What Is
Restrictive Weight Loss Surgery
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There are several types of weight loss
surgeries. Each form of surgery comes with its own special
concerns and considerations. Health care professional
carefully examine each person’s individual case to determine
which type of weight loss surgery is the most effective. One
common form of weight loss surgery is called restrictive
weight loss surgery. This is a very common and popular
method of weight loss surgery and is often performed with
laparoscopically, or the least invasive.
Restrictive weight loss surgery is most
simply defined as a form of surgery that reduces the amount of
food that the stomach can hold. It does not interfere with
normal digestion or the digestion and intake of vital
minerals and vitamins. The vertical banded Gastroplasty and
the Lap-Band weight loss surgeries are both considered
restrictive weight loss surgeries. |
The vertical banded Gastroplasty is a restrictive
procedure that is performed either laparoscopically or as an
open procedure. During this surgery, the surgeon uses stomach
staples to make a new, smaller stomach pouch. This smaller pouch
only allows a very small amount of food at a time. The
restricting of the food intake leads to smaller meals and fewer
calories. The patient that has this surgery will feel full
sooner. In addition, this surgery does not affect the way the
stomach digests food or nutrients. There are a few advantages of
this surgery. First, nutrients and vitamins are fully absorbed.
This eliminates side effects such as hair loss and anemia. Also,
this procedure is usually less invasive and easier than other
weight loss surgeries. Because the intestines are not altered,
there is a less chance of leakage and obstruction following
surgery and there is a lower mortality rate from this surgery.
The disadvantages of this restrictive weight loss
surgery are that although it can sometimes be done laparoscopically,
most of the time, it must be an open procedure. This can lead to a
longer healing time. This surgery also requires cutting and stapling
of the stomach and is not adjustable or reversible. Many times,
patients with this surgery often experience a slower weight loss than
with other methods.
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The newer Lap-Band procedure is also
considered a restrictive weight loss surgery. There are many
benefits of this surgery. It is the least invasive and
requires a much shorter healing time than with other
methods. There is also a much lower mortality rate for this
surgery and has the least amount of complication risks.
There is no cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing
required. In addition, it is completely reversible and
adjustable.
The disadvantages of the Lap-Band are that
sometimes there is a slower rate of weight loss that with
other surgeries. Weight loss using the Lap-Band is much more
even and can take a longer period of time. Because this
method requires saline to be added periodically, it requires
a port to be implanted under the skin. This is a critical
part of the Lap-Band and while most patients do no report
complications with the port, there is a possibility of
infection at the port site. |
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