If you’re overweight, bariatric surgery can be an excellent solution to help you shed pounds and enhance your wellbeing. But selecting the appropriate procedure for you can be a challenging decision.
Both Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve offer their advantages, but also drawbacks that should be taken into consideration. While both procedures can be highly effective for weight loss, you should be aware of potential risks involved with each one.
What are the Advantages of the Gastric Bypass?
The Gastric Bypass surgery is often recommended for individuals who are morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight). This type of surgery has the potential to alleviate many obesity-related illnesses, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
Gastric bypass surgery not only enhances quality of life and mood, but it also lowers the risk for heart disease. On average, over one year, people typically lose 140 pounds – more than a third of their excess body weight!
The operation involves stitching part of the stomach together or vertical banding to form a small pouch, which then connects to the lower portion of the small intestine. This bypasses most of the stomach and first part of small intestine, leading to reduced absorption – leading to less calories and nutrients absorbed from food, thus making you feel full faster.
What are the Advantages of the Gastric Sleeve?
The Gastric Sleeve is a minimally invasive weight loss procedure that removes around 80% of your stomach, creating a smaller stomach so you feel satiated faster and for longer. As a result, weight loss occurs as you feel full faster and for longer.
Additionally, taking B12 drops helps reduce hunger by suppressing the amount of appetite stimulating hormones produced in your stomach. This makes following a diet easier and reduces food cravings.
Many people experience dramatic weight loss after surgery, losing up to 60% of their excess body fat and improving health conditions associated with obesity such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
Sleeve gastrectomy has also been demonstrated to reduce systemic and urinary inflammation, with decreased urinary MIF/creatinine, CRP and hs-CRP ratios. Furthermore, it may prevent cancer as well as other diseases associated with obesity like hyperlipidemia, inflammatory bowel disease, fatty liver and sleep apnea.
Is gastric bypass better long term?
A type of weight loss surgery called a gastric bypass involves constructing a tiny stomach pouch and redirecting the small intestine to the new pouch. This restricts the quantity of food that may be consumed at once and lessens nutrient and calorie absorption.
For people who are extremely obese, studies have indicated that gastric bypass surgery can be a successful long-term weight loss strategy. The majority of gastric bypass surgery patients have significant weight loss within the first year and are able to sustain it for several years.
Along with helping patients lose weight, gastric bypass surgery also helps people with other obesity-related health issues like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
Gastric bypass surgery, however, is a significant medical procedure with risks and potential side effects. Patients should carefully weigh the potential advantages and disadvantages of the operation and collaborate closely with their healthcare team to choose the best course of action for their unique requirements.
In conclusion, for people who are extremely obese, gastric bypass surgery may be a successful long-term weight loss strategy. To choose the best course of action for your unique circumstances, it is crucial to thoroughly weigh the potential risks and benefits of the procedure and to work together with your healthcare team.
Conclusion
When considering which surgery is better, it is important to note that both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries are major medical procedures that require careful consideration, evaluation, and commitment from the patient.
One of the advantages of gastric bypass is that it typically leads to greater weight loss than gastric sleeve surgery. This is partly because the bypass reduces the absorption of calories and nutrients from food, resulting in significant weight loss over time. Additionally, gastric bypass surgery can help reduce or eliminate obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea, leading to a better overall quality of life.
However, gastric bypass surgery is also associated with more risks than gastric sleeve surgery, such as potential complications during the procedure, nutrient deficiencies, and a higher risk of long-term complications such as hernias or bowel obstruction.
On the other hand, gastric sleeve surgery is a less invasive procedure that removes a significant portion of the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and reduced hunger. While the weight loss results may not be as significant as with gastric bypass, gastric sleeve surgery is associated with a lower risk of complications and a shorter recovery time.
Another benefit of gastric sleeve surgery is its potential to improve inflammatory markers and reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases such as fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and inflammatory bowel disease. It may also help prevent certain cancers, such as breast cancer, as well as other conditions such as sleep apnea and depression.
Ultimately, the decision of which surgery is better for an individual depends on their specific health conditions, lifestyle, and personal preferences. It is important to discuss the pros and cons of each procedure with a qualified bariatric surgeon and to carefully weigh the risks and benefits before making a decision.
