It is possible to alter ones digestive system to initiate weight loss through a process called bariatric surgery. After surgery, patients have a decreased caloric intake as it reduces the amount of food that can be consumed.
Bariatric surgery is usually more of a last resort type of treatment for weight loss, and it is only used when other methods have been proven unsuccessful. If a person is not able to lose excess weight through diet and exercise a doctor may recommend this surgery as a catalyst to start weight loss. People with extremes cases of obesity can be recommended to have bariatric surgery as an option to lose weight. High blood pressure and sleep apnea are two health issues that can lead to a person being recommended bariatric surgery if their weight is also an issue.
Gastric bypass surgery is one type of bariatric surgery. A couple of different gastric bypass surgeries may be performed, but the most common consists of having a portion of your stomach stapled to create a tiny, walnut-sized pouch. Then a part of the small intestine is formed into the shape of a Y and attached directly to the new pouch. Once completed, the food that is consumed bypasses parts of the stomach and small intestine giving less time for your body to absorb calories. Gastric bypass is a permanent procedure and cannot be reversed. It may be performed as a laparoscopic procedure, but more often it is a typical, invasive style surgery. Quick loss of weight is typically observed after a person has gastric bypass surgery.
The other most common form of bariatric surgery is known as gastric banding, or adjustable gastric banding. Gastric banding is known as a restrictive form of bariatric surgery because it actually reduces the size of your stomach. A flexible band is put around the stomach dividing it into two sections.
The band helps to restrict the amount of food that can enter the stomach at any one time, plus it slows the digestion of the food to reduce hunger. This type of surgery is generally performed as a laproscopic procedure which leads to minimal scarring and reduced recovery time. Unlike a gstric bypass, this type of procedure is fully reversible. Your surgeon may also adjust the band if he finds you are losing weight too quickly or too slowly. With either form of bariatric surgery, you are physically forced to restrict your food intake or you will literally be sick and vomit. This enables the substantial calorie reduction necessary to lose weight quickly.
Lapband Toronto and bariatric surgery information for Canadians who are looking to get healthy.