What is Weight Loss Surgery?

What is Weight Loss Surgery?
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Weight loss surgery is an operation which reduces the amount of food you can consume at one sitting. Instead of eating normal sized portions, the stomach feels full after only a few ounces. Depending on the type of weight loss surgery you have will also depend on the speed at which you lose the excess weight and whether absorption is altered.

What are the Different Types of Weight Loss Surgery?

The first type and less invasive form of Weight Loss Surgery is a restrictive band surgery. Commonly called Lap-Band which is a specific name of the company which produces the bands used in the surgery. In Lap-Band surgery the restrictive band can be expanded or constricted with saline, and is used to reduce the amount of food the patient can consume. After a smaller than normal portion of food is consumed the stomach is full and the patient is left feeling satisfied.

The next form of weight loss surgery is Gastric Bypass. In this surgery the stomach is reduced in size surgically and then the small intestine is re-routed to reduce absorption. This enhances weight loss and for this reason weight is lost much faster with this surgery. There are several different forms of this operation but they all produce the same effects major weight loss in a short period of time.

Who Can Have Weight Loss Surgery?

Weight loss surgery is for those who are extremely obese. It is not a surgery intended for those who need to lose a small amount of weight. In general to have weight loss surgery you must be at least 100 pounds overweight. Weight loss surgery can also correct health problems in patients as they lose the weight. Those with diabetes or high blood pressure may find themselves medication free in just a few months.

Weight loss surgery is a drastic way to correct a weight problem. You should consider all that surgery entails and whether or not you have really tried to lose the weight yourself. This is an important decision which will change your life and the way you look at food forever.

Disclaimer

The information in this article should not be considered medical advice. The information in this article is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe or cure any ailment. Always check with your physician before taking any products or following any advice you have read on Brighthub.com. Always consult your doctor before you start, stop or change anything that has been previously prescribed. Certain herbs and holistic remedies are unsuitable to take if you are pregnant or nursing and must always be cleared by your doctor before use.

This post is part of the series: Weight Loss Surgery

Weight Loss Surgery has been around for more than 40 years. It maybe the answers to your weight loss problems. This series will answer all the questions you have about Weight Loss Surgery and even some you may never have thought of.

  1. What is Weight Loss Surgery?
  2. Weight Loss Surgery: Who Should Have Weight Loss Surgery?
  3. What to Expect Before Surgery
  4. What to Expect with the Lap-Band System
  5. What to Expect with Gastric Bypass