The western world is facing an epidemic of the disease known as obesity. Being obese can damage your health. With an elevated body mass index (BMI), your health can face serious repercussions that could affect your quality of life and potentially shorten your lifespan. One of the most effective modalities we have for treating obesity is bariatric or weight loss surgery.
Bariatric surgery is recommended when you have tried all the conventional methods of weight loss to no avail. If this describes you, schedule a consultation at Beverly Century Surgery Center to discuss bariatric surgery and what it can do for you.
Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki is our resident bariatric surgeon. With decades of intense medical schooling, residency, and hands-on training, Dr. Moeinolmolki can provide you with the latest and most advanced bariatric procedures currently available. The doctor and his caring and compassionate surgical team aim to provide you with excellent results and a lifetime of healthy living.
After a short consultation, Dr. Moeinolmolki can provide you with a diagnosis before potentially recommending you for one of the following bariatric surgeries. All of the following weight loss procedures are minimally invasive and performed using a laparoscopic camera and other cutting-edge tools.
Bariatric Surgery for Fast and Effective Weight Loss
Sleeve Gastrectomy
The vertical sleeve gastrectomy or more simply the gastric sleeve is a form of bariatric surgery that offers a permanent solution for excess weight accumulation. During the procedure, your bariatric surgeon will reduce the volume of your stomach by up to 75%. This major change to your digestive system forces you to eat less. The surgery is considered safe with a low risk of complications in the hands of an experienced bariatric surgeon.
The goal of the gastric sleeve is to help you keep to a more sensible dietary plan. Several hormones are also affected by the digestive changes, helping you feel less hungry during and between meals. This combination of factors helps you lose up to half or more of your excess weight in the first year to two years following surgery.
Are You a Good Candidate for the Gastric Sleeve?
You would be considered ideal for gastric sleeve surgery if you have a BMI of 40 or over. This indicates that you are somewhere around 100 pounds over your ideal weight. Some lower BMI patients can be considered for bariatric surgery if certain comorbidities are also present, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and joint pain.
Before you can be considered for a surgery like the gastric sleeve, you need to demonstrate that you have tried to drop the excess weight through conventional means with little or no success.
Benefits of the Gastric Sleeve
Gastric sleeve surgery is aimed at helping you lose an extreme amount of weight safely and quickly. The surgery offers immediate results (patients often start losing weight in the first week) and is associated with fast recovery and tiny scars. The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can also treat comorbidities like type 2 diabetes, with some patients experiencing a complete reversal of their obesity-related issues once the excess weight is removed.
Roux-En-Y Gastric Sleeve
Otherwise referred to as RYGB or quite simply gastric bypass, this weight loss surgery is considered the gold standard of bariatric surgeries. The gastric bypass provides a two-pronged approach to weight loss.
First, much like the gastric sleeve procedure, your stomach is reduced by up to a third. The newly reduced stomach volume restricts how much food you can eat.
Your surgeon will then connect the newly configured stomach pouch to the small intestine. The rerouting of these organs comes together in a shape that resembles the letter Y.
With your eating restricted and your digestive system rerouted, your body begins to absorb fewer calories from the foods you eat. The surgery also cuts down on vitamin and mineral absorption. The result is fast and significant weight loss.
Gastric bypass surgery can result in the loss of 100 pounds or more of your excess weight. Like the gastric sleeve, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can also reverse weight-related illnesses like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and certain heart conditions.
Are You a Good Candidate for the Gastric Bypass?
Gastric bypass is recommended for patients diagnosed with severe obesity. This indicates that you have a BMI of 40 or greater.
Benefits of the Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass surgery is considered a stronger surgery than the gastric sleeve. This indicates that your weight loss could be more significant, with excess weight loss possible of up to 60% or more. Because your digestive system is rerouted and your ability to absorb some nutrients is impaired, you may be required to take vitamin and mineral supplements for optimal health. Discuss the differences between the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass with Dr. Moeinolmolki during a consultation to determine which bariatric procedure may be right for you.
Intragastric Balloon
This non-surgical bariatric procedure is safe and effective at helping you lose a moderate to significant amount of weight. Unlike the gastric sleeve or bypass, the gastric balloon is temporary and comes with lower chances of risks and complications.
The gastric balloon procedure can be completed in thirty minutes. The bariatric surgeon installs the balloon into your stomach using a tiny endoscopic instrument. The balloon is inflated, which restricts how much food you can eat. The balloon is comfortable to wear, cannot be passed by the bowels, and comes with minimal risks.
In six months, the balloon will be removed. Once taken out, your appetite and normal stomach volume will return to normal. This means the weight loss assistance provided by the gastric balloon is short-lived. To maintain weight loss, you will need to commit to a healthy lifestyle with a focus on increased activity levels and sound nutrition.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Gastric Balloon?
The gastric balloon is ideal if you have an event coming up or have tried diet and exercise programs that have not worked.
Unlike other weight loss surgeries, your BMI does not have to be elevated to a level of 40 or higher to be considered for the intragastric balloon procedure. Good candidates for the gastric balloon have BMIs in the 27 range or higher.
Some individuals with BMIs of 60 or greater may not qualify for weight loss surgery. The gastric balloon can be used in these instances to reduce the BMI naturally to a healthier level before other bariatric procedures are administered, such as the gastric sleeve or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Benefits of the Gastric Balloon
The gastric balloon is a temporary bariatric procedure. The balloon is also safe, effective, and low risk. What’s more, the non-invasive procedure gives all the benefits of weight loss surgery, including reduced hunger, faster fullness, and diminished weight related ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Which Bariatric Surgery is Right for You?
At the Beverly Century Surgery Center, we are here to answer your questions related to bariatric procedures and their benefits. We can also help you understand any risks to these procedures. Our goal is to give you all the information you need to make the best decision for optimal health.
Contact our surgical center to discuss bariatric surgery with Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki.