What is Bariatric Surgery

Posted: Jan. 1, 2005

Bariatric surgery is major surgery involving risks and possible complications. Usually the minimum qualification to be considered a candidate is a Body Mass Index of 40 or greater (at least 100 lbs. above ideal body weight). Surgery is primarily viewed as an option to alleviate chronic, debilitating disease caused by morbid obesity.

Patients must also be highly motivated. Extensive dietary, exercise and medical guidelines must be followed for the rest of their lives after surgery.

Once the decision to have surgery is made, there are several different procedures available, each with associated benefits and risks.

How does bariatric surgery work?
Gastric bypass surgery or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is an operation recognized by the National Institutes of Health for the treatment of severe obesity.

In Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, a small stomach pouch is created, and that pouch is then connected to a shorter length of the small intestine. The normal stomach is the size of a melon or a football, and gastric bypass reduces it to the size of an egg. This procedure helps you lose weight in two ways:

1. The smaller pouch encourages you to eat smaller amounts of food.
2. Because part of the stomach and part of the small intestine are "bypassed" in the digestive process, fewer nutrients and thus fewer calories are absorbed.

Though Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has been performed for many years, this surgery now can be done using laparoscopy, also called minimally invasive surgery.

With laparoscopy, surgery is performed through a few small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon uses the incisions to insert a laparoscope, a small telescope connected to a tiny video camera. The camera transmits a picture to a video monitor that the surgeon uses to guide the instruments during the surgery.

Having gastric bypass surgery using laparoscopy means that you have a shorter recovery time and can return to normal activities sooner. Laparoscopy also significantly reduces wound complications including infections, hernias and wound reopenings. Other advantages include less pain after surgery, a shorter hospital stay, and fewer stitches.

Although you may request laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery), you may be a better candidate for open or traditional gastric bypass surgery.

Be informed
Deciding to undergo weight loss surgery is a major decision that will have a dramatic effect on your lifestyle and eating habits. It is important that you are well motivated and informed before you are even evaluated by a bariatric surgeon.

Information about weight loss surgery is readily available, and it is important to learn as much as possible. Magazines and newspapers, as well as the Internet, are excellent sources of information about bariatric surgery.

Talking or meeting with other patients who have undergone a procedure or are considering surgery is also a good way to learn about the process of weight loss surgery.

Finally, it is important to discuss the possibility of surgery with your primary care physician. Your doctor knows your medical history best, and may have important information regarding your qualifications for surgery.

Insurance approval
Most insurance plans will cover bariatric surgery as long as the National Institutes of Health guidelines for body mass index are used as qualifying criteria. However, some plans do have a bariatric surgery exclusion clause and some plans may require a period of monitored dieting prior to approval.

Undergoing bariatric surgery is a life-changing event that requires medical care and follow-up for the rest of your life. Many patients undergo dramatic changes after bariatric surgery. Participating in postoperative support groups help with answering questions and sharing experiences associated with weight loss surgery.

Source: http://milwaukeebariatricsurgery.com/surgery/index.cfm

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