Medical Weight Loss Options

Weight loss surgery is very serious– there are a variety of risks involved, and for that reason it is only performed after extensive consultation with your doctor.

There are several common weight loss surgery methods, but they all work in one of two ways: by restricting the amount of food you eat, by limiting the absorption of calories, or both.

For those whose weight puts them at a very high health risk, there are surgical options available to help.There are many specific procedures used, and we will discuss a few of them below.

Restrictive Procedure: Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, or VBG is a procedure that simply restricts the amount of food the patient can eat. With a VBG, the part of the stomach near the esophagus is vertically stapled about 2.5 inches. This creates a smaller pouch for the stomach. In addition, the outlet from the stomach is restricted by a band, which makes food leave the stomach more slowly, helping you to feel fuller, longer.

VBG surgery is effective, and studies show that patients can maintain about 50% of their target weight loss after ten years. Another benefit is that it allows you to absorb nutrients normally. However, the procedure itself does not guarantee results, as it’s easy to over eat and stretch the stomach pouch, or rupture the staples. In the end, about 40% of VBG patients lose less than half their desired weight.

Malabsorptive Procedure: Biliopancreatic Diversion

This procedure, commonly known as BPD, is more common in Europe than in the US. It allows food to be poorly digested and absorbed into the body. With this procedure, a full two-thirds of the stomach is removed, leaving a stomach of about two to three cups in volume.

This remaining stomach is connected to a part of the small intestine, bypassing a large portion of the digestive tract. This causes the enzymes and bile needed for proper digestion to meet with food later down in the digestive tract, giving it less time to digest and absorb into the body before reaching the large intestine.

Combined Procedure: Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y

The Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y is the most popular weight loss surgery procedure in the United States, and it works by both restricting the amount of food ingested, as well as inhibiting the absorption of calories and nutrients.

The procedure is performed by creating a stomach pouch as with the VBG, and then connecting the stomach pouch with a Y-shaped part of the intestine, called the Roux limb. This allows food to bypass the first two sections of the small intestine.

The weight loss surgery procedure is adjustable from patient to patient, as the length left of either section of intestine can be increased or decreased to allow for more or less calorie absorption.

All of the weight loss surgery procedures outlined here have their pros and their cons. Some, like the Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y, can result in loss of 60-80% of excess weight within two years. Others work more slowly, and have a higher instance of weight gain.

And all have their risks. Any Malabsorptive procedure will be accompanied by a strict nutrient and eating program that must be followed religiously to avoid developing serious health problems, making weight loss surgery a lifelong choice, not a one-time event.

Also, each of these procedures can develop potentially fatal complications, making it very important not to decide on weight loss surgery lightly. While it IS effective for most people, it’s important to sit down and have a long discussion with your doctor about your risks and options.