Bariatic surgery procedure and information

Overview of the procedure and information on bariatic surgery

Bariatic surgery is a medical procedure which is commonly known as weight loss surgery. This is is performed on people whose condition of being obese poses a danger on their life or well-being. One way to achieve weigh loss through surgery is the so called gastric banding which is usually done by the introduction of a medical device into the stomach of the subject person. Another is by sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch or the removal of a portion of the stomach. Gastric bypass surgery is another method which is done by cutting through and redirecting the small intestines to a relatively smaller stomach pouch.

Researches conducted reflects that the procedures have effected a weight loss which is in a long term basis, recovery from illness such as diabetes, diminished cardiovascular risks, and reduced mortality rate of 23% up to 40%.

According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, people with body mass index (BMI) of a minimum value of 40 are recommended for bariatic surgery. The same holds true to those with BMI of 35 and have serious medical conditions such as diabetes along with obesity.

Bariatic surgery diet

What should be the diet of a patient who undergone bariatic surgery.?

Patient who undergone bariatic surgery need to follow and implement revised eating habits. Such dietary guidelines vary in a case by case basis, dependent on what the bariatic surgeon prescribes and the type of operation performed on his patient. This is why the postsurgery diet of a patient could be different from that of another. It is imperative that the patient follows the guidelines prescribed by his surgeon.

Here are some generally accepted dietary guidelines of a patient after undergoing bariatic surgery:

1. Chew food thoroughly and wait for two to three minutes before taking the next bite. Food that are hard to digest like meat should be ground and chewed thoroughly.

2. Fluids should be consumed after meal and not during meal otherwise the patient would feel full before enough food is consumed. Fluid intake during the meal can cause vomiting and dumping syndrome and creates a feeling of hunger eventhough the patient had just eaten his meal.

3. Desserts and other food items with sugar content exceeding 3 to 5 grams per serving should be avoided.

4. Foods that are known to have no nutritional value should be avoided, as well as alcoholic drinks, milk shakes, carbonated drinks, high-calorie nutritional supplements, and foods that have a high fat content.

5. Snacks or food intake in between meals should be limited or minimal.

Bariatic surgery support

Support groups have proven to be an excellent opportunity for patients to discuss matters apertaining to various personal as well as professional issues confronting weight loss surgery patients. Patients have to accept that weight loss surgery does not provide an immediate resolution to emotional issues related to obesity have inflicted on them.

Bariatic surgery cost

The cost of bariatic surgery is both complex and costly. The average cost for this medical procedure ranges from $18,000 to $35,000 for gastric bypass, while $17,000 to $30,000 for gastric banding with Lap-Band. Keep in mind that one to two years after the surgery, there may be other necessary expenses for follow-up medical procedures like plastic surgery, liposuction, labiaplasty, tummy tuck or breast augmentation. These follow-up procedures entails costs which is proportional to the skin and fat removed because the more skin and fat removed, the longer the procedure or surgical time required. Such matters should be discussed well between the patient and his doctor.

Bariatic surgery risks

With bariatic surgery, most patients frequently suffer some complications from the procedure. Based from statistics, 2,522 of insurance claims of patients who undergone the surgery showed 21.9% complications during the initial confinement to the hospital and the risk of complications in the subsequent months increased by a total of 40%. Such complications are common in patients who are aged 40 up. Some common problems are: 20% had gastric dumping syndrome (diarrhea and bloatedness after meals); 12% had leaks at the surgical area; 7% had incisional hernia; 6% had infections; and 4% had pneumonia. Mortality rate is low at 0.2%. The rate of complications apparently are reduced when the procedure is done by experienced surgeon and perfomed in experienced units. There are, however, still questions that need to be addressed as regards both the short- and long-term effects of bariatic surgery on nutrition and body systems. Issues involving the nutritional deficiencies may be dependent on the diet of the patient after surgery. Periodic checks for anemia (or low red blood cell count), Vitamin B12, folate, and iron levels are necessary after surgery and follow-up tests for at least every year and more often dependent on the patient's progress.