Are you trying to lose weight? Many Americans are in the same boat.
The CDC reports that almost half of all adults try losing weight each year. Unfortunately, many of them are not successful. Therefore, they have started turning to weight loss surgery instead. The good news is that weight loss surgery is better than it used to be.
New Technology Makes Weight Loss Surgery Far More Effective
In the past, weight loss surgery was a purely surgical procedure with no options for patients who may not have surgery due to health conditions or other reasons. Dr. Carlos A. Barba of Harlingen, TX, has studied the new technologies developed in the past few years to make the process less invasive and allow more people access to weight loss surgery.
For example, the endoscopic sleeve is a procedure that removes a large portion of the stomach and creates a new sleeve-like tube from the small part that remains. In addition, new imaging technology has decreased the risks involved in weight loss surgery and improved patient outcomes. Dr. Carlos A. Barba feels that 3-D imaging helps the surgeon get a better view of and navigate your stomach to remove a portion of it.
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What is weight loss surgery, and how does it work?
Weight loss surgery is any procedure that causes people to lose weight. The most common types of weight loss surgery include restricting food intake and removing some portion of your stomach. How exactly does this work? Weight loss surgery works by restricting your food intake after a procedure done by bariatric surgeons where they remove a portion of your stomach.
By doing this, the amount of food that you ingest is substantially reduced and often leads to weight loss because your body isn’t getting all of the nutrients that it used to get from the amount of food you were previously eating.
Why would someone need to have weight loss surgery?
People considered candidates for weight loss surgery have a body mass index (BMI) above 35 or 40 or have an obesity-related health condition. The most common reason for a patient to have weight loss surgery is to improve the patient’s health. Obesity is associated with many serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
By reducing a patients’ BMI, the surgical procedure can reduce these risks and often leads to better health both inside and outside of your body. Unfortunately, weight loss surgery does not always lead to permanent weight loss. However, it has been shown to effectively help obese or overweight people lose weight in the short term. The benefits are very apparent while undergoing treatment, says Dr. Carlos A. Barba, but they fade over time if you do not make lifestyle changes after your treatment ends.
New technologies and methods in weight loss surgery
New technologies and methods in weight loss surgery have helped reduce the risks associated with surgery and have improved patient outcomes. These developments can help people who would otherwise not have weight loss surgery receive the treatment they need.
In the past, weight loss surgery was performed through an open surgical procedure with no options for patients who may not have surgery due to health conditions or other reasons. However, new technology has been developed over time that allows the procedure to be done more safely and less invasively. It has become an acceptable way to lose weight.
How has image-guided weight loss surgery helped the process?
Weight loss surgery can be riskier than other types of surgeries due to the internal location of the procedure and possible complications. However, new imaging technology allows doctors to navigate the stomach more precisely. This gives patients a better chance for successful outcomes. One of Dr. Carlos A. Barba’s favorite methods involves using CAT scans to map out where your organs are. This will help your doctor avoid them while removing part of your stomach.
What is Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty?
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a procedure that does not require the use of a scalpel. This means that your doctor does not have to make a large incision for this procedure. Instead, they can insert a device through an endoscope and remove part of the stomach via injection. It’s important to note that it will still be necessary for you to have regular checkups post-surgery so your doctor can monitor your weight loss and health status over time.
Risks Associated with weight loss surgery.
Weight loss surgery may be an effective way to lose weight, but it does not come without risks or side effects. One study found that up to 30% of patients who have had bariatric surgery experience malnutrition since there is no other way to get adequate nutrition from their diet.
In addition, many patients complain about persistent pain in their abdominal region and problems with bowel movements being too frequent or too infrequent. Dr. Carlos A. Barba says that some patients also experience complications with the surgical wound, such as hernias.
Lastly, there has been some concern that weight loss surgery may cause an increased risk of cancer in some patients. However, the American Cancer Society reports that the benefits of having this type of surgery outweigh any long-term consequences.
Final Thoughts
Weight loss surgery can be a very effective way to lose weight in obese or overweight individuals. While it is not a perfect treatment, any amount of weight loss for these people is unprecedented in their lives and will usually lead to better health both inside and outside of your body.
However, there are many risks associated with this type of procedure that should be considered before the surgery is done since the benefits do not last forever.