Ask a doctor - What happens in obesity surgery?

Q. What happens in obesity surgery?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Obesity surgery, also known as bariatric or weight loss surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to help individuals who are severely obese lose weight and reduce their risk of associated health conditions.

The most commonly performed procedures in the U.S. are Roux-en Y gastric bypass (RGB) and adjustable gastric banding (AGB). In RGB, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch that attaches directly to part of the small intestine creating an alternate path for food consumption so fewer calories are absorbed. In AGB, an inflatable silicone band is placed around the top portion of the stomach which restricts how much food can be eaten at any one time.

Other types of obesity surgery include sleeve gastrectomy where a large portion of the stomach is removed resulting in reduced hunger sensations; biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch where calorie absorption is further reduced by making two alterations to how food moves through your digestive system; and vertical banded gastroplasty which reduces appetite by using staples to create a smaller stomach pouch while leaving existing nerves intact so patients still have full sensation when they eat common foods like breads and pasta.

Obesity surgery helps patients achieve meaningful sustained long-term weight loss in addition to reducing associated risks such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, high cholesterol levels and other metabolic complications due to obesity. It must be noted however that these surgeries generally require dietary changes with strict adherence required on lifelong vitamin supplement intake following obesity surgeries since there’s evidence nutrients may not be adequately absorbed after procedures like AGB and RGB due to limited contact between digestive juices within the newly created anatomy . Additionally there may also be some degree of physical discomfort from pain or nausea/vomiting following surgical procedures requiring proper medical management from healthcare professionals postoperatively

Overall obesity surgeries could offer hope for those individuals desperate for long term results but proper understanding should first be sought about its benefits/risks before opting for them from medical experts familiar with your health profile .