Which Weight Loss Surgery is Right for You?
The decision to get a weight loss surgery is a difficult one; the risks of living a life of morbid obesity have to overshadow the one time risks associated with the operation. Meeting with a physician can determine this for sure, but this is typically the case for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more or with a BMI above 35 with serious obesity-related issues. Once qualified for a bariatric surgery, the question becomes, “Which type of bariatric surgery is right for me?”
The team at Beverly Hills Physicians presents a wide-range of options for surgical weight loss and doesn’t prioritize any of its procedures as a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, they operate on a case-by-case basis for determining which of its procedures—most commonly between the gastric sleeve, the lap band, and the gastric bypass—is ideal for each patient. A free consultation with one of the weight loss surgeons at Beverly Hills Physicians is the best way to determine which procedure is best; however, here are some pros and cons of these three most commonly performed procedures.
The weight loss surgeons at Beverly Hills Physicians often choose the gastric sleeve procedure. During the operation, a surgeon removes about 85% of the stomach, limiting the patient’s food intake. Removing part of the stomach also stops the production of the hormone that causes hunger. Without this hormone, called ghrelin, a patient doesn’t feel as hungry as before and, because their stomach’s capacity is reduced, they also feel full faster.
Another perk of the gastric sleeve is that it doesn’t affect the course of the digestive tract. This means that many complications are avoided during surgery and, after the surgery, it doesn’t affect the type of food that the patient eats, just the amount of food eaten.
This puts more of a responsibility on the patient to eat better and exercise more to achieve their ideal weight loss; nonetheless, Beverly Hills Physicians provides some of the best aftercare possible. With the BHP team of dieticians, support staff, and bariatric surgeons all working together, every patient feels supported throughout the post-bariatric surgery process, knowing that they have many people cheering them on and ready and willing to answer any questions that may come up.
One drawback of the gastric sleeve, however, is that it is not reversible. That happens to be the main appeal of the lap band procedure for many patients. It can be removed or converted to another weight loss procedure if found to not be effective and it is also adjustable, allowing for the most flexibility when it comes to weight loss surgeries. The lap band has also been FDA-approved for the longest amount of time (since 2001), which means it has more studies that document its safety. Beverly Hills Physicians has noted that this procedure often shows the smallest percentage of excess weight loss.
The gastric bypass is the procedure that’s shown to provide the most weight loss and is the most common weight loss surgery in the United States. It is worth noting that it does restrict the types of foods that a person can eat, often causing negative side effects for the patient if they ingest foods that are too fatty or sugary.
The best course of action is always meeting with a bariatric surgeon who has years of experience with a wide-range of patients. Beverly Hills Physicians provides exactly that. The BHP surgeons have performed hundreds of these procedures, as well as revision weight loss operations to correct inadequate bariatric operations. They’re always available for a free consultation and can be reached by phone at 1-800-788-1416 or online at www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com.