Which Weight Loss Procedure is Best for Me? | El Paso TX

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Dr. Benjamin Clapp
weight loss procedure

When a weight loss procedure was introduced a few decades ago, its sole purpose was to help people lose weight. Today, it does a lot more than just that. Weight loss surgery has been shown to improve symptoms of weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, acid reflux, sleep apnea, and heart disease. What’s more, doctors can now tackle weight from multiple angles, making almost any case of overweightness or obesity remediable by surgery. Fortunately, there are several treatment options to help you begin your weight loss journey.

Types of Weight Loss Procedures

  • Gastric Bypass – This well-known procedure is performed to limit the amount of food your stomach can hold. The surgeon creates a pouch at the top end of your stomach, to which the small intestine is cut and connected. Food thus flows into the intestines without getting into the main part of the stomach, effectively reducing the amount of food you can take per sitting and, consequently, the amount of calories your body absorbs.
  • Sleeve Gastrectomy – This treatment is pretty similar to gastric bypass, except for the fact that the cut portion of the stomach is removed entirely from the body. The objective is straightforward – to physically reduce the size of the stomach, so you get full without eating much. The surgery also reduces one’s urge to eat as the hormone that alerts the brain when one gets hungry is located in the section of the stomach that is cut off. Sleeve gastrectomy heals more quickly than gastric bypass and is suitable for people who have had multiple other surgeries in the abdominal area.
  • Adjustable Gastric Band – In this, an inflatable balloon is placed inside a silicone ring, which is attached to the upper part of the stomach. A small tubing is attached to the balloon with one of its endings connected to a port placed under the skin in the abdomen. Using the port, the surgeon can modulate the diameter of the opening at the top of the stomach and to create a pouch where food sits for a while after a meal so the individual feels full faster.
  • Biliopancreactic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) – The BPD/DS involves two procedures: a sleeve gastrectomy – where part of the stomach is tied into a banana-shaped pouch – followed by the surgical attachment of the small intestine to the pouch. It is known as a malabsorptive surgery as it is designed to regulate the number of calories absorbed along the gut. It makes the food storage part of the stomach much smaller and makes the food reach the small intestine faster.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Weight loss surgery is the way to go if you’re looking for a quick and effective way of shed the few extra pounds. To find out if you are a candidate for a weight loss procedure, contact your bariatric specialist in El Paso TX to schedule your consultation.

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