Gastric Sleeve Surgery vs. Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric Sleeve Surgery vs. Gastric Bypass Surgery
There are the lucky few who can afford to walk into a surgeon’s office and have a few tweaks here and there to improve their physical appearance. The goal of cosmetic procedures such as liposuction is to restore attractive proportions by removing fat or the sagging skin around some regions of the body, such as the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, buttocks, breasts, face, etc. that create a misshapen contour. Unlike Bariatric surgery, plastic surgery after dramatic weight loss reduces excess skin and fat left behind after significant weight loss.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
A Bariatric procedure such as gastric sleeve surgery is for weight loss and in very many cases, for life-saving purposes. Also known as the sleeve gastrectomy, gastric sleeve surgery is one of the most popular if not the most recommended procedure for weight loss, especially for extremely obese individuals. During the procedure, the surgeon removes about 80% of the stomach to leave a new small sleeve-like stomach. As a result, patients can expect to lose up ¾ of their excess body weight because they feel less hungry or they feel full even after eating minimal amounts of food, the procedure is known to alleviate or remedy some obesity-related health issues such as diabetes.
Gastric sleeve surgery is not for everyone and to be considered a good candidate, Bariatric surgery hopefuls must meet a few pre-operative prerequisites:
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and higher or a BMI between 30 and 35 with severe comorbidities such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint problems
- You must be above 18 years
- You must be ready to undergo various health assessments from your doctor, dietician including passing a psychological examination
- You must establish a pre-surgery diet and exercise regimen including quitting smoking and drinking alcohol
Gastric Bypass Surgery
Also known as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric bypass surgery is similar to gastric sleeve surgery. They both make the stomach smaller the only difference is during the procedure the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch about the size of an egg by dividing the top of the stomach from the rest of the stomach, thus changing your gut hormones. The divided small intestine is then brought up and connected to the newly created small stomach pouch that limits the amount of food your stomach can hold as well as the number of calories and nutrients your body absorbs.
Gastric bypass surgery is considered as the “Gold Standard of Weight Loss Surgery” for good reasons. Not only does the procedure contribute to appetite suppression and the reversal of obesity-caused metabolic syndrome, but the surgery also changes your gut hormones and helps you feel fuller longer. You can expect to lose between 60-80% of your excess weight with a proper diet and exercise regimen, which is by far, an excellent resolution of many obesity-related health problems. To qualify for gastric bypass surgery, you should meet the following pre-operative qualifications:
- Have a 35+ BMI with any obesity-related medical condition or have a BMI of 40+, with or without obesity-related comorbidity such as sleep apnea, type II diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure, venous stasis disease, soft tissue infections, etc.
- You must be above 18 years
- You must be willing to undergo a thorough pre-operative evaluation from your doctor, dietician, and pass a psychological assessment
- You must prove that you have tried and failed losing weight through traditional methods of dieting and exercise routines
Along with a successful weight loss after Bariatric surgery, you will also notice a significant improvement in your obesity-related illnesses such as a decrease in lower back and joint pain as well as swelling in the legs and ankles. You can also say goodbye to health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea and speak hello to improved morbidity and better quality of life.