Weight loss operations: the ideal solution for weight loss?

The weight loss operations, also called bariatric surgeries, are surgical procedures performed on people suffering from obesity.

These are surgeries that serve to eliminate excess weight quickly when other conventional treatments, such as diet or physical exercise, do not work.

There are many types of weight loss operations currently, and some are more effective than others, depending on your case. So surely you are wondering what they are, how they work or how invasive they are, in this post we tell you.

You may be interested in: What is the least invasive weight loss surgery?

Types of weight loss surgeries

There are three major weight loss surgeriesGastric bypass, gastric sleeve and SADI-S surgery. 

All surgeries, besides eliminating excess weight in your body, decrease the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and stroke.

Of course, they are very effective for weight loss, which is why they are the preferred option in cases of morbid obesity or when conventional options do not work.

Gastric bypass

The gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y is a weight loss surgery which consists of dividing the stomach in two, a large part and a small part, which will look like a pouch.

The small pouch will be used as the new stomach, much smaller than the original one, and the large part will be isolated from the digestive tract.

The resulting shape of this operation is a "Y", the two parts of the stomach, connected by different ways to the small intestine.

It is a complex and delicate surgery, but it is one of the most weight loss operations The results begin to be seen a month or 2 months after the operation and it is the only reversible operation.

Gastric bypass serves to reduce appetite, to reduce the amount of food needed to be satisfied and to mitigate the absorption of sugars and fats.

However, you may suffer from nutrient absorption problems and may have to take vitamin supplements for a long time, are some of the most common problems. risks of gastric bypass you should consider.

Gastric sleeve

The gastric sleeve is a weight loss surgery which consists of making a cut in the stomach to reduce its size. 

One part of the stomach is removed and the other remains in the form of a banana or sleeve, hence the name.

About 80% of the stomach is reduced with this operation.

The gastric sleeve is very effective, it is the procedure preferred by many surgeons because it does not alter the digestive system, only the stomach is reduced. 

Thanks to this, there is no risk of suffering any disorder that prevents you from absorbing some vitamins well and recovery is quite fast.

In contrast, the period of effectiveness of the surgery is long. You start to see the effects of the operation in the first year or even, depending on the case, up to two years later.

In addition, the operation is quite invasive because it cuts out a portion of the stomach and is not reversible.

Gastric balloon

The gastric balloon (also known as intragastric balloon) is a very minimally invasive bariatric procedure in which a device is implanted in the stomach to generate a sensation of fullness and decrease hunger, facilitating weight loss.

A gastric balloon remains in the stomach for 6 to 12 months, and then it is easily removed without surgery or incisions of any kind.

The gastric balloon results are usually excellent, especially considering that the procedure does not even require surgery.

If we talk about the pros and cons of the gastric balloonOne of its great advantages is that it is completely reversible, so it does not affect the way your digestive system works, and it is very safe.

On the other hand, weight loss with a gastric balloon will depend much more on your commitment to your diet and habits.

However, depending on how overweight you are, it may not be the ideal procedure for you.

SADI-S Surgery

The SADI-S surgery (single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy is a company that has been weight loss surgery innovative, which combines gastric bypass with gastric sleeve.

During the operation, the procedure for the gastric sleeve is performed, leaving the stomach in the form of a sleeve.

Then, a bypass, another cut in the small intestine, is made to connect the middle part of the intestine to the stomach and a part of the intestine that connects to the pancreas.

In short, the digestive process is maintained, but with a smaller stomach and shorter intestinal tracts, they are positioned so that food can flow quickly.

This allows you to lose more weight than you would lose with the gastric sleeve, avoid the absorption problems involved in gastric bypass and treat conditions such as hypertension or diabetes more effectively.

How much does weight loss surgery cost?

The prices of the weight loss surgeries vary, there are few countries that perform effective surgeries for an affordable price. 

However, Mexico is the country where this type of surgeries are the cheapest, for that you only have to look at how much does a gastric bypass costwhich is priced between 80,000 to 120,000 MXN. That is, thousands of dollars less than the price of the same procedure in the USA.

On the other hand, the price of SADI-S surgery ranges around MXN 140,000, again thousands of dollars less than in the US, where it can cost up to US$20,000, according to MDSave.

The gastric sleeve price in the US is between 9,000 and 26,000 dollars (although, depending on the case, the price can exceed this figure by far, reaching up to 35,000 dollars), as pointed out by the web portal New Choice HealthThe price in Mexico ranges from MXN 80,000 to MXN 150,000.

The weight loss operationsAs they are complex, they require a certain budget, they are not cheap but they are efficient. Therefore, they should be seriously considered if you want to recover your health and are looking for something definitive.

The price of these operations often includes additional expenses (not included) that include medications, postoperative procedures, pre-surgical evaluations and hospitalization.

All aimed at ensuring that the procedure is as safe and effective as possible.

What is the best weight loss surgery?

There is no best weight loss operationsall have their advantages and risks. 

If we talk about the most efficient way to lose weight quickly, it would undoubtedly be the gastric bypass. 

The safest, least risky and least expensive (in most cases) would be the gastric sleeve. And in an intermediate point would be the SADI-S surgery.

With the gastric sleeve it is possible to lose between 20 and 40 kg, but the physical results will take between 1 or 2 years to be seen, besides the fact that it is irreversible.

With the gastric bypass, in the first two months you will be able to see physical results in your body and in one year you can lose between 50 and 60 kg of excess weight, but the recovery is complicated.

The SADI-S surgery allows losing more weight than the gastric sleeve, in less time and guarantees a more effective treatment of diabetes, hypertension and other serious diseases caused by excess weight.

In any case, it will be your bariatric who will tell you which is the ideal operation for you, will also be in charge of ensuring that your health is not compromised and that you recover your wellbeing at 100%. 

That's why it's so important to get an experienced specialist in bariatric surgery that gives you the results you need.