Technology developments helped us in making our life comfortable. It resulted not only in a modernized lifestyle but also in several other ailments due to changes in the way of living. The first and foremost concern of worry is overweight. As per WHO statistics, obesity claims roughly 2.8 million leaves a year, which is increasing every year. So, people are searching for ways to reduce weight. One such procedure is bariatric surgery to reduce weight loss. It has been a double-edged sword since it has both pros and cons. Let us study further to know if this weight-loss surgery is beneficial or not?

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Mexican weight-loss surgery Bariatric surgery or gastric bypass involves surgical procedures aimed at limiting food absorption by the stomach. The process includes either bypassing the food entering the stomach into a different channel created or going a step further by removing part of the stomach itself. The net result will be malabsorption, a state of less absorption of nutrients, and feeling full for a lighter meal. 

This surgery is becoming popular. And people in USA and Canada find Mexico to be a cheaper option for the operation. But several people have reported numerous complications after undergoing surgery. Most of the people who get lured for low-cost surgery forget about the drastic implications. Let us discuss the effects in the upcoming paragraphs. 

Different surgical procedures:

There exist four common types of operation in bariatric surgery. They are sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, biliopancreatic bypass, and adjustable gastric band. Out of the four, gastric bypass is considered the standard procedure for weight loss. It involves dividing the stomach into two. The upper one, being smaller, acts as the regular stomach. Part of the intestine is connected to the upper pouch (stomach) to bypass the remaining digestive system. At the same time, the lower stomach holds the enzymes and stomach acids needed for food absorption.

In sleeve gastrectomy, nearly eighty percent of the stomach gets removed. It is done with the help of a laparoscope, resulting in fewer complications than open surgery.

The biliopancreatic bypass would be like a combination of the above two methods. It not only involves the removal of the stomach but also avoids most of the small intestine. Apart from reducing stomach size, it also results in a significant reduction in the absorption of food.

As the name implies, the adjustable gastric band requires placing an inflatable band on the top portion of the stomach. As the person feels full due to lowered upper stomach created by the band, it decreases hunger.

Surprising Effects of Bariatric surgery:

Doctors carry out bariatric surgery only when the person is extremely obese, i.e. when the BMI is 40 kg/m2 and above. Doctors recommend this surgical method when conventional dieting and exercise bring no result in weight loss. Most of the clinical trials point out all these gastric surgery results in higher weight loss than other methods. The Swedish obese study on 845 people found a weight loss of 35% of the total body weight (TBW) on an analysis of the three-year study. Subsequently, weight loss remained at 30% of TBW for the next year as well. 

In fact, all gastric surgeries showed huge weight loss. The debatable question was on selecting the right type of surgical method for the individual. Though the gastric bypass was much of invasive surgery, it had enormous weight reduction in longer-term when compared to others. Type II diabetes people found gastric and biliopancreatic bypass to be an effective one. There is no doubt that gastric surgery helps in weight loss. 

The Consequences:

As per Newton’s third law, every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction. It suits well for gastric surgery as well. People need to be bed-ridden for a longer time in hospitals while undergoing open gastric bypass surgery. Not only does it take longer healing, but it also results in the careful intake of a liquid diet for a few periods. Then slowly, people start moving to a solid diet. But high precaution must be followed in the food which people have to follow for years. Some of them reported few risk factors associated with surgical methods including blood clots, bleeding, breathing problems, and possibilities of death (rare). There have been reports of death after undergoing gastric surgery. It is possible to avoid these complications if the expert does the surgery after accessing the individual’s health condition.

Nevertheless, there are long-term complications, as well. The primary one is malnutrition. Since the body gets less nutrition and calories, problems due to malabsorption arise. The real long-term impact of vitamins and minerals could exist. Bowel obstruction is another concern.

These are the reasons why doctors are advising not to get trapped by cost-savvy surgeries being offered in some places. There are so many complications, and the patient should be in extreme care for a specified period. 

Overview:

Despite the implication, studies show that many obesity-related diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type II diabetes get improved due to this bariatric surgery. Blood pressure and cholesterol get stabilized, and many minor ailments get cured. The fact that gastric surgery reduces enormous weight is real. But that comes with an enormous cost as well. People must be ready to bear this hefty price tag. They must be in a position to stay away from their work for a considerable period.

It is necessary to follow all procedures needed for the surgery and recommendations after post-surgery to lessen the complications. People should undergo an operation at specialized centers to reduce risks. Bariatric surgery is a significant decision, and people should consult with healthcare experts for exploring all options before choosing a particular one.