Almost 50% of Americans are trying to lose weight and have been actively trying to do so in the last year.
Weight loss can be a difficult journey for some people while trying to do things like new diets, exercise programs, overnight fads, and quick solutions.
The thing is, what works for some people doesn’t always work for others, and weight loss solutions are not a one size fits all scenario.
So, what are the different types of weight loss surgery that are available to you? Keep reading to find out!
Different Types Of Weight Loss Surgery
Restrictive surgery functions by reducing the stomach’s size and slowing digestion. A typical stomach can store approximately 3 quarts of food. After this weight loss surgery, the stomach may hold as little as an ounce at first, but this may increase to 2 or 3 ounces later. You can eat less if your stomach is small. The less you consume, the faster you lose weight.
Surgery that alters your ability to absorb nutrients is known as malabsorptive/restrictive surgery. They reduce your stomach size and eliminate or bypass a portion of your digestive tract, making it more difficult for your body to absorb food. Because of the risks, doctors rarely perform entirely malabsorptive procedures, commonly known as intestinal bypasses.
The newest of the three procedures, implanting an electrical device, causes weight reduction by blocking nerve signals between the stomach and the brain.
1. Gastric Banding
The stomach is divided into two pieces by the surgeon using an inflatable band: a smaller upper pouch and a bigger bottom pouch.
A very small channel still connects the two portions and it can be adjusted as to your preferences.
2. Sleeve Gastrectomy
The surgeon removes around 75% of the stomach during the procedure. The stomach is replaced by a small tube or sleeve that links to the intestines. Because a sleeve gastrectomy has no effect on how your body absorbs food, you’re less likely to be deficient in nutrients.
3. Gastric Bypass Surgery
The restrictive and malabsorptive methods are combined in gastric bypass surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon separates the stomach into two sections and seals the upper from the lower. In essence, the surgeon is establishing a food shortcut.
The body absorbs fewer calories when certain sections of the digestive tract are skipped.
4. Vagal Blockade
The vagus nerve, which signals to the brain that the stomach is full, receives regular electrical impulses from an implanted pacemaker-like device. From the brain to the stomach, the vagus nerve runs.
The blockade device is worn beneath the rib cage and controlled by a remote control that can be adjusted from outside the body.
Winning With Your Weight Loss
Now you understand the different types of weight loss surgery, you can move forward more informed and better equipped with the choices.
The best weight reduction surgery for you will be determined by your health and body type.
Simpler operations, for example, may not be possible if you are extremely obese or have previously had abdominal surgery. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each procedure with your doctor.
Don’t go just yet, keep reading great content in our health section!