DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

Surgery is considered to be the last option for treating obesity, by reducing weight. It is a drastic measure, and is used normally only when more conventional weight loss methods have failed and the patient’s health is compromised by his/her weight. Following are the different types of weight loss surgery:

Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), Also referred as stomach stapling. It is a restrictive operation for weight loss. In this, the stomach is divided into two parts. The upper part is made small, limited for food. Food empties from the upper pouch into the lower pouch through a small opening. A band is kept around this opening so that it does not stretch. Classified by the AMA as a “severely dangerous” operation.

Laparoscopic gastric banding (Lap-Band), An inflatable band is kept around the upper stomach to create a small pouch and narrow passage into the remaining part of the stomach. This stops the food consumption and creates an early feeling of fullness. This band is inflated with saline. It is used for severely obese people — those at least 100 pounds overweight or who are at least twice their ideal body weight.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB), In this technique, the surgeon reduces the size of the stomach by using surgical staples and creates a small stomach pouch. It is attached to the middle part of a small intestine. Food then bypasses the upper part of the small intestine and stomach and goes directly into the middle part of the small intestine through a small opening. This bypass, limits the amount of food, calories and nutrients the body absorbs.

Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), A large part of the stomach is removed, which ultimately restricts the amount of food, and stomach acid production. The small pouch is connected directly to the final segment of the small intestine, completely bypassing other parts of the small intestine. It is less frequently used than other types of surgery because of the high risk for nutritional deficiencies.