About Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a type of surgery meant for the soul purpose of weight loss. This surgery can be done in various ways and can be very beneficial to those who are considered morbidly obese. The weight loss achieved from this surgery can even improve the overall health of those who are diabetic or have cardiovascular problems.
Methods
There are three methods that are most commonly performed in bariatric surgery. One method, known as gastric banding, involves having a metal band wrapped around the stomach and cinched together. Another method, referred to as a sleeve gastrectomy, involves surgically removing part of the stomach. A third method that is performed is gastric bypass surgery. In this method, the small intestine is cut and rerouted to a small stomach pouch. All of these procedures decrease the size of the stomach so that a person will become full after eating only small amounts of food.
Eating & Drinking After Surgery
During the first months after surgery, the patient's diet must adapt to drastic changes. At first only clear liquids will be taken in to allow the gastrointestinal tract to recover. Next, soft or pureed foods can be eaten for a couple of weeks. When the patient is able to eat solid foods will depend on how well the body accepts liquid and soft foods. For some this may take longer than others. Drinking lots of fluids is also encouraged to prevent dehydration. The patient should drink at least 48 to 64 ounces of fluids by sipping gently throughout each day.
Weight Loss
Though weight loss amounts can vary with the person and the type of procedure done, each method of bariatric surgery has been proven to be successful. Studies have shown that over a three year period after having surgery most patients have had an average weight loss of 70 to 116 pounds.
Complications
Unfortunately, there have been complications with all methods of bariatric surgery. Among these are bloating and diarrhea after eating, leaking incisions, pneumonia, infection and incisional hernias. The possibility for these complications may be reduced if the procedure is done at an establishment that specializes only in this type of surgery.