Surgical, medical weight loss is also called bariatric surgery. These types of surgery are for people who need to lose significant amounts of weight and reduce the risk of developing medical problems that are associated with excess weight. There are two main types of surgical, medical weight loss that work in two different ways.
1. The first type of surgery is used to restrict the amount of food that the stomach can contain. This restriction contributes to weight loss by limiting the volume of food that you can eat.
2. The second type of surgery induces malabsorption by shortening or bypassing a part of the small intestine. By shortening or bypassing the small intestine, the number of calories absorbed through the small intestine is reduced. However, in reducing or bypassing the small intestine, the nutrients absorbed from food are also reduced.
These types of surgeries are not to be undertaken lightly. Should complications such as bowel obstruction, malnutrition, stomach perforation, and infection arise from shortening or bypassing a section of the small intestine or removing a part of the stomach, the surgery can be revised but not reversed. Concerning gastric banding, the band can be revised or surgically removed if the amount of weight loss is not satisfactory or if complications such as infection, dysphagia, slippage, or erosion should arise.
Your doctor will conduct a thorough medical examination and evaluation to determine which bariatric surgery – if any – is right for you. After a comprehensive medical review, your physician may decide that you’re not a good candidate for weight loss surgery, and other measures should be considered. Even after undergoing surgery you will need to be carefully monitored and adhere strictly to your doctor’s orders. Consult with an experienced physician and surgeon who has performed a high number of successful operations before you decide to undertake medical weight loss surgery.