As the name suggests weight loss surgery in Sydney helps individuals to lose weight. It also reduces the risk of medical problems linked to obesity. More officially referred to as bariatric surgery, there are two main ways in which it contributes to weight loss:
Malabsorption
Surgery is carried out to bypass or shorten a part of the small intestine. This lowers the number of nutrients and calories absorbed by the body.
Restriction
Surgery is performed to physically restrict the quantity of food the stomach can accommodate. This restricts the number of calories you will be able to consume.
The four types of weight loss surgery most commonly used are:
• Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion
• Sleeve gastrectomy
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
This procedure involves using a band that contains an inflatable balloon and placing it around the upper section of the stomach. The band is then fixed in place. This results in the creation of a small stomach pouch directly above the band and only a tiny opening is left to the rest of the stomach. Gastric banding limits the volume of food that can be held in your stomach to make you feel full faster.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass, as it is more commonly called, involves a surgeon accessing the top of the stomach and creating a small pouch. This pouch is the only section of the stomach that obtains food. This significantly limits the quantity of food that can be comfortably consumed in one sitting. After the new pouch is created, the surgeon will cut the small intestine a little beneath the main stomach and connect it to the pouch. This will allow food to flow from the pouch directly into that section of the intestine.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
This procedure starts with the removal of a large section of the stomach. Nothing is done to the valve that discharges food to the small intestine. The duodenum, which is basically the first section of the small intestine, is also left in place. The middle section of the intestine is then closed off by the surgeon and the last part is directly attached to the duodenum; this is what is known as the duodenal switch. These changes allow food to bypass most of the small intestine, restricting the absorption of nutrients and calories.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
With this procedure, a section of the stomach is detached and removed. The other section is molded into a tube-like structure that holds less food and produces less ghrelin. This helps to decrease your desire for food.