By Olive Pate


Many severely obese individuals living in Ridgewood, NJ have tried everything they know possible to lose the extra weight. When even the most restricted diet and strenuous exercise fail to produce the desired results, many people start to consider bariatric surgery as an option. This is especially true if the obesity is causing medical complications. Anyone who wants to discuss this option with a professional can find bariatric surgeons NJ residents rely on for help.

Bariatric surgery requires patients to make a lifelong commitment to changing the way they consume food. Going through with the surgery requires careful consideration because the various procedures alter the body's ability to absorb calories. Stomach and small intestine reconfiguration restricts the amount of food the patient can consume before feeling full.

Adjustable gastric band surgery is the least invasive of these procedures. The surgeon places a band around the stomach, limiting its capacity to approximately one ounce. Normally, the stomach can hold three pints. The surgeon can inject saline to make the band tighter or looser.

Gastric bypass involves stapling some of the stomach together to create a pouch with a capacity to hold one cup of food. The surgeon separates the stomach from the duodenum and reattaches it to a different place on the small intestine. Bypassing the duodenum restricts calorie absorption.

Duodenal switch surgery is the most involved and is irreversible because portions of the stomach are removed completely to make the food pouch more compact. The risks of developing complications are the highest after this procedure. This surgery requires a more intense reconfiguration of the intestines to allow food to pass through only a short portion of the small intestines before reaching the large intestines. Because this procedure changes how the body absorbs nutrients, patients must begin a lifelong habit of supplementing the diet with essential minerals and vitamins.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is another procedure involving removing stomach tissue. The thin sleeve that remains connects the esophagus to the beginning portion of the small intestines. Patients are unable to eat as much after surgery and have lower levels of ghrelin, the hormone that triggers appetite.

After the surgery, patients must have regular medical follow-up, sometimes for the rest of their lives. They have to adjust to eating smaller meals forever because the results are permanent. The more involved surgery options are irreversible. Patients who fail to follow through with regular exercise and eating healthy foods are at risk of gaining weight even after surgery.

Individuals who had obesity related illnesses before the surgery will often see dramatic improvement in health after the procedure. They are at lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and severe sleep apnea. Surgery alone does produce short-term weight loss but patients must make healthy lifestyle choices about exercise and diet to enjoy long-term success with this type of weight loss program.




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