Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, has improved a lot of the years. There are a variety of techniques that depend on the patient’s case. While generally safe, weight loss surgery has risks and requires a lifelong commitment in eating patterns and lifestyle. It isn’t for everyone, so make sure you learn all weight loss options before considering surgery.
Gastric SleeveUsually the first step in bypass surgery, the gastric sleeve procedure can actually be its own single procedure in some cases. It’s becoming increasingly popular due to a shorter recovery time than a more complex gastric bypass. The procedure is called a gastric sleeve because Dr. Sachse will create a small pouch using a stapling device, separating your stomach into two sections, the small sleeve and the larger section. The larger section of your stomach is removed. This form of bariatric surgery is called “restrictive” which means it controls weight loss by physical restrictions of the stomach, versus a more “malabsorptive” method like the jejunoileal bypass which actual affects nutritional intake by changing where in your intestines the food gets absorbed.
The gastric band is an adjustable piece of equipment that is placed around the upper part of the stomach to restrict how much you can eat. Unlike gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, the gastric band procedure involves no cutting our stapling of the stomach. 4-6 weeks after the surgery, you will begin doing adjustments, or fills, to your band with your doctor. The band is meant to be long-term, but it can be removed if necessary at the discretion of you and your doctor.
The procedure alters the way your small intestine handles the food you consume in two parts:
1. Dr. Sachse will divide your stomach into two sections; a smaller one and a larger one. Then a process called stomach stapling turns the smaller portion into a pouch which can only hold a significantly smaller amount of food than your stomach used to. This is a “restrictive” form of weight loss surgery since it lessens the amount of food you need to feel full.
2. This is the actual “bypass” part of the surgery when Dr. Sachse will disconnect where the small stomach pouch currently connects to the small intestine, and connects it to a part of the intestine that’s further down. This is called “Roux-en-Y”. It forced food to pass the “duodenum” and goes directly to the “jejunum” to restrain the absorption of calories and nutrients. This part of the surgery is “malabsorptive” since it alters nutritional intake.
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass combines both parts while limiting some of the risks of both parts. For instance, procedures that just use malabsorptive methods can lead to nutritional deficiencies and metabolic abnormalities.
To learn more about bariatric surgery, call Dr. Sachse at (571) 512-5300
