Read this before you undergo Gastric Bypass Or Gastric Sleeve Surgery!
With the advancements in medicine, we have developed many technologies that aid in weight loss. One of the most effective at reducing wright is bariatric surgeries. Yes, there is more than one type of surgery that you can do to achieve weight loss. For a long time, invasive gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgeries were the go-to when you had to undergo such a process.
However, with time, we have also discovered the aftereffects of such invasive procedures. If you are planning to do either invasive gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, take some time to read through this, you might very well change your mind!
How do Gastric bypass surgery and Gastric sleeve surgery work
Both invasive gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery share the same core idea, where they restrict the amount of food you can eat. The less you eat, the less food that will be converted to fat. They both use invasive surgeries to make this work.
Now, even though they share the same core idea, their approach differs.
Gastric Bypass surgery
In a gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass) surgery, as known as bariatric bypass surgery or stomach bypass surgery, doctors restrict the amount of food that you can eat by reducing the amount of food that your stomach can hold. They achieve this by dividing your stomach into two parts – The upper stomach and the lower stomach.
The upper stock has very little volume, and can only hold about one or two ounces of food. They then connect the upper stomach to your small intestine (jujube) by making a small opening. There is no doubt when it comes to the effectiveness of the procedure as Gastric Bypass Surgery can yield impressive results. People can lose 60 to 80 percent of their excess weight through Gastric Bypass Surgery.
Downsides of Gastric Bypass surgery
Before committing to gastric bypass surgery, you must understand the effects that it has on your body. Let us look at some reasons why people avoid Gastric bypass surgery
Irreversible (mostly): there first and foremost disadvantage of Gastric bypass surgery is that you cannot have your stomach back to its original form after the surgery. The process is mostly irreversible. The reversal process is only advised when it is absolutely necessary.
Lacerations: The doctor will have to make 4 to 5 cuts on your belly to do the complete procedure.
Dumping syndrome: High sugar foods can travel through your stomach to your small intestine too quickly. The side effects of this can manifest itself has stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Diet change: as we discussed, you cannot eat every type of food that you ate before surgery, as it can cause certain health issues. Patients must follow a specific diet post-surgery.
Gastric Sleeve surgery
In Gastric sleeve surgery, the stomach is reduced in size by permanently removing around 80% of the patient’s stomach. Here surgery will not involve connecting your stomach to the intestine like that of Gastric bypass surgery. The part that is removed is carefully selected so that doctors can successfully remove areas where the hunger hormone Ghrelin is produced.
By reducing the volume of the stomach, the patients will feel full for a much lesser quantity of food that they had before. This process is much less complicated than Gastric bypass surgery.
Downsides of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
However, you need to also understand the gastric sleeve surgery is not efficient as gastric bypass for weight loss. Although the patients will lose weight, it will be at a slower pace. Now let us look at some of the disadvantages of going with gastric sleeve surgery.
Irreversible: Even though the process is very complex, Gastric bypass surgery can technically be reversed. However, Gastric sleeve cannot be reversed as a portion of the stomach is permanently removed.
Less weight loss: apart from the lower rate of fat loss, the amount of fat that can be lost through the gastric sleeve is also limited. You cannot have that extend of fat loss that you get from gastric bypass in the gastric sleeve.
Stomach stapling: Although rare, stomach stapling can lead to leakage, and can result in complications.
Then what is the alternative?
Being overweight is a serious issue, and without proper treatment, it can lead to fatal health risks. So for people who need to lose weight and have a chance at a healthy lifestyle, some form of bariatric surgery is the only option.
With the advancement we have made in the industry, there is now a new type of bariatric procedure that has been gaining popularity in recent years. We are indeed talking about ESG or Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty.
What makes Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty different?
The biggest advantage of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is that it is not a highly invasive process like the other two methods that we discussed here. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty reduces the stomach volume by the use of endoscopic sutures. By the end of the process, the stomach volume will be reduced to roughly 30% of its initial size.
By using a minimally invasive procedure, ESG has a very low complication rate, which sits below 1%. The best part is that you can go home the same day after your ESG! Post ESG rest time is 2-3 days, as opposed to the 2 – 3 weeks needed for invasive bariatric surgeries.
With a competent bariatric specialist and care provider, you can reap long term results. And that is the important part. You need to have your ESG from a provider who is able to give you comprehensive care, from diet plans to exercise routine advice.
Why Choose Be Better Bariatrics
Be Better Bariatrics has been at the forefront of innovative medical treatments for years now. With our highly experienced team of professional doctors, we are able to provide our patients with expert care. With our guidance, you can meet your weight-loss target with ease.
Let us know your requirements, and we will help you find the best methods to shave extra weight that has been slowing you down, both mentally and physically.
