Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Weight Loss Using Gastric Sleeve Surgery

By Estelle Larsen


A lot of health problems in terms of weight can be solved in a few ways through surgery. Overweight and obesity can be surgically treated that is different from cosmetic procedure. There are two known types which are Restrictive and Malabsorptive Surgeries. Restrictive type takes away a portion of the stomach so it can hold lesser amount of food for quicker digestion. Malabsorptive type tends to create a bypass within the digestive tract, either the stomach or gastric tract, so it would not take in calories.

The malabsorptive is no longer a stand alone surgery due to the complications of its side effects. Gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico would cost at a starting price of four thousand and six hundred dollars compared to in the United States which has a range of about fifteen thousand to twenty five thousand dollars. This type can most likely be stand alone as well.

The full term is Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy which is a restrictive surgery. It cuts away up to eighty four percent of the stomach leaving a small sleeve or tube as the remaining part of the stomach. Previously the stomach would hold about three pints of food, but afterwards it will only be able to take in a few ounces but would gradually increase.

An open procedure is done via several small incisions on the abdomen. A few instruments are slid inside to do the incisions and cuts. Also, a special tiny camera would be used as guide for the entire duration, hence it is called a Laparoscopic procedure.

In terms of treatment for obesity, this is a large approach. This is only an option where medicine, exercise, and diet, are no longer taking effect. The surgery is actually a modification from the bariatric procedure which includes the duodenal switch. It is then later included in the gastric bypass procedure. However currently, doing the bypass as a stand alone was too risky to be considered.

After the one to about two hours of the procedure, the patient should stay inside the hospital for another three to four nights for close monitoring. The healing takes about a month or less depending on the physical health of the patient. Some of them tend to be fully healed and has gone back already to their regular activities in just two or three weeks.

A few complications may arise. Infection, blood clots, appetite loss, sleeve leaking, nausea, stomach pains due to esophageal spasms, and vomiting are what would likely to happen. Diarrhea is also possible due to dumping syndrome which dumps the food too quick towards the small intestines.

Your doctor will assist you and give you instructions what to do for the entire duration of the process of healing. It would either take a month or maybe two for it to fully heal, and during this liquid or soft foods would be the only food that can be handled by the stomach. Keep yourself hydrated for the whole day and bowel movements end up less often although this is entirely normal. Avoid being constipated as well.

The success rate in weight loss can go more than half of the excess weight of the patient which is about sixty six percent. You can compare this to other bariatric procedures which is about sixty two to forty one percent. Making sure to follow the guidelines from the doctor and a realistic approach with the weight loss could help a lot. As well as being physically active and having a healthy lifestyle.




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