss surgeries?

There are several main types of bariatric surgery. Your doctor will decide which type is best for you based on your health and needs. Most of these surgeries are performed laparoscopically, using a camera inserted through a few small incisions in the abdomen. This results in less recovery time and less scarring.

What are the risks of this surgery?

As with any surgery, bariatric surgery can have some risks and side effects. But the most important thing to remember is that in most cases , the risks of diseases caused by obesity far outweigh the risks of this surgery.

There are two main types of risks.

1. Common complications associated with surgery: bleeding, infection, blood clots, hernia formation, problems related to anesthesia.

2. Possible side effects due to changes in the digestive system:

• Dumping Syndrome: Symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and sweating occur as food moves too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine. This can be controlled by changing your diet.
• Malnutrition: Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can occur due to reduced absorption of nutrients by the body. This requires lifelong vitamin supplements as prescribed by a doctor.
• Gallstones: There is a risk of developing gallstones when losing weight rapidly.

Your doctor will explain all these risks to you.

What happens after the surgery?

You will need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the surgery. After you go home, it will take a few weeks to rest and get back to normal activities.

• Diet: Start with liquids first, gradually transition to pureed foods, soft foods, and only after about 12 weeks do you get used to regular solid foods.
• Medical Checkups: During the first year, you will need to see your doctor frequently and have blood tests to monitor your weight loss and health.
• Weight loss: On average, about 90% of people lose more than 50% of their excess weight. This weight loss occurs gradually over the first two years.
• Excess skin: When you lose a lot of weight, your skin can sag. If necessary, you can have a separate surgery (body contouring surgery) to remove the excess skin after a year or two.